EDUCATION

from Discover Gardendale 2023

Gardendale Schools

school is home to about 330 students in K-5th grade. The “bestkept secret” in Jefferson County according to parents, Mount Olive Elementary was named the county’s i-Ready Super School for reading and math this past spring. Students attend school events like Kindness Matters assemblies and take field trips to places such as Birmingham Southern Environmental Center and the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center.

Gardendale Christian Academy

One of two private schools in the community, Gardendale Christian Academy provides quality education in a spiritual environment for K-5th grade. The school’s mascot is the knight, chosen to represent the qualities of a developing Christian faith. GCA is affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, and all religious classes, devotionals, and services are intended to equip students with basic Bible knowledge. Students attend weekly chapel, take Bible class, and participate in Christmas and end-of-year plays.

Bragg Middle School

Bragg Middle School endeavors to prepare responsible, educated students to adapt and be successful by providing a creative, meaningful curriculum implemented by an innovative staff in an environment conducive to learning. Originally a junior high, in 1996, faculty and administration embraced the concept of middle school, and the school was renamed Roy F. Bragg Middle School. The addition of 12 classrooms in spring 2002 changed the school’s configuration to a 6th-8th grade setup. Today, Bragg employs a teaching team approach, with two teams per grade level and a 25:1 student/teacher ratio. Bragg offers a variety of extracurricular activities in fine arts, athletics, academic clubs, and student government.

Gardendale High School

Gardendale High School enrolls 1,062 students from the city, as well as from the surrounding communities of Mount Olive, Brookside, and North Smithfield. The school is accredited by the Southern Regional Education Board. GHS’s mission is to create an environment where learning is a priority for all. The school offers 11 AP courses, as well as other courses available through ACCESS Distance Learning Courses, and honors classes. GHS also offers students career and technical classes in Welding, Automotive Services and Collision Repair, Computer Science, Business Management, Food and Nutrition, Sports Medicine, Cosmetology, Advertising Design, and Engineering and Architectural Design.

Tabernacle Christian School

A ministry of Gardendale Baptist Tabernacle, Tabernacle Christian School is a K3-12th grade institution that provides an excellent education combined with a Biblical worldview. The school is a member of the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS), a national conference that affords many opportunities in fine arts and academic competitions, honor society, and teacher conventions. In addition to academics, the school’s Tabernacle Torches teams participate in such sports as archery, baseball, football, and more.

Community Colleges

Though not located in Gardendale, both Wallace State and Jefferson State Community Colleges are within an hour’s drive and offer myriad degree options. In nearby Hanceville, Wallace State is designated as a military-friendly college, was the 2020 winner of the Innovation of the Year Award, named the safest college campus in Alabama in 2019, and was ranked among the top community colleges in the U.S. by the Aspen Institute three times in the last five years. In the Center Point/Pinson area, Jefferson State’s main campus serves more than 9,000 students. The school, which has affiliate campuses in Chilton, St. Clair, and Shelby Counties as well, offers degrees in 9 different fields, including liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities, health professions, and business, management, marketing, and related support services.