Hall Kent Elementary School, located on the corner of Cobb Street and Hall Avenue, is one of the oldest schools in Oxmoor Valley. Its beginning dates back to the old Zelosophian Academy founded by Dr. James Hall in 1883. This academy was Birmingham's first college and contained elementary, secondary, and college all in one. Located at the corner of Oxmoor and Green Springs on land donated by the Sellers family, the academy was torn down and replaced by a four-room structure and renamed Oak Grove School, which drew it's students from Rosedale, Green Springs, and Shades Mountain. Children would arrive on horseback and in carriages to this school where they could finish the full twelve grades. In 1927, Oak Grove School was destroyed by fire, and a five acre plot, where the school currently stands, was purchased by patrons of the community. The school was named in honor of Dr. James Blair Hall, the renowned Presbyterian minister and founder of the Zelosophian Academy, and Raleigh B. Kent, who was a leading donor and handled the arrangements for the purchase of the present site of the school.

The first facility to bear the name of Hall-Kent was a four classroom structure with outdoor plumbing and water fountains. It opened its doors to students for the first time in the Fall of 1928. There was no lunchroom so the children brought their lunches from home. The first principal was Mrs. J. F. McClain, and there were 3 other teachers. In 1928, parents organized the Hall-Kent Improvement Association (which would later become the PTO), and Mrs. Mary Robertson was the first PTO president. By 1930, two more teachers were hired. In 1930, Mrs. Claudia Farrell was President of the PTO and and prepared hot lunches for the students a few times a week. In the early 1930s, the PTO organized many events including silver teas, fish frys, chicken suppers, bridge luncheons, and bingo to raise money for textbooks and indoor plumbing for the school.

In 1935, the Hall-Kent Improvement Association held the first annual Fall Festival, and the proceeds enabled the school to purchase lunchroom equipment and open a lunchroom in one of the classrooms. The first lunchroom manager was Mrs. Annie Walker. The fall festivals in 1935 and 1936 were held on the hill between Carr Ave and Oxmoor Road in Mrs. Morris's pasture before the construction of I-65. A stage curtain and a piano were added to the school using festival proceeds. In the 1940s, the country was at war and the school went through difficult times. The lunchroom was closed; the faculty was reduced to three teachers to teach seven grades. The PTO raised $300.00 for a projector and screen. By the late 1940s, parents raised funds to add lighting and butane gas heat to replace the old pot-bellied stoves in each classroom. 

The fifties began with a school of 93 students, four teachers, and Mrs. Aileen Mitchell, who began as principal in 1951. Parents continued their physical and financial support of the school, donating funds for the addition of two classrooms, a wooden cafeteria, and a playground in 1951. In 1952, blinds were added to classroom windows and walks were built at the back of the school. The first brick section of Hall-Kent was built in 1955. This section included an auditorium, boys and girls restrooms, two additional classrooms, principal's office, and teachers lounge. In 1958, there were 255 students enrolled, compared to 233 in 1957. A new lunchroom manager was named in 1958, Mrs. Annie Clotfelter. In the late 1950s, a new stage curtain was purchased and the piano was reconditioned.

By 1960, four classrooms had been added to accommodate the expanding neighborhood around Hall-Kent. The auditorium was split into two classrooms to help with the rapidly growing student body. The 1960 brick addition also included a registrar office, coat room, and storage room. In 1966, there was a fire in the wooden annex of the school, and the wooden cafeteria was converted into a library, and a new lunchroom and kitchen were constructed. In all phases of facility construction, the parents were involved in finding funds to furnish the facility. Mrs. Mitchell remained as principal until Mrs. Anne Jordan came in 1968. In just a decade, Hall-Kent had grown to 365 students and 14 teachers. 

As part of the Jefferson County School System, Hall-Kent had developed from the four room structure on the corner of Oxmoor and Greensprings to a 13 classroom building with a library and lunchroom/kitchen service for its children. This was done under the administrative leadership of J.F. McClain, Mrs. Martha Glover, Mrs. Aileen Mitchell, and Mrs. Anne Jordan. 

In 1970, Homewood established its own city school system and purchased the school from the Jefferson County Board of Education. Mr. Gene Burgess was appointed principal. At Hall-Kent, the seventies were a time of concentration on smaller student-teacher ratios, adequate buildings, sufficient supplies, individualized instruction, and improved curriculum. In 1976, a gymnasium was built and in 1979, a modern media center was built in addition to six classrooms. An additional two acres of land was added to the school site. The parent organization provided many of the furnishings and equipment for the new facilities. During the 1970s, the PTO expanded the traditions of the Fall Festival to include a live auction and hay rides. The school became fully accredited by the State of Alabama Department of Education. 

In 1985, 5th graders at Hall-Kent designed, wrote, and produced a newspaper called the Hall Street Journal by drawing comics, interviewing students in younger grades, and covering local topics. In 1987, five classrooms, a stage, and an all-weather concourse were completed. In the late eighties, the after school program was expanded to support working parents. In 1988, a Comprehensive Assessment Committee, composed of over fifty citizens representing students, parents, educators, and the corporate community, completed surveys and submitted recommendations for an expanded curriculum, an enlarged staff, increased facilities, improved instructional materials, and alternative teaching strategies. By 1989, Hall-Kent had grown to 46 faculty and staff, 438 students, and 23 classes. In 1990, guidance and enrichment personnel were moved from part-time to full-time status. The media center acquired six computers and a printer.

The following is an excerpt from a letter circulated in 1985 by Homewood City Schools:

"From its inception, Hall-Kent has had strong parent involvement. At Hall-Kent, parents are more than just progenitors of students and providers of financers for their school. They help shape its curriculum and share its opportunities for personal involvement in the wonderful world of developing children. Parents are truly an integral part of this school."

Additional Sources:

*Summe, Sheryl Spradling. "Homewood: The Life of a City." Friends of Homewood Public Library, 2001, pp.23-27, 171-173, 223-226.

*Wurtele, Martha and Jake Collins. "Images of America: Homewood." Acadia Publishing, 2015, pp 17, 102-103.

*Jefferson County Board of Equalization File, appraisal dated 2-7-1939

*Property deed from Jefferson County BOE to Homewood City Schools BOE dated 12-11-1970