Montgomery Schools Weigh Agriculture Charter School
Montgomery Public Schools is seeking education partners for a proposed agricultural, industrial, environmental and natural science charter academy.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Administration
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Montgomery Public Schools issued a request for proposals for educational design and implementation services for the proposed Montgomery Agricultural Innovation Academy, a specialized public charter school. The district is converting the Dunbar-Ramer school project toward the academy, with a community interest meeting set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Pintlala Elementary School.
Why it matters
The district has lost roughly 300 students in each of the past two school years, and the proposal is part of an effort to expand educational options and reverse that decline. The move comes as Alabama announced a statewide K-12 enrollment decline of about 12,000 students, a trend that bears directly on Montgomery families and school planning.
Montgomery Public Schools has seen enrollment fall by approximately 300 students in each of the past two school years, while Alabama's statewide K-12 enrollment declined by about 12,000 students. The proposed academy's final operating model and selected education provider have not yet been determined.
The players
Montgomery Public Schools
The public school district serving Montgomery, Alabama, which is seeking partners to launch a new agricultural charter academy to address enrollment declines.
Eric Mackey
Alabama's state superintendent of education, who announced the statewide K-12 enrollment decline of about 12,000 students.
Zickeyous Byrd
The superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools since May 2025, overseeing the district's expansion of magnet and International Baccalaureate programs.
The details
The district issued a request for proposals to qualified education service providers, in partnership with an eligible independent governing board or applicant, for a school to be known as the Montgomery Agricultural Innovation Academy. The solicitation is limited to educational services, while the district proposes to provide managerial, administrative and shared operational services; the district is also expanding International Baccalaureate programs and developing additional magnet options.
Timeline
May 2025: Zickeyous Byrd became superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools.
October: Alabama Education Superintendent Eric Mackey announced a statewide enrollment decline of about 12,000 K-12 students.
Thursday, 5:30 p.m.: Community interest meeting at Pintlala Elementary School.
2028-2029 school year: Targeted opening of the Montgomery Agricultural Innovation Academy.
Health Landscape
The proposal follows Alabama's statewide K-12 enrollment decline of about 12,000 students announced by State Superintendent Eric Mackey in October. Montgomery's response of a specialized charter academy reflects how districts are trying to retain students amid that statewide trend.
Families in Montgomery with students in the district may see new specialized academy options if the charter proposal advances. The community interest meeting at Pintlala Elementary School on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. gives parents a direct opportunity to weigh in before any decision is made.
The takeaway
Enrollment shifts are pushing districts to rethink what they offer, and specialized programs like an agricultural academy are one way to keep students in the system. Parents interested in how the proposal could affect their children should attend the community meeting to ask questions directly.
Further reading
For more on how districts are handling school management and leadership, explore Administration coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 1819 News.
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