West Elementary School
| West Elementary School | |
| |
| Established | 1956 |
|---|---|
| School type | Public elementary |
| District | Cullman City Schools |
| Grades | 2-6 |
| Principal | Jay Page |
| Enrollment | 595 (2022) |
| Colors | black & gold |
| Mascot | Bearcats |
| Location | 303 Rosemont Avenue Southwest Cullman |
| Website | wes.cullmancats.net |
West Elementary School is one of two elementary schools in Cullman, operated by the Cullman City Schools system. It was founded in 1956 and is located on Rosemont Avenue Southwest, adjacent to Nesmith Park. Children in grades K-1 attend Cullman City Primary School, and 7th grades pass on to Cullman Middle School. Currently the school has an enrollment of just under 600 pupils taught by 46 faculty members with 19 support staff.
The school was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a "National Blue Ribbon School" in 2009. In 2020, a conceptual strategic plan developed for the system envisioned closing the city's two elementary schools and replacing them with an expanded primary school and a new Cullman Intermediate School. An alternate plan called for constructing additional classrooms at the existing school. In 2021 the board announced that it would proceed with construction of an intermediate school, but was also planning multipurpose building additions to the two elementary schools.
In 2023 West Elementary School was the site of a pilot project to install "Rapid Access Safe Room System" folding panels in two classrooms. The lockable screen wall system was designed by Kevin Thomas to provide the equivalent protection from gunfire as National Institute of Justice Level III body armor. They were manufactured locally by his KT Security Solutions.
Principals
- Jay Page, 2013–
References
- Mann, W. C. (August 20, 2020) "Cullman City Schools Strategic Building Initiative includes new intermediate, middle schools, expanded primary school." The Cullman Tribune
- Hanes, Tyler (May 20, 2021) "City schools projects entering design phase." The Cullman Times
- Tryens-Fernandes, Savannah (March 14, 2023) "Two Alabama classrooms now have $60,000 whiteboards that turn into gun, storm shelters." AL.com