Education Alternatives in Mobile, AL

For parents concerned about the future a city has to offer to their children, the education system in Mobile should be quite appealing. While the city does share some of the typical educational problems common in the United States (low funding for inner city schools, infrequent episodes of violence, schools in need of valve repair and other improvement projects) the diverse nature of the education available in the city tend to offset these for more concerned parents. Let's see just what Mobile has to offer its future leaders in the way of education.

The public education in Mobile is also the system in which most of the city's students are enrolled. The public system means parents do not have to worry about money beyond average schooling expenses when sending their children to school. It also means a guaranteed range of learning experiences through a state developed curriculum, which may include everything from advanced grammar classes to trades shops equipped by a woodworking machinery supplier.

Of course, one of the biggest criticisms of any public school system is that some students fail to realize their full potential as teachers must concentrate on the entire spectrum. The state of Alabama has sought to address this issue through the creation of the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science. The school attracts students from around the state, from Arab to Barrie. Catering specifically to high school students, the school's population is made up of those who have been identified by their teachers as excelling in the areas of math, science, and leadership.

It is a public school, thus students and their parents are not expected to pay heavy tuition fees. Instead, books, tuition, and even room and board are covered through a funding partnership between the state and the school's Foundation. The idea is to select students who will offer the best chance at a bright future for the state, rather than have them graduate into a life where they must weld joint straps or conduct some other menial activity.

For parents who can afford the tuition, Mobile also has several private schools, run for the most part by the Catholic Church. These schools, along with one or two Baptist schools, combine basic education with religious training for their students. There is also one preparatory school in the city, UMS-Wright Prep. It is non-religious and co-educational in nature.

Finally, the city of Mobile contains several institutions of higher learning and trades development. Included among these is the University of South Alabama, a public institution which can offer degrees up to the doctorate level. Some programs include the doctorate of pharmacy and the school of nursing.

Bishop State Community College tends to attract students of African American heritage. The institution offers many different associate degrees as well as trades training facilities where students can gain certification in trades from welding to plumbing (don't forget your supplies and tools, complete with corrugated plastic container!).

Public and private education, upper level opportunities, and trades schools in the city of Mobile ensure that is a place where parents can be assured of a bright future for their children.