The History of Heartwood Day School

In 2005, nine students and three teachers gathered in Birmingham, Alabama, to start their first day at a new school. This school was unlike any other offering in the city at the time and was founded by a group of educators and parents with a common thought: What would education look like if it aimed to foster the whole person and encourage them to be full participants in life?

For a fifth of a century, this secret treasure, Red Mountain Community School (RMCS), has been nestled in Birmingham, offering an affordable, simple, independent school for all people.

When the founder of RMCS retired and moved to Washington, DC in 2023 to be closer to family, she was not envisioning starting another school, but as her time in Washington continued, there became a desire to create a similar community to the one at RMCS. There is also a clear need for schools that foster community, promote a relationship with nature, and nurturing a child's curiosity to encourage students to become life-long learners.

Recognizing that many current educational practices actually deter from the hope of nurturing students who are full participants in all of life, we committed ourselves to an unhurried, liberal arts, locally-based education that fosters a community-minded, collaborative spirit. The most surprising thing about this work is that since they started, we’ve seen article after article, book after book, essay after essay affirm us.

An emphasis on Hospitality, Participation, Presence and Attention, Mystery, Suffering and Resilience, Rhythm and Ritual, and Fearlessness - habits that have been core tenants of RMCS since our earliest days - have now emerged as vital practices of children’s education. 

Over the last 20 years, RMCS is proud to celebrate: 

• 29 graduates who have gone on to attend Auburn University, Birmingham-Southern College, Savannah College of Art and Design, University of Colorado at Denver, Warren Wilson College, Indiana University, Toronto Film School, St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD and the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

• 85% return rate for teachers, including two teachers who are celebrating their 15th year at RMCS;

• Socioeconomic, racial, religious, and culturally diverse community;

• Rich and unique offerings and schooling for parents, with much needed guidance and familial support such as retreats, reading groups, and more;

• Enriching and long-standing relationships with Birmingham conservation sites such as Black Warrior River Keepers, Freshwater Landtrust, and Alabama Audubon; and

• Annual trips to the Equal Justice Initiative and collaborations with the Klein Wallace Arts Organization who are committed to challenging racial and economic injustice, and helping our community understand how they can disrupt systems of oppression and contribute to a more just, equitable Birmingham.

We hope in 20 years, our new community, Heartwood Day School can boast of the same meaningful achievements.