EDUCATION
Academic Matters
U P D A T E S F R O M T H E A L T A M O N T S C H O O L
college preparatory school, enrolling 365 students in grades 5 through 12. It was established in 1975
through the merger of Birmingham University School (founded in 1922) and Brooke Hill School
(founded in 1941). The mission of The Altamont School is to improve the fabric of society by
graduating compassionate, well-educated individuals who are innovative and honorable. They draw
students from 36 different zip codes and offer a college preparatory curriculum and a personalized
college search program. One hundred percent of graduates attend a four-year college or university;
more than 75% of them at an out-of-state school.
DID YOU KNOW?
Nearly one-third of the Altamont student body
takes a computer science class, starting as early as
5th grade. Classes range from web design, video
game creation, and 3D printing to college-level
AP courses.
ACADEMIC RECORDS
have earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT.
This year, six students in the senior class have a
perfect 36. The odds of this are incredibly rare.
On average, only one-tenth of one percent of
all test takers receive the top score. To put this
in perspective, among recent U.S. high school
graduates just 2,760 out of the more than two
million students who took the ACT reached a
composite score of 36.
LEADERSHIP THROUGH SERVICE
The C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Center
unique expression of leadership. Currently, there
are more than 80 student-led service projects
active in the Birmingham community.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ALTAMONT SCHOOL
One student leader is Benjamin Tang. He is
the current president of both the Basil M. Parks
chapter of the National Honor Society and
Altamont’s Mu Alpha Theta chapter. Tang also
presides over Altamont’s Honor Court. When he
saw a need for the women and children living at
The Lovelady Center, a residential rehabilitation
home for women, to have working technology for
their GED and after school programs, he went
to work on the problem. For two years, Tang has
worked to rebuild seven refurbished, functional
computers for Lovelady, and he continues to
provide computer donations and training to other
Maya Kitchens is another student who is
making a difference. As the vice president of
Altamont’s National Art Honor Society chapter
and a founding member of the Girlspring club,
Kitchens initial project started by volunteering in
the Art Cart Department at Children’s Hospital
of Alabama and grew to help in the ER, assisting
children who are waiting to see the doctor. She also
held numerous drives to collect crayons, coloring
books, Play-Doh, and other one-use items to keep
patients occupied while receiving care.