City of Semmes Exploring Forming School System

SEMMES, Ala.
By Dale Hines

BlueRAMMedia.com

March 18, 2025

The City of Semmes said that they are exploring forming their own school system and breaking away from being part of the Mobile County Public School System.

City leaders acknowledged that a lot of planning and finances would go into the formation of their school system and that they have just begun their due diligence in this matter.

Earlier this month, the city council authorized a contract with an educational consultant to conduct a study to determine what those costs would be and the challenges that the city could face if it decides to split from the Mobile County Public School System.

Semmes Mayor Brandon Van Hook says for years citizens have voiced their interest in creating a city of Semmes school system.

“Anybody can see that Semmes is growing. We have more subdivisions coming out here which brings more people, more kids, and our schools are already full to the limits already. Our schools are overpopulated, so that is one of the driving forces,” said Van Hook.

The pros of splitting, Van Hook says, are that Semmes will be able to compare themselves to other municipal school systems. He says just look at Saraland City School District and its success.

Semmes recently started their own police department, hired a police chief and has a staff of patrol officers that respond to all law enforcement calls within city limits.
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies are still called in to assist them when necessary.

MCPSS is the largest school system in the state of Alabama, and  the mayor said that they want to focus more on their local children. That is what it is about. It is about our children.

At this point, Van Hook says he is unsure of what disadvantages this decision could have, but he hopes the study can help identify them.

Van Hook says some preliminary work needs to be done before the study can begin, but he hopes it will start in January. It is expected to take 7 to 8 months.

Several schools in Baldwin County have also broken away from the county school system.
The Orange Beach City Council voted unanimously (6-0) to form a city school system in March 2022.

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