Birmingham University School
| Birmingham University School | |
 | |
| Active | 1922–1975 |
|---|---|
| School type | private |
| District | N/A |
| Grades | 6-12 |
| Colors | |
| Mascot | Knights |
| Location | 3609 Montclair Road, (map) Birmingham |
Birmingham University School ("BUS") was a private college preparatory school founded in 1922 by Basil Parks. It merged with the Brooke Hill School for Girls in 1975 to form the Altamont School.
The school featured a wide array of academic associations such as a Latin club, drama club, as well as a debate team. BUS' athletic program included football, basketball, baseball, soccer, as well as track & field teams. The school mascot was the Knights and its yearbook was called the Equestria. Its motto was pro virili parte ("to the best of one's ability"). The school's philosophy was related thus in the 1962 yearbook:
"The School is definitely a college preparatory school for boys. It is dedicated to excellence in education. In order to attain high goals of educational proficiency, student applicants are carefully screened to determine capability and aptitudes as prerequisites for admission.
An enriched curriculum provides unusual challenges for intelligent reasoning and accelerated learning in the areas of English, modern languages, mathematics, science, history and civics.
Small classes taught by thoroughly qualified men teachers insure ideal results.
Incentives, skillful guidance and encouragement are tremendous factors in the development of skills and character traits that lead to success in this school and in the field of higher education." (p. 7)
In 1954 the school moved into a new campus at 3609 Montclair Road, along the Mountain Brook / Birmingham city limits. The campus was comprised of two main academic buildings and a gymnasium adjacent to the five-acre Erskine Ramsay Park, of which it had use as an athletic field.
BUS initially offered courses for elementary, middle, and high school grades, but by the school's final year of operation in 1975, the school only offered grades 6 through 12. Although the school was founded as an all-male institution, by the 1973-1974 academic year, the school employed female faculty and admitted female students.
Gallery
Montclair Road Campus in 1960
BUS Campus in 1975
Headmasters
- Basil Parks, 1922–
- Clyde Orr, –1962
- Frank C. Marshall Jr, 1963–1968
- Miles Lovelace, 1968–
References
- Equestria, vv. 1960, 1962, 1974, and 1975; archived on the Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections at [1].