Avondale Elementary School
| Avondale Elementary School | |
| |
|
Birmingham City Schools |
| Years | 1887–present |
|---|---|
| Location | 4000 8th Court South, (map) Forest Park-South Avondale |
| Grades | K-5 |
| Principal | Ann Curry |
| Enrollment | 453 (2008) |
| Colors | purple and gold |
| Mascot | Eagles |
| Website | avondale.al.bce.schoolinsites.com |
Avondale Elementary School is an elementary school in the Birmingham City Schools system which is located at 4000 Avenue M Ensley. The principal is Ann Curry.
The school was established as a private school in the 1880s, utilizing a small frame house in the "pine grove" for classrooms. It became the property of the Town of Avondale at its incorporation in 1887. Subscriptions funded the construction of a two-story brick school building on the 4200 block of Avenue C in 1890. A four-room addition was completed in 1892. More expansion projects followed in 1899 and 1901.
The school became part of the Birmingham system when Avondale was annexed, along with several other municipalities, in the Greater Birmingham legislation of 1910. By 1923 the school's older buildings had been replaced by the modern two-story school building on 8th Courth South which still stands.
On August 16, 1936 a small bi-plane piloted by Jack Brazleton clipped the school's roof and landed in the playground. Brazleton and his passenger were injured, but survived.
Facing budget cuts in the 2000s, Principal Ann Curry and her faculty made a decision not to curtail arts programs at the school, calling the arts the "foundation" of a child's education. The school, supported by the Forest Park-South Avondale neighborhood, provides music and art classes after school and incorporates art appreciation and projects into the daily curriculum.
Principals
- Prof. Dunn: 1887-1892
- Prof. MacDonald: 1892-1894
- Robert Goodall: 1894-
- Preuit Holland
- Ann Curry: -present
Gallery
The Avondale School annex about 1900. courtesy BPL Archives
The 1890 and 1901 school buildings on Avenue C. courtesy BPL Archives
A Group of students demonstrate good posture in 1933. courtesy BPL Archives
References
- "History of Avondale School" (n. d.) typescript at the Birmingham Public Library archives - accessed March 16, 2009
- "Avondale School" (n. d.) typescript at the Birmingham Public Library archives - accessed March 16, 2009
- Bryan, Kim (March 16, 2009) "Arts stressed in every class at Avondale Elementary in Birmingham, Alabama." Birmingham News
External links
- Avondale Elementary School at schoolinsites.com