Mountain Brook School System

33°30′6.38″N 86°45′13.73″W

Mountain Brook School System
Address
32 Vine Street
Mountain Brook
, Alabama, 35213
United States
District information
TypePublic
Mottoproviding an effective, challenging, and engaging education for every one of our students
GradesK-12
Established1959
SuperintendentDr. Richard "Dicky" Barlow
School boardMountain Brook Board of Education
Other information
Websitemtnbrook.k12.al.us

The Mountain Brook School System serves the city of Mountain Brook, a area outside of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. The school system supports a city with approximately 20,600 residents.[1] The system was established in 1959[2] in order to avoid federal desegregation.[3]

The school system is one of the most segregated school districts in America.[4] Educators and students have recently tried to implement diversity programming following anti-Semitic events working with the Anti-Defamation League, but the School Board cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League after hearing parent opposition.

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.[5]

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.

In 2019, Niche ranked the system the 24th best school district in America.[6] In 2017, Mountain Brook Elementary was named a State School of Character, one of only two in Alabama to receive this honor. Schools that receive this recognition demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development.[7] 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.

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:

  • Anna Comer
  • Brad Sklar
  • Nicky Barnes (President)
  • Jeffrey Brewer (Vice President)
  • Jennifer Kimbrough

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.[8] 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.[8]

Since its inception, the foundation's main focus has been in the areas of technology, professional development, and library enhancement.[8] 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.[9]

In 2004, the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation launched its first public campaign since 1996.[10] 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."[10] 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.[9]

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 530 students during the 2017-2018 school year. Nathan Pitner serves as principal.

[11]

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.

[12]

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. Christy Christian serves as principal, with Josh Watkins and Catherine Waters as assistant principals.

[13]

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. Mountain Brook Elementary is also a Leader in Me school and has been recognized as a Lighthouse School. [14] Ashley McCombs serves as principal. Heather Mays serves as the assistant principal.[15]

[16]

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.

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.

[17]

Mountain Brook High School
Main article: 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.

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.[18]


[19]

References
  1. "Data USA: Mountain Brook, AL". Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  2. "Mountain Brook School System". Bham Wiki. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  3. Miles, Kyra; WBHM (August 7, 2021). "Echoes of the Past as Overwhelmingly White Mountain Brook Debates Diversity". BirminghamWatch. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  4. Turner, Cory (August 23, 2016). "The 50 Most Segregating School Borders In America". NPR. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  5. "Mountain Brook City Schools". Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  6. "2020 Best School Districts". Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  7. "Data State Schools of Character". Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  8. MB Foundation (March 21, 2001). "Mountain Brook Schools Foundation Mission and Goals". Mountain Brook Schools. Archived from the original on February 5, 2007. Retrieved October 9, 2005.
  9. MB Foundation (March 21, 2001). "Where has the money gone?" (PDF). Mountain Brook Schools. Retrieved October 9, 2005.
  10. MB Foundation (August 5, 2004). "MBCSF kicks off Aim Higher Campaign" (PDF). Mountain Brook Schools. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2007. Retrieved October 9, 2005.
  11. "Brookwood Forest Elementary School". Great Schools. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  12. "Cherokee Bend Elementary School". Great Schools. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  13. "Crestline Elementary School". Great Schools. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  14. "Leader in Me". Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  15. "Mountain Brook Elementary School". Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  16. "Mt Brook Elementary School". Great Schools. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  17. "Mt Brook Jr High School". Great Schools. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  18. "Mountain Brook Schools - World Class School System". Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  19. "Mt Brook High School Student Body". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
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