Quote from interestedinbp on 01/22/09 at 11:22pm:

 
My input:
 
We moved to Bluff Park when my oldest was in 2nd grade.  She joined Bluff Park Elementary School in the middle of the year.  Since then, she has graduated from Hoover High School, my middle child is a senior at Hoover High School and my youngest is in 7th grade at Simmons.  All three went through, in my opinion, the finest elementary school in the entire system.  Siimmons Middle School is one of the best in the system not only because of their administration, but also because of their faculty and low teacher to student ratio.  Hoover High School is a great school, again due to the administration and the faculty.  But it is not for everyone.  It's a HUGE school that at times "loses" students.  It is important that the parent remain involved in these last four years.  Let them know that you and your child exist.
 
As a whole, we spent 12 consecutive years at Bluff Park Elementary, since our kids are each 4 years apart.  For those 12 years there was never a time when we didn't have a child there.  And wouldn't have it any other way.  My spouse attended Bluff Park as a child, so our children were second generation BPES'ers.  Dr. Fancher is an incredible principal, the faculty is top-notch and even the lunch room is recognized by the USDA as being one of the best in the country.  Unlike other elementary schools in Hoover, Bluff Park begins the multi-teacher environment in the 5th grade, so by the time the kids reach middle school (Simmons), they are already a step ahead of the Green Valley and Gwin kids.
 
Simmons had Mrs. Barber as a principal for nearly 18 years and is now headed by Mr. Cain.  Both share a trait in that they challenge the students and faculty to be the best, yet the human factor is not gone.  The extra curricular programs at Simmons are outstanding, as are the facilities.
 
A large part of your question deals with issues that are more high school oriented than the lower grades (parent/student dynamics, discipline, etc.), so let me tackle that head on as it relates to Hoover High School and my experience.  Mr. Hulin is the principal at HHS.  He's the 5th principal in five years there.  I hope he the last until my youngest graduates.  Mr. Hulin is a very fair individual who doesn't play favorites.  What counts for one student counts for all of them.  Regarding the parent/student dynamics, every school has your "cool mom or dad" who think they need to be friends with their kids first, and parents second, and Hoover isn't isolated from them.  But the majority of the students at HHS come from middle to upper-middle class families where the parents didn't get to be where and what they are by thinking they need to be cool.  Hoover schools and Hoover PD work very closely together and try to mitigate these issues by having a good supply of School Resource Officers at each campus.  I suppose the only negative I can say about HHS is the Freshman Center, which is where the 9th graders go.  Last year, the opening year of the FC, there were a number of negative comments, although I can't confirm any of them as non of my children attended the FC.  This year there have been almost no negative comments.  One reason for that may be that there is a new principal at the FC and at the senior campus.  Unlike last year, the principal of the FC reports to the principal of the senior campus.
 
 
In the past two years I have personally spent a lot of time learning more about Hoover City Schools.  We are very fortunate to live in a city where the citizens put their school system ahead of other things.  The resources given to the schools spare very little expense.  From a technology standpoint, we are blessed to have the best.  Our school board constantly makes sure that our teachers are some of the best paid in the state so that we can draw from the best candidates.  I've attended more than one school board meeting where Mr. Bolt, the vice-president of the board, will ask if our teacher salaries are at or above our neighboring communities.  
 
I can't speak for the other schools in Hoover that my children didn't attend.  My oldest did attend Rocky Ridge Elementary from K through half of the 2nd grade.  It was OK, but it didn't compare to Bluff Park.  I suggest going to the Hoover School Community Information Network web site and looking at the school report cards given by the state.  Bluff Park consistently comes out on top.  
 
Good luck in your decision and I hope this helped a little bit.

Just to chime in. My daughter is in the 2nd grade at Bluff Park Elem. She loves it, I love it, my wife loves it and best of all I am astounded at how fast she has learned. She reads way better than I did at the same age. The teachers care and parents are very involved. I don't have another school to compare it to because she started there in K. I have heard good things about Simmons and Hoover High but I can't speak from experience. I actually moved from Homewood to BP because I think the schools (especially BP Elem) are superior. I believe they have won the blue ribbon award several times which goes to the highest rated school in the state (or something to that effect).

I didn't go to Bluff Park Elementary, I went to Gwin and loved it.  The teachers were amazing and always pushing you to excel.  I did however go to Simmons and Hoover High and would recommend them to anyone.  Simmons has wonderful programs for kids (sports, drama, choir, band, etc.) that many school systems just can't afford.  Also, Hoover High is wonderful.  I was there at one of its largest times, and I never felt like just a number.  Its all about making friends and going to class.  THere is always plenty to be involved with, and if someone says they felt like just a number, they must not have talked to anyone at all.  Out of 2000 people, there are definitely 5-10 people for everyone!

A huge, huge thank you to everyone for your comments and your links to more info.  I would respond to you each individually but I won't clog up the forum with my gratitude.
 
Readers, please keep posting if you have anything else to add.  I am very encouraged by what I'm reading!  
 
Thanks in advance!
 

Both my children went to Bluff Park. They are now at Simmons and at the high school. We had a great experience. I was a parent volunteer. The teachers are wonderful. My boys stiil talk about their experiences and often wish they could go back in time!! You will not find a finer school than BP