School starts in one week, and West Alabama Preparatory School wants its students and their parents to feel comfortable and welcome the minute the first bell rings.

West Alabama Prep is fully-accredited, offering a Christian-based curriculum. Students are taught through a system called ABecka–a program out of Pensacola Christian College. All coursework for students in preschool through sixth grade comes from ABecka, and some courses for higher grades are also ABecka.

In addition to basic courses, West Alabama Prep will also offer enrichment classes and bible study, both of which will be electives. Students will attend chapel service once a week.

Their academic program is particularly notable. West Alabama Prep students achieved SAT scores within the 60th to 80th percentile last year. The national average on SAT scores is the 50th percentile. West Alabama Prep even had some individual scores in the 90th percentile.

West Alabama Prep’s priority is “Aiming for Excellence in Spirit, Mind and Body.”

There is also a dedicated group of faculty and staff who will be working with students throughout the school year.

Principal Lynn Compton is a former West Alabama Prep teacher who is stepping up as principal this year. She is originally from Monroeville, and she is a graduate of Auburn University.

This year, West Alabama Prep teachers include Rachel Holtzclaw, Linda Henry, Lisa Martin, Jennifer Minor, Linda Farmer, Carolyn Bell, Carolyn Nelson, Bridgette Hartzell, Mona McPherson, Roxanne Gunn, Denise Meyer, Deitsi Lewis, Roger Campbell, Christina Barnes, Kay Geiger and Pat Stephens.

Other staff include Thelma Casper, secretary, Karen Cramer, officer administrator, Rosalie Pearson, counselor, Tommy Yelverton, athletic director, Marshall Murphy, head coach and Paul Willingham, assistant coach.

West Alabama Prep will have Open House at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 9. All students and their families are welcome to come and bring a picnic dinner. This will be an opportunity to meet faculty and staff. Students will also be able to pick up class schedules.

The football players will be there, and the West Alabama Prep cheerleaders, who just returned from camp with all superior ribbons, will perform.

Open House will take place in the cafeteria and outside on the playground.

Parents are asked to make a note of these upcoming dates:

August 10 – 1/2 day (first day of school)

August 11 – 1/2 day

August 12 – 1/2 day

August 15 through 18 – lunch will not be served

August 15 through 19 – break will be served

August 19 – pizza will be delivered

In addition to kindergarten through twelfth grade, West Alabama Prep has a preschool class and before and after school care for those students who need to arrive early to school or be picked up after 3 p.m. This service will be available from 6:30 a.m. until 8 a.m. and from 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

West Alabama Preparatory School is located at 1908 Mauvilla Drive in Demopolis. Contact the school at (334) 289-0452 and the daycare at (334) 289-0902.