About Our Community
Grant, Alabama, is located atop Gunter Mountain at 1,310 feet of elevation. It is surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the northeast corner of the state. The post office was established here on May 18, 1887, and the town was named “Grant” for President Ulysses S. Grant by the early settlers.
Grant overlooks historic Kennamer Cove, home of Cathedral Caverns State Park. A major attraction in Northeast Alabama, Cathedral Caverns features the largest natural opening of any cave in America. The Cherokee Indians lived in this cave long before other settlers arrived. The Caverns gained national recognition as one of the top scenic attractions in the state of Alabama and the South through an article written in the June 1962 issue of Reader’s Digest, “A Man, A Cave, and A Dream”.
Beautiful scenery surrounds Grant with views of Guntersville Lake, the Tennessee River and historic Kennamer Cove. Grant is also conveniently situated between surrounding cities such as Guntersville, Scottsboro and Huntsville Alabama.
The Town of Grant was incorporated on November 15, 1945.
Kate Duncan Smith DAR School
Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, Inc. (KDS), organized by the Alabama Society Daughters of the American Revolution (ASDAR) in 1924 and joined by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) in 1928, provides a high-quality education for the students of Gunter Mountain. The non-residential school provides academic, patriotic, and social opportunities for children of the largely rural area of Marshall County, Alabama.
The purpose of the school continues with the honored goals to instill in students a sense of patriotism, an understanding of civic responsibility, and an appreciation for the heritage and history of this great nation, while also providing a high-quality academic foundation beginning in Pre-K through 12th grade that will prepare students for life beyond KDS.
Today, more than 1,300 students, almost 60% of whom live at or below the poverty level, have the privilege of attending this DAR School. The school campus has grown from the original four-classroom building to include 240 acres of land and 40 buildings, 11 of which are faculty residences. The KDS campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district and is home to a number of area landmarks.
As a part of the Marshall County School District, the school receives funding and support that is required to facilitate the ongoing academic and facility needs of this institution. School administrators and teaching staff integrate the academic goals of the Alabama State Department of Education and the Marshall County Board of Education. A written cooperative agreement between the Marshall County Board of Education and KDS outlines the expectations of fair and equitable funding and the division of responsibilities pertaining to facilities.
To ensure high quality education opportunities for the students, NSDAR, ASDAR, DAR state societies and chapters, alumni, and local businesses and organizations provide funding for a variety of supplemental educational and social programs, perpetuate the school's mission, and provide funding for the building and maintenance of the facilities and grounds of KDS.
The management and control of KDS DAR School, Inc. is vested in a Board of Trustees. The business management and administrative operations of the school is the responsibility of the Executive Director who is selected and employed by the Board of Trustees.
