Ramsay's campus was designed by the firm of Warren Knight and Davis with
William B. Ittner of
St Louis, Missouri, as a consulting architect. The design called for multi-story facades facing north and south, wings for a cafeteria and auditorium, and expansive terraces. Only the south-facing portion of the central building was finished.
The school opened on September 19, 1930, and was accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1932. The auditorium and athletic facilities were constructed in 1949, and a flat-roofed annex was added onto the main building in 1962.
In 1975, Ramsay High School became a
magnet school that served
gifted students from throughout the city. It is now an
International Baccalaureate school and the only Birmingham city school to focus exclusively on college preparation.
A $21 million renovation was completed in 2009, resulting in a new science wing, competition gym, ROTC program space, counseling office, and cafeteria. The 1962 "flat top" annex was demolished to expand the school's courtyard and parking lot.[2]
Student profile
Enrollment in grades 9-12 for the 2013–14 school year is 758 students. Approximately 99% of students are African-American and 1% are white. Roughly 61% of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch.[5]
Ramsay has a graduation rate of 99%. Approximately 95% of its students meet or exceed proficiency standards in both reading and mathematics. The average
ACT score for Ramsay students is 22 and the average
SAT composite is 1450.[6]
Academics
International Baccalaureate Program
The
IB Diploma Programme at Ramsay High School is a challenging and comprehensive two-year curriculum for motivated high school students. Juniors and seniors take six rigorous courses in the following subject groups: English; second language; experimental sciences; the arts; math; and individuals and societies. IB students also engage in three core requirements: an extended essay (4,000 words); theory of knowledge (interdisciplinary course); and creativity, action, service (community service). The IB Diploma Programme is an academically challenging and balanced pre-university program of education with final examinations that prepares students for success at university and in life beyond.[7]
Phillip Alford, actor who appeared as the character Jem Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). Alford's other acting credits include: Fair Play (1972), The Intruders, Shenandoah, and Bristle Face.[10]