Academic excellence continues to rise across Mobile County Public Schools. Four MCPSS schools were recognized in Montgomery as being among Alabama’s Top 25: Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies, Council Traditional School, Eichold-Mertz School of Math, Science and Technology, and Old Shell Road School of Creative and Performing Arts.
Each year, the Alabama Department of Education announces its top-performing schools based on state report card data, including reading and math achievement, academic growth, attendance, and graduation rates.

“To have one school named to the Top 25 list would be a great achievement. To have four is truly remarkable,” said MCPSS Superintendent Chresal D. Threadgill. “I am so proud of the teachers, leaders, and staff members at these schools who have worked tirelessly to ensure their students receive the best education possible. I also commend our students, who come to class prepared and ready to learn each and every day.”

Barton, Council, and Eichold-Mertz are the only schools in southwest Alabama to earn a 100 on the state report card. Old Shell Road scored a 99.

Watch a video about Barton Academy's report card celebration at the USS Alabama Battleship, courtesy of mcpssTV.

Watch a video about Eichold-Mertz's academic parade and celebration, courtesy of mcpssTV.

Congratulations to Kimberly Jones, counselor at Nan Gray Davis Elementary, who attended the American School Counselor Association awards gala in Washington, D.C., last week as the Alabama School Counselor of the Year for 2026.
Also, at its February 12 meeting, the State Board of Education recognized Jones and honored the following MCPSS schools for earning Alabama School Counseling Programs of Distinction: Craighead Elementary, Eichold-Mertz School of Math, Science and Technology, North Mobile K-8, Pillans Middle, and B.C. Rain High.

February is Career Tech Month, a great time to spotlight the wide range of career pathways offered by the MCPSS Career and Technical Education Department. One of the new episodes of  "Homeroom" focuses on CTE instruction, including a discussion of MGM's horticulture program and a demonstration of culinary arts with a team from Williamson High. Watch it here on the mcpssTV YouTube channel.

Congratulations to Davidson High students who signed athletic scholarships: Football players Dylan Dunigan (left) and Kamron Mitchell (right), who signed with Huntingdon College and East Central (Miss.) Community College, respectively; and soccer player Lamar Najem (center), who signed with United States Sports University.

Congratulations to Alma Bryant High senior Cooper Roberts, who signed with the University of Mobile in bowling.

Each year, the Mobile Arts Council selects 20 art submissions from Mobile County Public Schools to be included in the State Superintendent's Visual Art Exhibit, which is on display at the Old Supreme Court Library of the Alabama State Capitol through March. Four student artists from Barton Academy were named as statewide award winners in the exhibit, and will be recognized at an awards ceremony later this spring. Their award-winning arts are posted above from left to right. The student winners are:

First Place, Marley Conner, Drawing, Grades 9-10
First Place, Zoe Parido, Drawing, Grades 7-8
First Place, Alisse Zuniga Sanchez, photography, Grades 5-6
Honorable Mention, Ashton Almanza, photography, Grades 7-8

Congratulations to Barton's art instructor, Christy LeGros!

Poetry Out Loud winners: A large group of Baker High theater students competed in the Mobile Arts Council's Poetry Out Loud: Region 1 Competition at the Ben May Main Library last weekend and swept top honors in both categories.
Morgan Zaborny was awarded first place in National Anthology for the third year in a row. Kalani Shehee and Jakobe Hill placed second and third, respectively. Isreal Fox took first place in the Original Poetry category, with Tamra Parker and Brantley Genry placing second and third.

NJROTC awards: Congratulations to Davidson High School’s NJROTC program, which brought back six awards from the recent Area‑16 Championship “Super Meet” in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Davidson's cadets took first place in the Academic Competition, Personnel Inspection and 16x100 Relay; second place in the Unarmed Exhibition Drill; and third place in Push-ups and Curl-ups.

STEM grants: Congratulations to teachers William Wilson of Lott Middle School and Karla McInnis of Mary G. Montgomery High, who recently secured Ingalls Future Shipbuilders STEM Grants from Ingalls Shipbuilding to enhance the STEM lessons in their classrooms. Out of more than 1,000 applications, Lott and Mary G. Montgomery were two of only 15 schools and educational programs across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to receive one of these grants.

Mardi Gras holidays: All MCPSS schools and offices will be closed from February 16 to February 18 for the Presidents Day and Mardi Gras holidays. In addition, February 19-20 are Professional Development Days for teachers, and there will be no school for students on those days.

Many of our schools held special Mardi Gras festivities. Click here to watch a video of the adorable Umbrella Parade at Just 4 Developmental Laboratory, courtesy of mcpssTV.

Augusta Evans Mardi Gras bead drive: The drop-off dates to donate Mardi Gras beads to Augusta Evans Special School are March 7 and 8 at the school, 6301 Biloxi Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. Those who donate at least 12 pounds of beads (about the size of a grocery bag) will receive a voucher for one dozen regular glazed doughnuts at Krispy Kreme. 

Board meetings: The Mobile County Board of School Commissioners will hold a work session on February 23 at noon, and its regular board meeting on February 25 at 10 a.m. 

The board's work sessions are recorded and uploaded to the mcpssTV YouTube channel. The board meetings are live-streamed on mcpssTV.

All meetings are held in the Board Room at MCPSS Central Office, located at 1 Magnum Pass in west Mobile. The schedule is here on the mcpss.com website.

Pre-K registration: Pre-registration for Alabama First Class Pre-K is open. Parents who want to be considered for a non-screening site must apply by February 27. More information is available at this link.

Career Fair: Do you know someone who would like to join #TeamMCPSS? The annual MCPSS Career Fair will be held at the Mobile Convention Center on March 17. Here is the link to learn more and to register.

New on the mcpssTV Network: The MCPSS YouTube channel includes a new episode of "Homeroom" featuring Burroughs Elementary, John Will Elementary, and Old Shell Road School of Creative and Performing Arts. Watch it here.

Nominate teachers and student athletes: Want to highlight a top-notch teacher or an outstanding athlete? Use these links to make your nominations for a Golden Apple or a Scholar Athlete award.

Email: communications@mcpss.com
Website: mcpss.com
Location: 1 Magnum Pass, Mobile, AL 36618
Phone: 251-221-4000
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Good Samaritan Program: Mobile County Public Schools is a participant in Goodwill's Good Samaritan Program. Use the yellow Donation Referral Card when you make a donation to any Goodwill Gulf Coast retail store, and Goodwill will give a credit voucher to MCPSS Student Support Services. (Donors will still receive a blue donation receipt for tax purposes.) The yellow donation cards have been distributed to all MCPSS schools; if you need one, please contact Sally Ericson. The Student Support Services Department uses the Goodwill vouchers to purchase clothing and items for our families in need.

George Hall Elementary is accepting donations for a Community Yard Sale to be held February 19-20, where families may purchase clothes and household items. This is fourth-grader Janayla Taylor's Red Ribbon Leadership service project. Half of the money raised will be donated to United Way and the other half will be utilized to purchase new uniforms for the school's uniform closet. Please drop off donations during school hours.