Opelika City Schools
Opelika City Schools has over 5000 students enrolled and is accredited by the AdvancED Accreditation Commission. OCS consists of three elementary schools (K-2) - Carver, Jeter, and Southview; three intermediate schools (3-5) - West Forest, Morris Avenue and Northside; one sixth grade school-Fox Run; one middle school (7-8) - Opelika Middle School; one high school (9-12) - Opelika High School; and an alternative learning program at The Opelika Learning Center. Opelika City Schools also has a Pre-K program that is a partnership with the City of Opelika and the State of Alabama’s First-Class Pre-K program. The program currently enrolls six classes and participants are selected through a lottery drawing each year.
In May of 2023, the Opelika City Schools completed a five-year strategic plan to provide a framework for ongoing efforts to provide all Opelika students with a high-quality educational experience. Members of the strategic planning team included school administrators, teachers, instructional coaches, and community stakeholders. The process confirmed our mission of “Educating Every Child, Every Day” and updated our vision to “inspire and empower all students in a safe, nurturing environment through a rigorous educational experience which will prepare them for a life that is both meaningful and successful.”
The Opelika City Schools work every day to educate students by building strong foundations in reading and math while enriching their education through the arts and music. In all grades, technology is used as an immersive learning tool that provides students with experiences and background knowledge to allow the content to become more relevant to student learning. The STEM curriculum begins in kindergarten to build project based learning and critical thinking skills early on. As students progress through middle school, they have the opportunity to participate in exploratory classes that complement the core curriculum.
At Opelika High School, students are offered classes at every level. Opportunities in Advanced Placement classes, Dual Enrollment classes, and Career Tech pathways help prepare students for the future. Many students identify career interests and earn certifications after taking career tech classes or earn college credit after earning a qualifying score on an AP test. Dual enrollment allows students to earn high school and college credits simultaneously. OHS currently has dual enrollment relationships with Southern Union State Community College, Auburn University, and the University of Alabama. In addition, OHS offers a Ready to Work course that is designed for seniors who are exploring alternatives to a four-year university immediately following high school. The curriculum consists of training modules in Technology Basics, FDIC, Communication, Workplace Behaviors, Problem-Solving, and Job Prep. The goal is to not only provide students with employment opportunities, but to also meet the workforce demands in Opelika. Career Tech Pathways include Agriculture, Culinary Arts, Engineering, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Marketing & Finance, Education & Training, and Video Production. The Health Sciences Department recently purchased a full-scale classroom ambulance that allows students to learn about EMT and other medical skills in a true setting. Health science students also work with many healthcare partners within the community to increase their knowledge and real-world experience.
Students at Opelika High School also have opportunities in the arts, athletics, and many extracurricular activities. OHS offers a variety of courses including video production, publishing, guitar, theatre, art, choir, show choir, band, horticulture, culinary, engineering, information technology, and health sciences. In 2023, the Opelika High Theatre Society was selected as the only high school theatre program in the State of Alabama to perform Disney’s Frozen.
In addition to academics, Opelika City Schools values the relationships between students and teachers as one of the most important parts of an education. Our highly qualified teachers and staff are personally invested in building relationships with our students and families. Whether students plan to attend college or enter the workforce right out of high school, the Opelika City Schools work to educate every child, every day to ensure every child is prepared for a bright future.
