Village Profile® Home Page | About our Company | Sales Opportunities | vpmobile.us®

Education

Tuscaloosa County is served by two public school systems, the Tuscaloosa City System and the Tuscaloosa County System.

The Tuscaloosa City School System is home to more than 10,266 students, from pre-K to high school. The system's facilities include 24 schools: two primary, eleven elementary, six middle schools, three high schools, a unique secondary program for students with special needs and a program for career and technical education.

In the 2008-2009 school year, students received more than $14 million in scholarships to colleges, universities and military institutions across the country. In fact, students in the Tuscaloosa City Schools are consistently recognized by national scholar programs. Preparing students for college starts early: the Tuscaloosa City Schools System has historically supported pre-K education, and a partnership with the city of Tuscaloosa and higher education has helped to expand the program to include almost 300 children.

The system provides specialized programs with unique curricula such as the pre-Kindergarten program for “at-risk” students, the American Studies Program, a College Board Advanced Placement Program and an International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. These programs are offered in addition to the standard and advanced curriculum. The Tuscaloosa Elementary and Middle Magnet Schools feature a rigorous academic program for students motivated to excel in the core curriculum through the integration of technology, foreign language, humanities, service learning and leadership.

The collaborative efforts of parents, schools and community have created one of the most outstanding systems in the state. That collaboration has ensured, for the 11th consecutive year, the system being awarded “What Parents Want Most” by the research firm, SchoolMatch.

Since 1871, the Tuscaloosa County School System has provided educational opportunities for students that currently number almost 18,000. The system’s facilities include 34 schools: two primary schools, sixteen elementary schools, nine middle schools, six high schools and one center for special needs students.

The Tuscaloosa County School System’s students are frequently recognized for their hard work and dedication. Approximately 33% of the graduates from our five high schools consistently obtain more than $7 million in scholarships and achieve distinction in colleges and universities throughout the country.

The system provides specialized programs with specific curricula such as the Sprayberry Regional Education Center, which serves two distinct bodies of students. In one section, highly trained teachers and therapists work with young people who have moderate to severe handicaps. In the other section, dedicated teachers work with gifted students who come to the TARGET program once a week to be challenged in special ways.

99% of the teachers in the Tuscaloosa County School System are highly qualified, as determined by the No Child Left Behind legislation. The Tuscaloosa County School System has one of the highest total numbers of teachers in Alabama who have achieved National Board Certification as employees of the Tuscaloosa County School System with more than 50 teachers achieving this designation. Achieving National Board Certification demonstrates a true dedication to the profession of teaching and most importantly, dedication to students.

The Tuscaloosa County School System also has more All-State School Board Members than any other school district in the state of Alabama with 12 members inducted in a row. The system has also had ten state finalists and four inductees into the Jacksonville State Teacher Hall of Fame as well as one state finalist for the Alabama State Teacher of the Year.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs equip students with the knowledge and skills that employers need and for study in any college arena. Nationally, more than 90% of high school students take at least one CTE course. Placement follow-up reports show that more than half of the nation’s high school graduates who participate in CTE complete some form of post-secondary education. In short, Career and Technical Education is education for life.

Holt High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 in the northeastern part of our County, offers CTE programs designed to develop college and career readiness vital for all students. The programs are based on 16 career clusters identified by the U.S. Department of Education.

Both school systems receive strong and consistent support from the business community. Perhaps the flagship effort in this regard is the Adopt-A-School Program, a 24-year-old progeny of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. Approximately 80 businesses, industries and organizations, often singly, sometimes in pairs or trios, work with all individual schools in the County System and the City System. The program is managed at the Chamber with help from an all-volunteer Steering Committee.

The Chamber is also involved in other efforts to prepare young people for life after formal education. The CHOICES program involves volunteers from businesses going to eighth-grade classes for an interactive discussion of the importance of making good choices. The Forerunners Program is a leadership development program, patterned after the adult version, Leadership Tuscaloosa, which helps approximately 40 students each year learn about various aspects of their community.

Tuscaloosa County also has some innovative and successful private schools. Some are religious-based; some are college preparatory. They include Tuscaloosa Academy, the Capitol School, American Christian Academy and Holy Spirit Catholic School.

The Capitol School has a national and international reputation because of its multiple intelligence curriculum and outstanding faculty. It is one of only 10 internationally accredited schools in the Southeast, and has had students from nearly three-dozen countries enrolled.

Regardless of what high school they graduate from, those students who want a higher level of academic work are provided with some great options in their own hometown.

ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROGRAM

Hosting students for job shadow experiences; describing career options and correlating school and workforce preparation; granting “wishes” to classroom teachers; exposing students to the world of finance, investments and money management; displaying the art work of budding artists; providing opportunities for students to participate in cultural and art activities; sharing with students the love of reading through a book buddy reading program; tutoring struggling students; mentoring at-risk students; recognizing students who improve their grades, exemplify positive character traits and attend school regularly; working to enhance technology in school classrooms; improving the school environment and developing outdoor classrooms; demonstrating the importance of community service through joint projects…these are just a few examples of the many partnership activities through which the business community positively impacts our public schools in the Adopt-A-School Program!

Since 1985, Adopt-A-School has been an integral part of the public school systems of Tuscaloosa City and County proving that corporate America and our school systems can work cooperatively to make a positive impact in our community. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, the Tuscaloosa City School System and the Tuscaloosa County School System, Adopt-A-School partnerships work to strengthen, enhance and enrich the quality of education in our public schools by utilizing the resources and talents of the business community.

Tuscaloosa’s Adopt-A-School Program has become an expected part of our community’s educational fabric connecting business and education. Local businesses, industries and organizations of all sizes work directly with specific schools as Adopt-A-School partners. Through the Adopt-A-School partnerships, companies and employees invest their time, talents and resources in classrooms to help students learn. These adopters include retail businesses, manufacturers, civic organizations, utility companies, small businesses, restaurants, real estate companies and financial institutions. The business partners initiate activities that encourage students, enrich their educational experiences and connect the world of work to the educational arena.

Additionally, through the Sustainer Program, businesses and organizations actively support the Adopt-A-School Program without the commitment of actually adopting a school. Sustainers provide the financial support necessary for the coordination and administrative function of the program. The financial and moral support received from the Sustainer Program is vital to maintaining the effectiveness of the program and contributing to its future development.

The Adopt-A-School Program demonstrates the positive results that occur through active participation and personal interaction between students and the adult role models who are committed to making things happen. Thanks to the expertise, time and energy of the volunteers involved in the Adopt-A-School Program, the business community is directly involved in building a strong school system, which is essential to the development of a well-prepared work force and to the growth of our community.