When the city chose to shut down the historic all-black Lakeside School in response to Federal demands that Alabama desegregate its public schools in 1969, AHS received the preponderance of African-American youth from Lakeside. This was because of local residential patterns, enforced by municipal codes and local custom.
The closure of Lakeside School in 1969, prompted by federal desegregation orders, led to AHS absorbing a large number of African American students who had previously attended Lakeside. This was due to the existing racial segregation patterns in the city, enforced by local codes and customs.