Pictures of Montview Elementary, Challenger Middle, and Huntsville Junior High with the CLAS logo superimposed

Three Huntsville City Schools are among 32 schools across Alabama named Schools of Distinction by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS). CLAS hosted an awards luncheon on March 6, 2024 in Prattville, Alabama to celebrate these schools and showcase their programs and service to students.

From State School Board District 8, Schools of Distinction from HCS include Challenger Middle, Huntsville Junior High, and Montview Elementary. Additionally, Montview Elementary received the prestigious honor of being named a 2023 CLAS Banner School, the highest level of recognition with only one school awarded in each state school board district.

Montview Elementary received the recognition for its literacy program known as "School to Home." Since late 2020, the school has provided every student a free high-quality children's book every Friday to give students the opportunity to practice their reading skills and build a home library.

Challenger Middle School received recognition for Greenpower in which students build and race electric cars. Huntsville Junior High earned recognition for the Big Red Grocery Store where students operate a school-run market.

“Congratulations to these wonderful Alabama public schools which provide excellent examples of the significant learning opportunities taking place in public education in Alabama. Further, the stakeholders at every school are to be commended for striving for excellence daily,” said Vic Wilson, Ed.D., executive director of CLAS.

The CLAS Banner School program was created in 2001 to recognize schools in Alabama that showcase outstanding programs and service to students. Each school was nominated for this award by their superintendent with 240 schools nominated statewide.

Check out these schools' CLAS entry videos below!

Montview Elementary

Challenger Middle

Huntsville Junior High