History of
Berkmar High School
Berkmar is nestled in the growing community of
Lilburn, between Interstate 85 and Georgia Highway
29, at 405 Pleasant Hill Road. Berkmar is the product of
the consolidation of Lilburn and Bethesda high schools.
These were the last of 10 high schools to be consolidated
in Gwinnett County. Since there was such great rivalry
between these schools, it took several years to agree upon
a name and a location for the new high school.
The school’s name was derived by combining part
of the voting districts’ names of Berkshire and Martins,
using ‘Berk’ and ‘Mar’ to get Berkmar. The first school
term opened in the fall of 1966, and at that time the
student body selected the ‘Patriot’ as its official mascot,
and the school colors of red, white and blue.
The building was unique for its time in construction
and design. It was one of three schools in the United
States with moveable partitions and very few windows.
It was also the only school in Gwinnett County in 1966
with air conditioning, carpeted floors and electrical
heat. Classrooms could be formed by placing portable
partitions into desired shapes and sizes to satisfy each
individual teacher. However, teachers did not successfully
adapt to this environment, and the school system
has since constructed permanent walls in most of the
Fast Facts
Address: 405 Pleasant Hill Road
Lilburn, GA 30047
The following have served as principals of Berkmar
High School:
1966–1971
William Pickens
1971–1974
William Trussell
1974–1978
Ben Benton
1978–1982
George Thompson
1982–1986
Wayne Newton
1986– 1994
Donna King
1994–2003
Jim Markham
2003–2012
Ken Johnson
2012–Nov. 2013 Dr. Michael Zinn
Dec. 2013–Present Al Taylor
(For further information about Berkmar High School
history, see History of Bethesda Elementary School and
History of Lilburn Middle School.)
School Colors: Red, White, and Blue
School Mascot: Patriot
Historians: Donna King and Dianne Bennett
building.
The first faculty consisted of a principal, an assistant
principal, a counselor, a librarian and 22 teachers. There
was a grand total of 425 students spanning grades eight
through 12. The 1988-89 faculty consisted of a principal,
two assistant principals, a community school director,
three counselors, two librarians, three paraprofessionals
and 64 teachers. The student enrollment was 1,300 in
grades nine through 12.
Berkmar’s enrollment had grown to almost 2,000 at
the beginning of the 1976 school year when Parkview
High School opened to relieve crowding at Berkmar. Ten
years later the student population had again approached
2,000 and the new Meadowcreek High School drew
approximately 600 students who would have attended
Berkmar.
The first athletic department was staffed with two
coaches, who supervised and trained students for football,
basketball, baseball and track. Since there was no gym or
athletic field, the students had to be bused to Bethesda
Elementary for their physical education classes. Baseball
players practiced at Harper’s Sporting Goods field, while
the basketball teams learned their routines at the old
Lilburn High School gym, where Lilburn Middle School
is now located. Track team members ran up and down
the highway in order to develop their running skills.
The region classification for Berkmar at this time was C.
The present athletic department consists of 15 coaches,
and the department has added soccer, tennis, wrestling,
swimming, golf and girls’ softball to its program. The
school is now classified in the AAAA region.
During its 23 years, Berkmar has undergone many
changes. The unique, ‘modern-looking’ building of the
sixties has retained its design as it has been expanded
several times to accommodate its growing student body.
The first major change extended the building eastward
and added 12 new classrooms. The next addition included
the auditorium, with a stage and six classrooms with
elevated floors to be used by the drama department
and other community programs. The ground floor to
this addition housed the art and choral rooms. Separate
additions to the school during these years included a
gym, weight rooms and a wrestling room. In 1975, a new
building was added to the back of the original school to
house the mathematics and social science departments.
This addition contained 20 classrooms, workrooms and
administrative offices. In 1990, the faculty and students
will enjoy many more improvements as construction is
underway for yet another addition. The new building will
contain six classrooms, new band and art rooms and an
administrative office. The present stage/auditorium area is
to be renovated, and the kitchen is to be expanded.
Many other changes occurred as faculty and students
saw the completion of a football stadium surrounded by
an asphalt track. A baseball diamond, two tennis courts
and a practice field for football and soccer were also added
to enhance the sports programs as well as the physical
well-being of the students. When Berkmar became a
part of the county cluster to educate the handicapped,
the school was ramped, and classrooms were equipped to
accommodate these students.
The faculty of Berkmar is established and stable, and
many of the faculty have been at the school for 15 or more
years. More than half of the staff have obtained master’s
degrees and many of them sponsor extra activities. The
student body is a true ‘melting pot’ and has produced
the usual doctors, lawyers and teachers, but Berkmar
is probably the only school in Georgia to have a former
student who is a part of the Muppets, and another one
who is a clown with the Ringling Bros. Circus. The Chess
Club won the Division Two National High School Chess
Championship in 1985.
Berkmar has tried to uphold its mascot, the Patriot,
and what the Patriot symbolizes. For several years, the
school had a real live Patriot at its games and pep rallies.
The Patriot was eventually replaced in 1981 by a real
cannon, which was purchased in Missouri with Pep
Club funds. The barrel of the cannon had to be relined
in order for it to be safe when fired. The ‘BOOM’ can
be heard at pep rallies and when the football team scores
a touchdown. The spirit of the Patriots can be heard
at many school functions and daily in the halls and
classrooms of the school.
Berkmar was selected to conduct the first night-time
community school, which was later expanded to include
the Adult High School Education program. This program
has allowed many people of Gwinnett County to finish
their high school requirements and to receive a diploma
from the high school of their choice.
• 3 story addition completed in 1993 (referenced in a
paragraph above)
• By 1999, enrollment increases necessitated the need
for 53 trailer classrooms
• Another addition was begun during the 2000-2001
school year, and was completed for the start of the
2002-2003 school year. This latest addition doubled
the size of the school to over 400,000 square feet, and
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included a new media center and a new gymnasium.
This new addition also surrounded the old building
and created the look of a brand new school
Berkmar boys basketball rose to prominence during
the 1997-1998 season, culminating in 4 straight state
playoff berths and 2 state championships (2000,
2001)
The Berkmar Academic Decathlon team began a run
of consecutive state championships in 2003 that has
yet to end
Berkmar enjoyed back-to back state playoff
appearances in football in 2004 and 2005—first time
in school history for back to back appearances and
also accounted for 2 of the only 3 appearances
1997-2 Esol teachers; 2007-21 Esol teachers
2001-began using the New England patriots “Flying
Elvis” logo…began officially using it (thanks to NFL
permission) in 2006. may want to only mention its
official use in 2006
Electronic marquee installed January 2007
Enrollment record-3081 students at the beginning of
2006-2007 school year…203 teachers and 90 support
staff
First ever state cross country individual championship
in 2006 for student Girma Macheso
2006-School celebrated its 40th anniversary with
an alumni homecoming celebration and a 40th
anniversary program highlighting the school’s history.
All former principals were present except for the late
Mr. Pickens whose widow attended, and the late Mr.
Newton, whose son attended.
Principals- 1994-2003 Jim Markham; 2003-current
Ken Johnson
School colors remain red, white, and blue. Mascot
remains The patriots-with switch to logo mentioned
above