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Welcome to Gardendale High School!

Mission:
Gardendale High School is committed to creating an environment where learning is a priority for all.

Vision:
Gardendale High School's vision is for all students to become life-long learners in an ever-changing, global society through rigorous and relevant curricula.

Community

Gardendale High School serves students from the communities of Gardendale, Mt. Olive, Brookside, and North Smithfield.  Gardendale High School is located in Gardendale, Alabama, 7 miles north of Birmingham.   GHS is one of thirteen high schools in the Jefferson County School System.  The current student population is 68% White, 31% African American, and 1% Hispanic. 39% of students receive Free and Reduced Lunch. There are 68 faculty members with 3 campus administrators, 2.5 counselors and 2 media specialists. There are 28 classified staff and a resource officer.

School
GHS is a comprehensive four-year public high school enrolling 1,044 students in grades 9–12.  The school opened in the fall of 1966 and moved to a new facility in March 2010.  GHS is accredited by the Southern Regional Education Board.

Curriculum
GHS’s mission is to create an environment where learning is a priority for all. As we move forward, not only will learning be a priority for all, but all students will graduate college and career ready. Currently, GHS offers ten Advanced Placement (AP) classes including U.S. History I & II, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Computer Science, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, English Language, English Literature, U.S. Government, and Psychology and as well as other courses available through ACCESS Distance Learning Courses. Honors classes are offered in English 9, English 10, Geometry with Data Analysis, Algebra I with Probability, Algebra II with Stats, World History, Biology, Anatomy and Chemistry. A variety of career and technical classes are offered in the pathways of Welding, Automotive Services and Collision Repair, Computer Science, Business Management, Food and Nutrition, Sports Medicine, Cosmetology, Advertising Design, and Engineering and Architectural Design.  Students can enroll in dual enrollment classes at various local colleges.  GHS also offers dual enrollment courses taught at GHS by college instructors.

Grading and Ranking

Rank

District policy designates that all students who earn the Advanced Academic Endorsement and a 4.0 GPA and higher receive the rank of #1.  Jefferson County does not recognize salutatorians and valedictorians. 

Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation

GPA is computed using the above quality points. Beginning with grade nine, all subjects, whether passed or failed, are included in the computation.   A minimum of 24 credits is required for graduation.  Students can earn endorsements (Fine Arts, Career Tech, Advanced Academic) with 30 earned credits and a 3.0 GPA.  Honor Graduates earn the Advanced Academic Endorsement and have at least a 4.0 GPA.  Grades are recorded on the transcript and GPA is computed in January and May.

Class of 2023
There were 237 graduates in the Class of 2023.

• 37 earned a 4.0+ and the Advanced Academic Endorsement

• 175 students took 376 AP exams and scored 3+ on 78 exams (total for GHS)

Post High School Placement Class of 2020

• 44% matriculated to 4-year colleges

• 20% matriculated to 2-year institutions

• 35% selected work, military service or technical instruction

Colleges Attended by GHS Graduates from the Last Four Years

• Alabama A&M

• Alabama State University

• Arizona State University

• Arkansas State University

• Auburn University

• Belhaven University

• Bellarmine University

• Berry College

• Bevill State Community College

• Birmingham-Southern University

• The Citadel

• Clark-Atlanta University

• Cowley Community College

• Enterprise State Community College

• Fort Lewis College

• Georgia State University

• Georgia Tech

• Harding University

• Huntingdon College

• Itawamba Community College

• Jacksonville State University

• Jefferson State Community College

• Kennesaw State University

• Lane College

• Lawson State Community College

• Liberty University

• Lipscomb University

• Louisiana State University

• Marion Military College

• Martin Methodist College

• Middle Tennessee State University

• Miles College

• Mississippi State University

• Northwestern University

• Oakwood University

• Samford University

• Savannah State University

• Shorter University

• Southern Union Community College

• Spelman College

• Snead State Community College

• Stanford University

• Stillman College

• Tennessee State University

• Transylvania University

• Troy University

• Tuskegee University

• University of Alabama

• University of Alabama-Birmingham

• University of Alabama-Huntsville

• University of Arkansas

• University of Florida

• University of Memphis

• University of Montevallo

• University of North Alabama

• University of South Alabama

• University of West Alabama 

• University of West Virginia

• USNA

• UT Chattanooga

• Valdosta State University

• Wallace State Community College

• Xavier University Louisiana