Mcrae Learning Center

The McRae-Gaines Learning Center is an historic educational initiative founded in Selma, Alabama in 1976 by the Black Belt Arts & Cultural Center. The school’s focus has always been to prepare our diverse student body through a rigorous academic curriculum in reading, writing, math and science before they enter elementary school in the public school system. Its mission, established in the tradition of educators Mable McRae and Oralee Gaines, is to “to give our students the opportunity to receive an excellent education ‘from the least to the greatest. McRae-Gaines’ students are usually reading at a competent level by the age of three and they are exposed to number theory, nature, music, art and basic theater production even at the pre-school level. Mrs. Barbara Harris offers an accelerated, award winning Kindergarten program covering appropriate levels of reading, spelling, history and science through the State of Alabama’s Office of School Readiness. In addition, Sister R. Abayomi Goodall teaches dance and music and visual art projects. Our staff provides a six-week Summer Enrichment Program that focuses on movement, art, dance and performance arts as well as reading and creative writing. The McRae-Gaines Learning Center is a certified provider of child-care and pre-school programming for the State of Alabama Department of Human Resources. Subsidies for placement at McRae-Gaines are available to parents receiving services from the Department. The school also partners with the Wallace Community College in Selma (WCCS) to make affordable child care available to single and low-income parents attending WCCS. Subsidies are likewise available for student/parents who maintain a required grade level in their college courses.