Northside High School Honored with Safety Award
Northside High has been named named one of nine schools Statewide to earn the 2025 Alabama Safe School Award for campus safety efforts
On Tuesday, Attorney General Steve Marshall presented Northside High School in Northport with a 2025 Alabama Safe School Award, naming it one of only nine campuses Statewide to receive the honor this year.
The award, part of the Attorney General’s Safe Schools Initiative, recognizes strong safety planning and highlights trends in campus protection across Alabama’s more than 1,500 public and private schools.
“Out of over 1,500 public and private schools in our state, it is an honor to recognize Northside High School as one of only nine schools to be selected for an Alabama Safe School Award, and has implemented secure exterior access that allows items to be dropped off without entering the building,” Marshall said. “Today we honor the thoughtful planning and strong partnerships that help ensure the safety of its students.”
During the presentation, Marshall pointed to specific steps taken by the school.
“Northside build dedicated advisory time into its daily schedule to support a campus-wide CPR initiative, placing it on track to ensure all students are CPR trained by May. They have also implemented a secure exterior access point that allows items to be dropped off without entering the building which significantly enhances campus security while maintaining conveniences for families. These bold measures reflect Northside’s strong culture of safety, preparedness, and care for every student,” Marshall said.
School leaders have built CPR training into the daily advisory period, with a goal of certifying every student by the end of the school year. The school also added a secure exterior access point that allows parents and visitors to drop off items without entering the main building, reducing risk while preserving convenience.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, schools were selected through a detailed application and review process. A panel of independent judges with experience in school safety evaluated each campus on preparation and training, work with local emergency response agencies, use of school resource officers or other security staff, safety technology, community involvement, and law-related and prevention education.
Nine schools received the top Safe School Award for 2025:
- ACCEL Academy, Mobile
- Orange Beach Middle & High School, Orange Beach
- Northside High School, Northport
- Beauregard Elementary School, Opelika
- Allen Thornton Career Technical Center, Killen
- Cullman City Primary School, Cullman
- Eastwood Elementary School, Decatur
- Elvin Hill Elementary School, Columbiana
- Harriette W. Gwin Elementary School, Hoover
Four additional schools exceeded minimum state safety standards and were recognized with a congratulatory letter and certificate from the Attorney General.
The 2025 awards underscore a broader push across Alabama to strengthen campus safety through planning, partnership, and prevention.
