{"id":153410,"date":"2025-10-23T03:22:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T07:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hbcugameday.com\/?p=153410"},"modified":"2025-10-23T03:22:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T07:22:21","slug":"atlanta-area-marching-bands-get-first-rankings-ahead-of-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hbcugameday.com\/2025\/10\/23\/atlanta-area-marching-bands-get-first-rankings-ahead-of-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlanta-area marching bands get first rankings ahead of competition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The October Red Lobster Band of the Year (BOTY) rankings are in, and Atlanta’s<\/strong> high school marching scene continues to shine with power, precision, and pride. The Westlake High School Mighty Marching Lions <\/strong>claimed the No. 1 spot overall with a total score of 312.5<\/strong>, leading a loaded field of 15 elite programs from across Metro Atlanta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonesboro High School (304.7) and Tri-Cities High School (303.5) followed closely, while New Manchester High School (300.8) and Stephenson High School (292.95) rounded out the top five. Southwest DeKalb (292.73) and Central Gwinnett (283.25) remain in the hunt as the season\u2019s final showdown approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

?? Tickets are on sale now<\/strong> for the Red Lobster Band of the Year, ranging from $22.00 to $59.00<\/strong>, giving fans across Atlanta<\/strong> a front-row seat to the energy and artistry of these championship-caliber bands.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Atlanta\u2019s Top 15 \u2014 Overall Rankings (October 2025)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rank<\/th>School<\/th>Score<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1<\/td>Westlake High School<\/td>312.5<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/td>Jonesboro High School<\/td>304.7<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/td>Tri-Cities High School<\/td>303.5<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/td>New Manchester High School<\/td>300.8<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/td>Stephenson High School<\/td>292.95<\/td><\/tr>
6<\/td>Southwest DeKalb High School<\/td>292.73<\/td><\/tr>
7<\/td>Central Gwinnett High School<\/td>283.25<\/td><\/tr>
8<\/td>McNair High School<\/td>271.15<\/td><\/tr>
9<\/td>Dutchtown High School<\/td>266.5<\/td><\/tr>
10<\/td>Newton High School<\/td>265.92<\/td><\/tr>
11<\/td>South Cobb High School<\/td>250.9<\/td><\/tr>
12<\/td>Morrow High School<\/td>242.0<\/td><\/tr>
13<\/td>Berkmar High School<\/td>231.0<\/td><\/tr>
14<\/td>Salem High School<\/td>229.9<\/td><\/tr>
15<\/td>South Atlanta High School<\/td>216.5<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Category Leaders<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Musicality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Westlake High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Tri-Cities High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. New Manchester High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Stephenson High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Central Gwinnett High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. McNair High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Newton High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Jonesboro High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Southwest DeKalb High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. South Cobb High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Salem High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Morrow High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. Dutchtown High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. Berkmar High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  15. Carver High School<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Pictures, Drill, & Design<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Westlake High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Jonesboro High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Tri-Cities High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. New Manchester High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Stephenson High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Southwest DeKalb High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Central Gwinnett High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. McNair High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    9. Dutchtown High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    10. Newton High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    11. South Cobb High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    12. Morrow High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    13. Berkmar High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    14. Salem High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    15. South Atlanta High School<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Drum Majors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Jonesboro High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Westlake High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Tri-Cities High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Southwest DeKalb High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. New Manchester High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      6. Central Gwinnett High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      7. Newton High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      8. McNair High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      9. South Atlanta High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      10. Stephenson High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      11. Dutchtown High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      12. Berkmar High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      13. Morrow High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      14. South Cobb High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      15. Salem High School<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Percussion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. Southwest DeKalb High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Jonesboro High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Westlake High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Stephenson High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Tri-Cities High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        6. Central Gwinnett High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        7. New Manchester High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        8. Berkmar High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        9. McNair High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        10. Dutchtown High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        11. Carver High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        12. South Atlanta High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        13. South Cobb High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        14. Newton High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        15. Morrow High School<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Auxiliaries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. Westlake High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. New Manchester High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          3. Tri-Cities High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          4. Jonesboro High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          5. Dutchtown High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          6. Southwest DeKalb High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          7. Central Gwinnett High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          8. Martin Luther King, Jr. High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          9. South Atlanta High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          10. McNair High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          11. Stephenson High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          12. Carver High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          13. South Cobb High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          14. Newton High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          15. Lovejoy High School<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Voices from Atlanta\u2019s Band Leaders<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            Cedric Young<\/strong>, Director of Bands at Westlake High School<\/strong>, said the BOTY experience represents more than a competition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n

            \u201cParticipating in the Band of the Year represents more than a performance. It\u2019s a celebration of our students\u2019 excellence, discipline, and community pride.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

            Dr. Calvin Morris Jr.<\/strong> of South Cobb High School<\/strong> added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n

            \u201cParticipating in the Band of the Year will highlight the musicianship, discipline, and high standards that are taught daily. It gives our students a platform for the broader Atlanta community to hear the Soaring Sound.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

            Jared Davis<\/strong>, Director at McNair High School<\/strong>, said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n

            \u201cPerforming at this level shines a light on our program and broadcasts the greatness that is being cultivated here on Bouldercrest Road.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

            Lebarron McWhorter<\/strong>, Director of New Manchester High School<\/strong>, described the opportunity as transformational:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n

            \u201cThis recognition isn\u2019t just about one performance\u2014it\u2019s about honoring the hard work and creativity of students who pour their hearts into what they do.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

            And Arthur Wright III<\/strong>, of Berkmar High School<\/strong>, emphasized the hometown pride:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n

            \u201cIt gives our community a chance to rally behind our band program and strengthens the bond between students, families, and the broader Atlanta community through shared celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

            \n\n\n\n

            The Atlanta<\/strong> region continues to set the bar for excellence in marching band performance. From powerful percussion to creative drill design, these schools reflect the dedication and artistry that make Georgia a national hub for high school band culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            ?? Tickets are available now<\/strong> for the Red Lobster Band of the Year at prices ranging from $22.00 to $59.00<\/strong> \u2014 don\u2019t miss your chance to see the best of Atlanta<\/strong> take the field.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            The inaugural rankings of the Metro Atlanta-area High School Marching Bands for 2025 are in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":153411,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_ml_titleColor":"#000000","_ml_titleFont":"Roboto","_ml_titleFontSize":1.136,"_ml_titleFontWeight":"400","_ml_titleLineHeight":1.3,"_ml_metaColor":"#708090","_ml_metaFont":"Montserrat","_ml_metaFontSize":0.6785,"_ml_metaFontWeight":"400","_ml_metaLineHeight":0.92,"_ml_bodyColor":"#a9a9a9","_ml_bodyFont":"Open Sans","_ml_bodyFontSize":0.85,"_ml_bodyFontWeight":"400","_ml_bodyLineHeight":1.2,"_ml_wooPriceColor":"#666","_ml_wooPriceFont":"Open Sans","_ml_wooPriceFontSize":0.9,"_ml_wooPriceFontWeight":"400","_ml_wooPriceLineHeight":1.27,"_ml_headingColor":"#000","_ml_headingFont":"Merriweather","_ml_headingFontSize":2.02,"_ml_headingFontWeight":"700","_ml_headingLineHeight":1.47,"_mlglobal_userfontcolors":{"headingColorUser":[],"titleColorUser":[],"metaColorUser":[],"bodyColorUser":[],"wooPriceColorUser":[]},"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[573627570],"tags":[573627544,573627534,573635886],"class_list":["post-153410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bands","tag-featured","tag-hbcusports","tag-red-lobster-band-of-the-year"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAtlanta-area marching bands get first rankings ahead of competition - HBCU Gameday<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Atlanta's marching bands showcase power and precision. 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