Education

There is one DDESS Elementary School on Maxwell AFB. Students in grades 4 yr old preschool - 8th grade who reside in permanent housing on Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex are entitled to attend the DOD Elementary School located on Maxwell AFB. School Liaison Office, 334-953-6430.

There are 84 public schools in a 25 mile radius of Montgomery, Pike Road, Prattville, Millbrook, and Wetumpka educate children in grades kindergarten through 12. There are four county public school systems serving this area: Montgomery County School System; Autauga County School System; Pike Road School System; and Elmore County Schools. Transportation is provided to students enrolled in the public schools. All County public schools are accredited by the State of Alabama and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. A standard academic curriculum is available to students in all grades, and vocational centers serve those who are technically oriented. Innovative and challenging programs for the intellectually gifted and academically talented begin at the elementary school level and extend into high school where there are many advanced offerings. In addition, special schools serve blind, partially sighted, deaf, or partially deaf students. Speech therapy is available in all elementary schools, and homebound services exist for youngsters who are unable to attend classes. Special services are also available for students classified as educable mentally retarded, trainable mentally retarded, learning disabled and emotionally conflicted.

The following websites will give you information on schools in each of the county school systems such as bus routes, meals, before and after school programs, sports, exceptional children programs, enrollment size, student/teacher ratio, grading system etc.:

• Montgomery County Schools 
• Autauga County Schools
• Elmore County Schools
• Pike Road County Schools

Students living on base in grades 9-12 are zoned in the Montgomery County Public School System. Students at Maxwell are zoned for Carver Senior High School. Bus service is provided. Students living on Gunter are zoned for Lee High School, and bus service is provided.

Maxwell and Gunter both have a Base Education Center with professional guidance counselors available for both active duty and dependents on an appointment basis. The Base Education Center is the focal point for all education programs at Maxwell and Gunter. Available degree programs range from Associate through Doctorate. Professional guidance counselors are available for both active duty and dependents on an appointment basis. Complete testing facilities are available, to include CLEP, DANTES, SAT/ACT, and other specialized tests. Information pertaining to financial aid is available to all personnel, and tuition assistance is authorized for active duty personnel paying 75%. DISCOVER, a computerized career-planning program is available at Maxwell only. Counselors can also discuss commissioning opportunities, Operation Bootstrap, Educational Deferment, Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), PME enrollment, career planning, interest inventories, and educational opportunities at local and distant schools.

There are six colleges and universities in Montgomery with many academic programs available. Please see the Maxwell Home page for URLs for the universities.