With over 21,000 students and 2,800 employees, Shelby County Schools is the largest school district—and one of the largest employers — in Shelby County.
The district comprises 31 schools across seven school zones: Calera, Chelsea, Columbiana, Helena, Montevallo, Oak Mountain, and Vincent. Shelby County Schools also offers Virtual Shelby for high school students who maintain at least a C average and wish to participate in a virtual learning option.
Shelby County Schools is partnering with Jefferson State Community College to provide students with a new online opportunity through WKO 101: Workplace Skills Development.
This course is designed to help students build essential career readiness skills for a successful transition into the workforce.
Through a career interest assessment, students explore employment paths aligned with their strengths. Key components of the course include lessons on effective communication, résumé writing, and job application strategies.
Students who earn a grade of C or higher in WKO 101 will meet the requirement for a College and Career Readiness (CCR) Indicator, which is now necessary for graduation.
The district also has a partnership with the University of Montevallo to offer a dual-enrollment Health Concepts course. This semester-long course earns students one hour of college credit and satisfies the state’s Health and College and Career Readiness Indicator requirement for high school graduation.
This year, Shelby County Schools is launching Shelby 101, a new community outreach initiative designed to engage residents who are passionate about public education and interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the district, its schools, and its programs.
The purpose of Shelby 101 is to provide community members with an opportunity to learn more about the school district’s operations, including instructional and administrative services.
“We also want to create a sense of pride and knowledge among the program’s graduates, enabling them to act as informed advocates for our schools,” said Dr. Lewis Brooks, Superintendent of Education.
“Our community members are partners in the journey of preparing our students for success—both while they are with us and as they move on to the next phase of their lives. As valued partners, we want them to be well-informed regarding all aspects of the school district.”
Participants will meet six times during the 2025–2026 school year. Sessions will be held at various Shelby County Schools facilities across the county and will focus on different aspects of the school system. Each session will be facilitated by Shelby County Schools leaders with expertise in the relevant area.
