is a local. Stephen Mares is the current principal. He replaced Dr. James Hedrick, after his death. In September 2015, Athens Drive was selected by WCPSS to become a magnet school, starting from the 2016–17 school year. In March 2020, the school was temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Classes were cancelled until April 13, 2020, when they resumed. However, the classes resumed exclusively online using Google Meet. The graduation for the class of 2020 was posted in a Youtube video as no in-person event could occur. The fall semester of the 2020–21 school year was fully online as well. Classes began to reopen in February 2021. Initially, students who opted for in-person learning were divided into 3 cohorts. The cohorts cycled weekly and shared mixed classes consisting of in-person students as well as the students attending on the Google Meet. Many safety protocols were enforced including required masks excluding lunchtime and 'mask breaks', socially distance classroom/lunch seating, temperature screening at arrival, and staggered dismissal. In April 2021, the school removed the cohorts and allowed all students signed for in-person learning to attend daily but classes were still mixed with the online students. Athens Drive kept the virtual academy for the 2021–22 school year, but the classes are no longer mixed with in-person students. In 2021, Athens Drive became the first school in Wake County to obtain solar panels. The 12 solar panels were acquired from a NC GreenPower Solar+ Schools non-profit grant. List of Principals School profile As of the 2016–2017 school year, there were 1,934 students, a combination of 847 White, 509 African American, 375 Hispanic, 119 Asian, 6 Native American or Alaska Native, and 1 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander as well as 77 who were two or more races. 41.1% were eligible for the state's free or reduced lunch program. Athens Drive High School offers the following AP courses: Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Computer Science Principles, Computer Science, Environmental Science, European History, Human Geography, Language and Composition, Literature and Composition, Physics 1, Physics 2, Psychology, Spanish Language and Culture, Statistics, Studio Art: 2-D Design, Studio Art: 3-D Design, United States Government and Politics, and United States History. It had a Child Development Center, which was called Baby Jags, served 3 and 4 year olds prior to their enrollment in kindergarten. It was shut down after the 2017–2018 school year. That classroom now houses