Jackson County Economic Development Authority - (256) 574-1331

The Scottsboro City School System ranks consistently in the top 20% of Alabama's public school systems based on various test scores. It is one of only 65 school systems from a total of 131 in Alabama that has earned accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) for every school in the system. The per-pupil expenditure is approximately 40% above the state average.

Scottsboro High School

The Jackson County School System is constantly investing in facility improvements and equipment and invests more in their students than the average school system in Alabama. Alabama dedicates a higher percentage of its state expenditures to education than any other state in the Southeast - 32% above the national average. Jackson County schools consistently score above the state and national average on standardized tests and score among the top systems in the state on the Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing. Quality instruction is also of paramount importance.

Over two-thirds of Jackson County and Scottsboro City classroom teachers have attained a Masters degree or better educational level. Both public systems are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, both have on-going technical preparation courses at the high school level, and both offer dual-enrollment. More intense "hands-on" skills training is available at the shared Ernest Pruett Center of Technology.

Ernest Pruett Center of Technology (EPCOT) is an educational extension that provides advanced training for students of the eight high schools in Scottsboro and Jackson County. The school, located on a lovely 40-acre campus located in Hollywood, Alabama adjacent to the Jackson County Industrial Park, has a variety of state-of-the-art equipment not available at all schools. Classes in all of the programs are made available in the evenings to accommodate the needs of industry and adult education. EPCOT also offers apprenticeship programs to interested businesses.

Northeast Alabama State Community College (NACC) offers a growing Technical Division including Industrial Electronics, Drafting and Design, Industrial Maintenance and more. They also offer two-year degrees in many disciplines for immediate application in a chosen career field or for transfer to nearby four-year colleges in Huntsville and Chattanooga within an hour's drive (see below).

The Alabama Technology Network (ATN) Center is on NACC campus as a resource to assist businesses and industries in Northeast Alabama to remain globally competitive. Ronnie Kisor is the director and can be reached at (256)638-8968 or via e-mail at rkisor@atn.org. ATN's offer a wide variety of consulting services in the areas of: technology transfer, lean manufacturing, quality system services such as six sigma and ISO, workforce issues such as training, safety, leadership, employee turnover, & strategic management, industrial marketing, computer and network training, and much more.

Drake Technical College in Huntsville offers 12 to 21-month skills training programs for associate degrees in 14 career fields such as Industrial Electronics, Drafting Design, Computer Science CNC, etc.

University of Alabama in Huntsville (45 miles)
Huntsville, AL
256-824-6335
Enrollment: 7,000

University of Tennessee in Chattanooga(60 miles)
Chattanooga, TN
423-425-4363
Enrollment: 9,000

Impact Learning Center: The Impact Learning Center is the Workforce Development arm of the Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Recognizing that a well-educated and well-trained workforce are key elements in economic and community development, our mission is to provide basic education, jobs skills training and higher educational opportunities for all the citizens of Jackson County, Alabama. We have been doing this since 1993.

Other public and private colleges are available within a one-hour drive.