South Atlanta was established in 1994 after the merger of Walter F. George High School (which was located at the current South Atlanta complex) and Fulton High School (which was located at the present-day Dobbs Elementary near the Lakewood area).

George High School hosted a vocational program which offered classes such as woodworking, brickwork, auto mechanics, home economics, and welding.

But in 1952 when the City of Atlanta implemented its Plan of Improvement and annexed the area south of McDonough Boulevard, including Lakewood Heights, a new building was built, and Fulton moved to its last site on Jonesboro Road.

Although Fulton High dates back to 1917, it was not an Atlanta public school until 1952.

In 2005, APS implemented the small-schools model at Carver High School.