Vestavia Hills Elementary West named State and National School of Character
April 15, 2026 – For the second time this decade, Vestavia Hills Elementary West (VHEW) is being recognized nationally for its commitment to character education and values.
Character.org, a national organization advocating for character education in schools, announced today that Vestavia Hills Elementary West has been named a 2026 State and National School of Character.
VHEW is one of just ten schools in Alabama to receive the National School of Character designation this year, according to a release from Character.org.
Each of the National Schools of Character were chosen based on demonstrated excellence in eleven different principles of character education and development. At VHEW, those principles were found in “The West Way,” which emphasizes the school’s core values of kindness, respect, and responsibility.
VHEW first came to the attention of Character.org in 2020 when the school received a Promising Practices Award for its efforts to identify students in need of support and provide them with connections to staff members who regularly check in and provide encouragement. VHEW was subsequently named a State and National School of Character in 2021.
“We are thrilled to be named a 2026 National School of Character. This represents the combined efforts and dedication of our staff, students, parents and community. This recognition affirms the strategies we’ve put in place to support students, and we’re excited to continue the journey to helping our students develop good character,” VHEW principal Susan McCall said today.
Vestavia Hills Elementary West joins five other Vestavia Hills schools named National Schools of Character this decade:
- Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights (2025)
- Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge (2025)
- Louis Pizitz Middle School (2025)
- Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park (2024)
- Vestavia Hills Elementary East (2022)