Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy @ Atkins (WSPA) is housed in the former Atkins High School. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Atkins High School was dedicated on April 2, 1931. WSPA was created as a magnet school to attract highly motivated students whose primary interest is to prepare themselves for a 4-year university education.

The former Atkins High School owes its name to Dr. Simon Green Atkins. Dr. Atkins was instrumental in founding, in 1892, the precursor to what is now Winston-Salem State University. The Atkins name was transferred to a new "Simon G. Atkins Academic and Technology High School" in September 2006 but the spirit of Dr. Atkins lives on at WSPA.

Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy (WSPA) opened in the fall 2004 under the leadership of Mr. Dennis Walker, WSPA's first principal. WSPA graduated its first class in 2008 with the expectation that 90% of its graduates would enter a four-year college program and that expectation was met. WSPA regularly maintains one of the highest graduation rates in the WSFCS school system.

All students are encouraged to become Crosby Scholars, and by so doing, prepare themselves academically, personally, and financially for college admission.