Alexander City Schools - History

History

The Alexander City schools were affected historically by desegregation efforts within Alabama. By the fall of 1970, the 31% minority student total of the public school system was distributed within the then-existing schools as follows:

• Jim Pearson Elementary (Grades 1-2) total enrollment of 704 numbered 235 Negro and 469 other students. At the same time, the school had 9 Negro teachers and 21 other teachers on its 30-member faculty.
• Laurel Elementary (Grades 3-4) total enrollment of 652 numbered 213 Negro and 439 other students. At the same time, the school had 9 Negro teachers and 19 other teachers on its 28-member faculty.
• Russell Elementary (Grades 5-6) total enrollment of 662 numbered 200 Negro and 462 other students. At the same time, the school had 9 Negro teachers and 15 other teachers on its 24-member faculty.
• Alexander City Junior High (Grades 7-9) total enrollment of 1,102 numbered 369 Negro and 733 other students. At the same time, the school had 13 Negro teachers and 32 other teachers on its 45-member faculty.
• Benjamin Russell High (Grades 10-12) total enrollment of 806 numbered 204 Negro and 602 other students. At the same time, the school had 9 Negro teachers and 35 other teachers on its 44-member faculty.

In 2005 the Alexander City Schools system was awarded district accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). All graduates of Benjamin Russell High School gain two years of tuition-free education through the Central Alabama Community College under the Gateway to Education Scholarship Program, which was awarded the National Civic Star Award by the American Association of School Administrators in 2007.