Mountain Brook School System

Coordinates: 33°30′6.38″N 86°45′13.73″W / 33.5017722°N 86.7538139°W / 33.5017722; -86.7538139

The Mountain Brook School System serves the city of Mountain Brook, an affluent area outside of Birmingham, Alabama. The school system supports a city with approximately 20,600 residents.

The Mountain Brook School System has four elementary schools that serve kindergarten through the sixth grade. These schools are Brookwood Forest Elementary School, Cherokee Bend Elementary School, Crestline Elementary School, and Mountain Brook Elementary School. Upon completion of the sixth grade, students flow into Mountain Brook Junior High School where they attend seventh through ninth grades. The school system has only one high school, Mountain Brook High School, which serves grades ten through twelve.

The school system has enjoyed a low rate of turnover in its leadership. In 2009, the system celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding and that year marked the hiring of Dicky Barlow, former principal of Mountain Brook High School, as only the 4th superintendent in the 50-year history of the system.

There is also a private school, Highlands Day School, within Mountain Brook's city limits, but it is not part of the Mountain Brook School System.

As one of the top school systems in the state of Alabama, the Mountain Brook School System has received numerous awards and honors. The Mountain Brook City Schools have been recognized by the Alabama Productivity Center as the recipient of the 1998 Alabama Quality Award for the Education Sector. Mountain Brook High School, Mountain Brook Junior High School, Cherokee Bend Elementary, Crestline Elementary School and Brookwood Forest Elementary School are recipients of the Blue Ribbon School Award by the U.S. Department of Education Recognition Program. Newsweek Magazine recognized MBHS as one of the nation's top 100 high schools. In 2016, Mountain Brook Schools was named the international Outstanding District by the International Society for Technology in Education.

The quality of education is apparent by the many accomplishments of the student body. Currently about 98% of Mountain Brook students go on to colleges and universities in the U.S. Over 500 MBHS students have been named National Merit Finalists, and three Rhodes scholars have graduated from MBHS. College Board's Advanced Placement Program honored MBHS for academic excellence and outstanding support and participation in the AP Program. MBHS has won 122 State Athletic Championships in its 40-year history.^[1]

Mountain Brook Board of Education

The Mountain Brook Board of Education consists of five members appointed by the Mountain Brook City Council. Each member serves a five-year term, with one seat up for appointment by the Council each year. The Board is currently chaired by Mr. Brad Sklar. The remaining four board members are Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn, Mrs. Nicky Barnes, Mr. Tommy Luckie, and Mr. Richard Murray.

Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation

Since 1992, the Mountain Brook School System's funding has been significantly enhanced its own foundation, lessening its dependence on state funds with each passing year. The mission of the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation (MBCSF) is to "mobilize community support for the school system and to secure resources from individuals, corporations, and other foundations."^[2] Any funds raised as a result of the foundation's actions are added to a permanent endowment that is used to support any of the school's academic needs. So far, the Foundation has raised an endowment in excess of $8.2 million in pledges and gifts.^[2]

Since its inception, the foundation's main focus has been in the areas of technology, professional development, and library enhancement.^[2] Because of the endowment, the foundation has been able to commit over $5 million in grants to the school system between 1995 and 2013. According to MBCSF, this money was used to complete 55,628 hours of teacher training, purchase in excess of 600 computer workstations, and add 4,500 books to its libraries.^[3]

In 2004, the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation launched its first public campaign since 1996.^[4] The idea behind the Aim Higher campaign was to allow anyone in the Mountain Brook Community a chance to "invest in the future of Mountain Brook by investing in the education of its young people."^[4] The plan was to ask every family in the school system to contribute at least $1,500 over a three- to five-year period, with donations totaling $2 million, allowing Mountain Brook's endowment to grow to approximately $9 million. With $8.2 million raised, the foundation is nearing its goal.^[3]

Mountain Brook City Schools

Mountain Brook Board of Education, July 2007

Brookwood Forest Elementary School

Brookwood Forest Elementary (BWF) is a public elementary school within the Mountain Brook School System. It serves kindergarten through sixth grades and enrolled approximately 520 students during the 2007-2008 school year. Nathan Pitner serves as principal, presiding with the mission to "provide an educational environment where students and personnel strive to reach their potential". Christy Christian is Assistant Principal.

Cherokee Bend Elementary School

Cherokee Bend Elementary (CBE) is a public elementary school formed in 1969 in the Mountain Brook School system. One of four schools, it serves kindergarten through sixth grade with approximately 524 students enrolled during the 2007-2008 school year. Betsy Bell serves as Principal of the school and Jennifer Galloway is assistant principal.

Crestline Elementary School

Crestline Elementary School (CES) is the largest elementary in the Mountain Brook School System and is home to over 700 students. Accredited in 1973, Crestline Elementary belongs to the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges and serves kindergarten through sixth grades. The school's mission is to "promote learning for life in a caring environment dedicated to the total child". Laurie King serves as principal, with Josh Watkins and Dr. Catherine Waters as assistant principals.

Mountain Brook Elementary School

Mountain Brook Elementary (MBE) is located in the heart of Mountain Brook Village. MBE is a public elementary school in the Mountain Brook School System, serving kindergarten through sixth grades with about 550 students. It is the oldest school in the Mountain Brook System. The school was constructed in the 1920s. Ashley McCombs serves as principal, striving "to create a safe, positive learning environment in which all individuals become life-long learners and thinkers" while "encouraging growth and reflection". Brannon Aaron serves as the assistant principal.

Mountain Brook Junior High School

Mountain Brook Junior High (MBJH)serves as a public middle school within the Mountain Brook School System. The school contains grades seven through nine and currently has just over 1000 students enrolled. The junior high administration is headed by principal Donald Clayton. The athletic teams wear green and gold and are supported by their mascot, the spartan. The school was also featured in an episode of My68's Prep Zone on Thursday, January 25, 2007.

Beginning with the 2014-2015 School year, MBJH started their first year in VEX IQ robotics under the direction of Mr. James Salvant. His excellent leadership and direction proved valuable in that MBJH won the Alabama VEX IQ State Championship. That event placed the MBJH team in competition at the VEX World Championships in Louisville KY, the largest educational robotics competition in the world where more than 850 teams from 29 nations gathered at the Kentucky Exposition Center to compete with custom-built robots during three days of intense back-to-back matches. The MBJH team finished 12th overall and the members were John Shows and Caleb Summitt.

Mountain Brook High School

Main entrance to Mountain Brook High School prior to the 2008 renovation

Mountain Brook High School (MBHS) is a three-year public high school serving the Mountain Brook School System. Situated on 25 acres (100,000 m²) of land the school serves grades ten through twelve and enrolled approximately 1004 students during the 2007-2008 school year. The principal is Amanda Hood. The Spartan Arena serves for basketball, volleyball, and wrestling purposes. A new front entrance to the high school was completed in the fall of 2008.

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