Mountain Brook School System
Encyclopedia
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, 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.
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.
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." 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.
Since its inception, the foundation's main focus has been in the areas of technology, professional development, and library enhancement. Because of the endowment, the foundation has been able to commit over $2.2 million in grants to the school system between 1995 and 2006. 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.
In 2004, the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation launched its first public campaign since 1996. 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." 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.
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.
Mountain Brook High School (MBHS) is a three-year public high school serving the Mountain Brook School System. Situated on 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) of land the school serves grades ten through twelve and enrolled approximately 1004 students during the 2007-2008 school year. The MBHS administration consists of principal Vic Wilson and assistant principals Missy Brooks and Patrick Kellogg. The Spartan Arena serves for basketball and wrestling purposes. A new front entrance to the high school was completed in the fall of 2008.
Mountain Brook, Alabama
Mountain Brook is a city in southeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, and a suburb of Birmingham. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,821. Mountain Brook is a particularly affluent city within the Birmingham metropolitan area and has appeared in several lists...
, an affluent area outside of Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. 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
Mountain Brook High School
Mountain Brook High School is a three-year public high school within the city of Mountain Brook, Alabama, a residential area of Birmingham, with approximately 20,600 residents. It is the lone high school in the Mountain Brook School System and is situated on of land.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, 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.
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.
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. Gary London and vice-chaired by Ms. Jane Menendez. The remaining three board members are Dr. Eli Capilouto, Ms. Elizabeth Dunn, and Mr. Michael Thompson.Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation
Since its inception, the foundation's main focus has been in the areas of technology, professional development, and library enhancement. Because of the endowment, the foundation has been able to commit over $2.2 million in grants to the school system between 1995 and 2006. 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.
In 2004, the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation launched its first public campaign since 1996. 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." 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.
Mountain Brook City Schools
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. Ms. Yvette Faught serves as principal, presiding with the mission to "provide an educational environment where students and personnel strive to reach their potential".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.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 Mr. Josh Watkins as assistant principal.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 approximately 550 students. It is the oldest school in the Mountain Brook System. The school was constructed in the 1920's. Ms. Belinda Treadwell 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".Ms.Lisa Walters serves as the Vice-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 Ben Hudson and assistant principals David Knott and Catherine Waters. The athletic teams wear greenGreen
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
and gold
Gold (color)
Gold, also called golden, is one of a variety of orange-yellow color blends used to give the impression of the color of the element gold....
and are supported by their mascot, the spartan
Spartan Army
The Spartan army was the military force of Sparta, one of the leading city-states of ancient Greece. The army stood at the centre of the Spartan state, whose citizens' primary obligation was to be good soldiers. Subject to military drill from infancy, the Spartans were one of the most feared...
. The school was also featured in an episode of My68's Prep Zone on Thursday, January 25, 2007.
Mountain Brook High School