By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—With the highest percentage of National Board Certified teachers in the state and a 98 percent graduation rate, the Hoover City School System has a lot to be proud of. On Nov. 19, HCS Superintendent Dr. Kathy Murphy updated the city’s business community on the school system’s accomplishments during the Hoover Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

“The list (of highlights) is extensive, and I could talk much longer than the 10 minutes they’ve given me,” Murphy said.

In addition to the system’s 144 National Board Certified teachers, HCS boasts seven Alabama Teachers of the Year.

Murphy also noted the school system’s academic achievements and impressive statistics.

Ninety-eight percent of the HCS class of 2015 graduated, and the students received roughly $54 million in scholarships.

“That says to me that we have a lot of good, great teaching and learning going on,” Murphy said.

Both Hoover and Spain Park high schools offer Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes in a plethora of subjects, and offer students an opportunity to direct their learning through a variety of subject-specific academies.

“We have a broad spectrum (of academic opportunities) that our students can participate in,” Murphy said.

Even at the elementary school level, students have a variety of academic opportunities. Riverchase Elementary School recently opened a STEAM classroom, for science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

“We really believe in the arts in Hoover City Schools,” Murphy said. “Some of our students are just artists, that’s the way they are.”

The Hoover City Schools student population has grown 165 percent since it was founded in 1988 with 5,243 students to the student body of 13,856 today. As the school system has grown, so has the diversity of the students.

Murphy highlighted Berry Middle School’s diversity, noting students at the school speak a combined 18 different languages.

“Please understand how diverse our community is, and please understand how diverse our community is becoming,” Murphy said.

Murphy said she is thankful for the opportunity to work in a system such as Hoover’s.

“Having done this for 31 years, and having seen some really great school districts… we are so blessed, we have so much,” Murphy said. “(This Thanksgiving) I’m going to be thanking God for Hoover.”