Two-hundred Alabama schools have been selected as official Alabama Bicentennial Schools, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Friday.

Ivey launched the initiative in December to encourage all students, whether in public, private or homeschools, to take part in the state's upcoming 200th birthday. Alabama officially became the 22nd U.S. state on Dec. 14, 1819.

Superintendents, principals, teachers, students, and administrators from the 200 schools gathered with Ivey and state legislators for the announcement Friday morning.

“It makes me so proud to see such a strong showing of schools participating in the program. It is an honor to recognize these outstanding schools and their projects as we head into Alabama’s bicentennial year,” Ivey said. “The Alabama Bicentennial celebration is about bringing communities together and getting all of our citizens involved. The schools being honored are a great representation of that goal.”

Approximately 400 proposals were submitted after every K-12 school in the state was invited to submit one that engages in outreach and improvement projects to connect their classrooms with their local communities, the governor's office said.

After local educators, community leaders, and private citizens narrowed down the proposals, the governor's office chose the official schools and awarded them grants of $2,000 to get their projects started. Fifty-six other schools were given honorable mentions and grants valued at $500. 

The projects range from oral history projects to community gardens to mentorship programs.

“One of the core objectives of the bicentennial is to get Alabamians thinking about what makes our state special, and what they want it to be,” said Steve Murray, co-chair of the Bicentennial Commission’s Education Committee. “The terrific projects developed by the Alabama Bicentennial Schools will create opportunities for students to learn about the importance of community, and to discover the ability they have to shape the future of their corner of the state.”

The Alabama Bicentennial Schools Initiative is presented in partnership by Alabama 200, the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH), and the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE).

The schools will submit a report about their project in the summer of 2019 and in December 21, or three from each of the state's seven congressional districts, will be designated as an Alabama Bicentennial School of Excellence.

Official Alabama Bicentennial Schools by County

Clarke County
Clarke County High School
Jackson Intermediate School
Wilson Hall Middle School