The Altamont School

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The Altamont School
Truth, Knowledge, Honor
Location
4801 Altamont Road
Birmingham, AL 35222
Information
Principal Sarah Whiteside
Enrollment

425
Faculty 54
Type Private
Grades 5-12
Athletics Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track and Field, Volleyball, Baseball, Fast Pitch Softball, Golf, and Swimming
Mascot Knight
Color(s) Gold, White, and Black
Established 1975
Information Phone: (205) 879-2006
Fax: (205) 871-5666
Homepage http://www.altamontschool.org

The Altamont School, located in Birmingham, Alabama atop Red Mountain, is a college preparatory day school with coeducational enrollment of grades 5-12. In 2005-2006, The Altamont School enrolled 425 students, with 188 in the Lower School and 237 in the Upper School. Most of the students live in Birmingham and the surrounding communities.

Contents

[edit] History

Altamont was established in 1975 as a merger between the Brooke Hill School, a college preparatory school for girls founded in 1940, and the Birmingham University School, founded in 1922 by Basil M. Parks.

Following the merger Edna Earle Mullins of Brooke Hill became headmistress of the new school and Bill Haver of B.U.S. became assistant-headmaster. One year later, Edna Mullins retired and Bill Haver became headmaster. Prominent roles were also played by Margaret Gage of Brooke Hill and Martin Hames of B.U.S. The latter came to dominate the school's educational profile, first as dean of students and then, after the resignation of Bill Haver by request of the board, as headmaster.

Under Hames' leadership the school launched an extensive building campaign, renovating most of the campus and constructing new academic and athletic facilities. Following Hames' death in 2002, Thomas M. S. Wheelock served as headmaster from 2003-2007. Under his leadership the Altamont Parents Association was formed, the Honor Code was revitalized, and steps were taken to study in depth the curriculum, maintaining its integrity while preparing students for their lives in the 21st Century.

In November 2007, Sarah Whiteside took over as headmistress.

[edit] Campus

Altamont's main campus is located on 28 acres on the crest of Red Mountain just south of downtown Birmingham. The main school building houses 40 classrooms, two science wings, a fine arts Center, a student center, an art gallery and sculpture garden, a computer lab, a 20,000-volume library, and special studios for chorus, art, photography, orchestra. An audio-visual recording studio was recently added to the fine arts suite. The athletic facilities include two gymnasiums with two basketball courts, three volleyball courts and a weight room. The main campus offers six tennis courts, a soccer field and a track. A second campus provides another gymnasium as well as soccer, baseball, and softball fields.

[edit] Students, faculty, and administration

Approximately 80% of Altamont graduates matriculate to out of state colleges and universities. A total of 14% of the students in the Class of 2008 were named National Merit semifinalists, the highest percentage of a school in the state. The faculty consists of 54 teachers, of whom nearly three quarters hold Masters degrees or higher. Altamont is governed by a Board of Trustees. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] External links