EPIC and Brookwood Forest named National Blue Ribbon Schools

EPIC Elementary School in Birmingham. (Pat Byington / Bham Now)

Two Birmingham area elementary schools were named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.

EPIC Alternative Elementary School from Birmingham City Schools and Mountain Brook School District’s Brookwood Forest Elementary School received the honor in late September.

Five Blue Ribbon Schools in 2024

In 2024, 356 schools nationwide were recognized for excelling in academic performance or making significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups.

This year five Alabama schools were named 2024 Blue Ribbon Schools. The other three schools recognized outside of the Birmingham metro area are:

• Cullman: East Elementary School
• Dothan: Carver School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology
• Hartselle: Crestline Elementary School

Two-time Blue Ribbon School honorees

Both EPIC and Brookwood Forest have been named Blue Ribbon Schools in the past.  EPIC, which was established in 1972, received the honor in 1993. Brookwood Forest earned the honor during the 1998-99 school year.

Each school in the Mountain Brook school district has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School at least once, according to the school system.

In addition to excelling academically schools that apply to become a Blue Ribbon School are asked to document the following qualities:

• School culture 
• Curriculum 
• Assessments
• Instructional practices
• Professional development,
• Leadership
• Family and community involvement

Do you have connections to either EPIC or Brookwood Forest schools? Tell us your favorite memories about the schools on Bham Now’s social media by tagging us at @bhamnow!

Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.