Age requirements: Children who will be 5 years old on or before September 1 are eligible for admission to public kindergarten. Kindergarten classes are provided at all public schools, but are not mandatory. All children between the ages of 6 and 17 are required to be enrolled in school.

Location: A child’s school is determined by the location of the parent’s or legal guardian’s residence. Students must attend the school in the zone they are assigned, with the exception of magnet schools.

Transportation: Busing is used throughout the system for any student who lives more than 2.5 miles from the school they are zoned to attend. For students attending magnet schools, transportation is provided to and from the public school the students would normally be zoned to attend. The students will then be bussed to their neighborhood. There is door-to-door transportation available on specially equipped buses for children with special education needs.

Registration: Parents must present an Alabama Certificate of Immunization, also called a blue card, for their child. This certificate may be obtained from a pediatrician or family doctor. A child’s birth certificate and proof of the parent’s or guardian’s address must also be presented. A social security number is required. If a student is transferring from another school, a transcript, report card, or transfer notice must be presented at the time of registration.

—five elementary, oneintermediate, five middle schools, four high schools, one virtualschool, and one technical center. five elementary, oneintermediate, one middle, one junior high, two high schools,two K-12 schools, and a technology center.Montgomery County Schools
Montgomery Public Schools is guided by a students-first philosophy. The mission is to provide safe and caring communities where teachers teach and students learn at higher levels.

The district is comprised of approximately 27,399 students in 52 schools and has a variety of academic programs and services to meet their diverse needs and interests.

MPS offers a full range of curricula complemented by college preparatory programs, cultural arts, music, foreign languages, technology, career and technical education, and athletics, as well as 10 magnet programs that cover all grade levels and themes ranging from science, performing arts, technology, and accelerated academics to international studies.

The Montgomery Preparatory Academy for Career Technologies (MPACT) opened in 2012 and provides high school students with training and certification in skilled trades like welding, plumbing, HVAC, and carpentry.

MPS offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) program to students attending MacMillan International, Johnnie Carr Middle School Magnet, and Loveless Academic Magnet Program. IB boasts one of the most rigorous and challenging programs in existence and is recognized around the world as one of the premiere curriculum programs available. IB offers six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, explored using knowledge and skills derived from six subject areas, with a powerful emphasis on inquiry-based learning. There are over 4,000 IB programs around the world; 19 are in Alabama. Throughout the district, there are programs for children with special needs, including special education centers and services for gifted students. There are also early childhood education programs and a host of supplemental education services. For more information and registration, visit  www.mps.k12.al.us.

Autauga County Schools
There are 12 public schools with approximately 9,150 students in the Autauga County system—five elementary, one intermediate, one middle, one junior high, two high schools, two K-12 schools, and a technology center. All schools are accredited by the Alabama State Department of Education and Cognia (formally AdvancedEd).

Inherent in the Autauga school system mission is the belief that “schools should be safe, happy places where children look forward to coming each day to celebrate their joy for life and learning, that all children can learn, and that teaching should be adapted to the learning styles of those being taught.”

For more information and school calendars, please visit the Autauga County Public Schools online at www.acboe.net

Elmore County Schools
There are 16 public schools in the Elmore County system with approximately 11,200 students——five elementary, one intermediate, five middle schools, four high schools, one virtual school, and one technical center. The Elmore County Public School System consists of five school communities; Eclectic, Holtville, Millbrook, Redland, and Wetumpka. Each community has the grade composition of kindergarten through 12th grade.

The philosophy of this school system is: “Each student is seen as a unique person who possesses certain potential, needs, aspirations, and interests. As each student is different, the purpose of education is to provide appropriate experiences in school, which develop maximum achievement so each individual will become a useful and productive member of society.” Elmore County Schools have a Smartboard learning tool in each classroom. For more information about the Elmore County Public School System, please visit www.elmoreco.com.

Elmore County’s Diverse Gateway to Education (EDGE), encompasses 21st century, SACS accredited education with the primary goal of empowering students with tools for success. EDGE is a free virtual program available for students in grades 3-12 living in Elmore, Autauga, and Montgomery counties. EDGE students learn at home, with diverse options including live tutors and schedule flexibility. For more information and application, visit www.elmoreco.com/virtual or contact Cindy Hines at 334-514-3931 ext. 27001.

Pike Road Schools
There are 2,500 students in four schools—one elementary, one intermediate, one junior high, and one high school. Pike Road City School District ranked within the top 30% of all 139 school districts in Alabama (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data). The Pike Road School System has plans to build a new high school building and expand their current schools. Currently, the Georgia Washington campus is the campus of two schools. Pike Road Junior High grades 7th- 9th and Pike Road High School grades 10th-12th.

The Alabama Accountability Act
The Alabama Accountability Act (AAA) allows parents to transfer students from schools that have been placed on the state’s “Priority Schools List” to other schools not on that list.

There are several options for students zoned to attend priority schools. The student may remain or enroll in their assigned school.  The student may also transfer to a comparable school that is not included on the annual list of “priority schools” within the same local school system, as long as it has available space and is willing to accept the student. As another option, the student may transfer to a qualifying private Alabama school that is willing to accept the student.   

A parent is eligible to claim income tax credit if the parent claims the eligible student as a dependent on their Alabama income tax return, the student is enrolled in or assigned to attend a failing school, the parent chooses to transfer the student from the priority school to a non-priority public school or private school, and the parent incurs creditable costs related to the transfer of the student. Tuition and other mandatory fees charged to the parent by the non-priority public school or private school to which the eligible student transferred qualify for income tax credit.

What Are Charter Schools?
Charter schools are independently-operated, tuition-free public schools that are open to all students. Separated from the traditional school board—these schools give teachers the freedom to design classrooms that meet their students’ needs. The principals have the flexibility to create a school culture that fosters student performance and parent satisfaction. 

What Do Charter Schools Offer?
In efforts to improve Montgomery’s public school system, charter schools are being launched to act as a model in helping the traditional schools improve, as well as lead to better education. Along with the integration of new charter schools in the area, the school board is also considering converting several of the lower-performing traditional schools into charter schools.

PUBLIC SCHOOL CHARTS
Below are the explanations for each of the categories listed in the school report cards. These numbers are reported annually by the Alabama State Department of Education.

Enrollment: Average number of students attending school after Labor Day

Free/Reduced Price Meals: Percentage of students who applied for and were approved for free or reduced price meals. This is an indicator of poverty in certain areas.

ELA Proficiency: Percentage of proficient students in the areas of reading and ELA utilizing assessments in tested grades.

Math Proficiency: Percentage of individual students who demonstrate proficiency in math.

Chronic Absenteeism: Percentage of students having 15 or more absences in a given school year.

Source: https://reportcard.alsde.edu/OverallScorePage.aspxReportYear=2021&SystemCode=051&SchoolCode=0000 

Charter Schools

LEAD Academy
2897 Eastern Blvd • (334) 451-3127
Montgomery’s first public charter school opened in August with 360 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It will add a grade level each year and eventually become a K-12 school.

LIFE Academy
2080 W Fairview Ave • (334) 315-0106
LIFE Academy opened on the City of St. Jude campus, a 36-acre historic Montgomery site that once included a private Catholic school. The charter school opened in fall 2021 with grades kindergarten through eighth grade, with plans to add two grades each year as it continues to grow.

Davis Elementary
3605 Rosa Parks Ave • (334) 269-3662
Davis Elementary was converted to a charter school for the 2021-2022 school year. Phalen Leadership Academies will serve the students and families at Davis Elementary School as well as the Montgomery community with the goal of supporting the scholars at Davis in outperforming their peers and making Davis one of the strongest charters in the state.

E.D. Nixon Elementary
1000 Edgar D Nixon Ave • (334) 269-3012
Nixon became a premier charter school in 2022 with the support of the Montgomery Education Foundation (MEF) and Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA). Their goal is to work together with parents and the community to improve the educational outcomes of Montgomery scholars and neighborhood families. Nixon exists to serve the local community and create a safe and thriving space for scholars to feel loved, empowered, and encouraged through quality education. 

Bellingrath Middle School
3350 South Court St • (334) 269-3623
Along with E.D. Nixon Elementary, Bellingrath Middle became a premier charter school with the support of the Montgomery Education Foundation (MEF) and Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA). At Bellingrath Middle School, they believe that with the right education, scholars can fulfill their tremendous innate potential and become leaders in their communities and the world. 

Montgomery public schools’ accomplishments

Six Schools Nationally recognized.
Montgomery Public Schools has six of the 20 best high schools and three of the top 10 elementary and middle schools in the state of Alabama, according to U.S. News and World Reports. LAMP High continued its long streak of being ranked the best high school in the state. It is also ranked the seventh-best magnet school and the 17th best overall high school in the nation. Booker T. Washington Magnet High was ranked as the 11th best high school in the state, and Brewbaker Technology Magnet High came in at number 20. Forest Avenue Academic Magnet is ranked as the second-best elementary school in the state, and Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet was ranked fourth and Floyd Middle Magnet ranked seventh among middle schools.

SEVEN SCHOLARS RECOGNIZED AS AMONG NATION’S BEST
Seven MPS students were chosen as 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholar candidates. Being a Presidential Scholar is one of the nation’s highest honors for a high school student. Hailey Mullins of BrewTech, Amir Robinson of BTW, and Zoe G. Dryjanski, Hariaksha Gunda, Saad M. Khan, Yeachan Park and Cheyeon Yun of LAMP all were named candidates. Hailey and Amir were chosen as semifinalists, and Hailey eventually was named one of only three U.S. Presidential Scholars in the state of Alabama. Amir was the only Presidential Scholar in the Arts candidate in the state, and he was also honored during the 2022 Gordon Parks Foundation Gala in New York City.

Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.
MPS has five U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, with the latest being MacMillan International Academy in 2021. This designation is only given to 300 schools annually. 

Booming pre-K programs.
Montgomery Public Schools has Pre-K at the following elementary schools: Blount, Brewbaker Primary, Dannelly, Halcyon, Highland Avenue, Highland Gardens, King (MLK), McKee Pre-K Center, Pintlala, Southlawn, and Wares Ferry.

Advanced Placement Superstars.
MPS has over 20 AP course offerings with nearly 1,500 high school students taking one or more AP classes each school year. MPS also offers Pre-AP science, math, and English courses to middle school students.

More than $62 million in scholarship money was earned by MPS Seniors in 2021.

 Montgomery’s Magnet Schools

Montgomery Public Schools’ magnet programs are highly competitive programs that cover all grade levels with themes including technology, performing arts, and accelerated academics. Each year, the number of openings varies from school to school, with the most open slots available in kindergarten.

Each school has different entrance criteria. If a student meets the criteria they are then selected by a random selection process. Only one application should be submitted per year. Contact the magnet schools for program descriptions and entry requirements.

For more information, visit www.mps.k12.al.us

Elementary Magnet
Programs (Grades K-5)

Bear Exploration Center
(334) 284-8014 • 2525 Churchill Dr
www.bear.mps-al.org
Principal:  Nina Williams
Emphasis: Math, science, and technology 

MacMillan International Academy
(334) 284-7137 • 4015 McInnis Rd
www.macmillan.mps-al.org
Principal: Faith Goshay
Emphasis: International studies, communications, and technology

Forest Avenue Academic Magnet
(334) 269-3673 • 1700 W Fifth St
www.forestave.mps-al.org
Principal: Emily Farmer
Emphasis: Accelerated academics

Carver Elementary and Arts Magnet
(334) 269-3625 • 3100 Mobile Dr
www.carverelem.mps-al.org
Principal: Juan Henderson
Emphasis: Performing and visual arts

Middle School Magnet Programs (Grades 6-8)

Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet
(334) 269-3870 • 410 S McDonough St
www.baldwin.mps-al.org
Principal: Kimberly Copeland
Emphasis: Accelerated academics and technology; Performing and visual arts

High School Magnet Programs

Booker T. Washington Magnet High
(334) 269-3617 • 3315 Hayneville Rd
www.btw.mps-al.org
Principal: Quesha Starks
Emphasis: Creative and performing arts, communication arts, technology, law, air and space studies

Brewbaker Technology Magnet High
(334) 284-7100 • 4405 Brewbaker Dr
www.brewtech.mps-al.org
Principal: Jason Norred
Emphasis: Architecture/engineering, commerce, graphic design, information technology, medical sciences

Loveless Academic Magnet Program High
(334) 284-7500 • 3440 McGehee Rd
www.loveless.mps-al.org
Principal: Matthew Monson
Emphasis: College preparatory

 

 Montgomery Public Schools Career Academies are programs offered beginning in middle school that help students acquire the skills they need to fulfill college or technical school entrance requirements, receive industry certification, or immediately move into the workforce after graduation.

Students have the flexibility to explore programs of study in fields such as advanced manufacturing, hospitality and tourism, information technology, business, public safety, and more.

These programs combine hands-on technical training with core academic classes and project-based instruction in small learning communities, designed to reflect the real-world environments students will work in.

Career tech students gain practical career experience through internships with local businesses, dual enrollment opportunities with two and four-year institutions, and interaction with professionals in the fields they are interested in. For more information, call the MPS Career Tech Office at 334-269-3613.

MPACT
(334) 613-9177  •  2901 East South Blvd
www.mpact.mps-al.org
Principal: Kendrick Britford
Emphasis: Career tech
Founded in 2012, the Montgomery Preparatory Academy for Career Technologies (MPACT) offers highly skilled training in high-paying technical fields such as building science and construction management, electrical technology, HVAC, welding and metal fabrication, coding, and advertising design. In 2016, the school added medical science and industrial systems.

New Pilot Program at Maxwell Elementary/ Middle School
The Department of Defense Education Activity recently launched a four-year pilot program for open enrollment in early June 2021 at Maxwell Elementary/ Middle School for children of full-time, active-duty military who live beyond the Maxwell Air Force Base or Gunter Annex installation gates.