The Mobile County Public School System (MCPSS) is the largest school system in Alabama, serving 59,000 students in 90 schools. It is also the largest employer in Mobile County - and the third-largest in Alabama - with 7,600 employees. The school system has 12 Blue Ribbon schools recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2014, Mobile County had four of Alabama's six Torchbearer schools.