The search for the best private schools in Birmingham Alabama has begun!
If you’re planning on sending your child or children to the best school possible, you are definitely at the right place.
Private schools are a popular option for families who are looking to give their children a religious- or language-focused education.
And although not all private schools are religious, a large number of them are.
Our Qookey Team has taken the time to compile these schools for you to make your decisions.
These schools on our list are all highly rated by current parents and are sure to provide your child with an incredible educational experience that they’ll never forget!
There’s no time like the present! So let’s get started.
What is the difference between public and private schools?
Private schools generally charge tuition and have lower student-to-teacher ratios. They also have smaller class sizes and offer more one-on-one attention to their students, who are often from wealthier families.
Whereas, most public schools are funded by local, state, or federal governments (depending on where they’re located) and don’t charge a tuition fee.
Most students at the public schools in Alabama typically come from a broader range of backgrounds than private school students, as there may be no financial restrictions in place to limit access to these educational institutions.
Private schools also provide religious education that usually focuses on Christian values.
Do private schools get government funding?
It’s a common misconception that private schools don’t get government funding. Just like public schools, private schools receive taxpayer money per student.
The difference is where they receive their money from, private school students pay tuition, while public school students pay through taxes.
Another key difference is how much these two schools get from each source—private schools typically rely more on tuition and less on tax revenue.
Do private schools have to follow state guidelines?
Private schools in Alabama have to follow state guidelines when it comes to things like class hours, minimum instructional time, and teacher qualifications.
Private elementary schools in Birmingham Al, for example, need to offer at least five hours of educational instruction per day; private high schools in Birmingham Al must also offer a course on community service, etc.
List of the best private schools in Birmingham Alabama
- The Altamont School
- Calvary Resurrection
- Ascension Episcopal Kindergarten
- Saint Rose Academy
- Alabama School of Fine Arts
- Cornerstone Schools of Alabama
- Hilltop Montessori
- Arlington School
- All Saints’ Episcopal Preschool
- Alabama Waldorf School
- Alabama Clinical Schools
- Westminster School At Oak Mountain
The Altamont School
The Altamont School is one of the best private schools in Birmingham Alabama for students in grades 5-12.
With just about 361 students, this private school gives students individualized attention in a small classroom setting.
Dedicated teachers focus on each student’s academic and personal needs, using an interdisciplinary approach to help learners think creatively and make connections between subjects.
Using advanced technology, The Altamont School offers multiple ways for students to interact with teachers and other students through:
- Video conferencing
- Skype
- Blogs and
- Forums.
The Altamont School emphasizes a global perspective by having its faculty spend three months in international locations such as Europe or Asia to learn how others teach their subjects.
Contact details:
Address: 4801 Altamont Road South, Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: (205) 879-2006
Visit School: www.altamontschool.org
Calvary Resurrection
When it comes to private Christian schools in Birmingham, there’s one that stands above all others: Calvary Resurrection.
Unlike many other private schools in Alabama, Calvary Resurrection has a strong reputation for being an excellent school that also promotes good values.
This school does a great job of preparing students for college and life, the student size is about 37, and in K-4 grades, students here are given intensive care and attention.
The school has grown in popularity over recent years and is now considered one of the best private schools in Birmingham.
Its teachers are highly qualified with advanced degrees and certifications. The school provides students with individualized attention along with hands-on learning opportunities and developmentally appropriate lessons.
Students are always engaged because they are provided with small class sizes taught by experienced instructors who have a deep passion for their subjects.
Contact details:
Address: 356 Killough Springs Road, Birmingham, AL 35206
Phone: (205) 836-0201
Visit School: www.crcawarriors.com
Also Read: 12 Best Public Schools in Montgomery Alabama To Get Into
Ascension Episcopal Kindergarten
The Ascension Episcopal Kindergarten is one of the top private Christian schools in Birmingham Al, it emphasizes biblical teachings and a strong moral compass.
The school itself is quite small with just about 58 students, but the students are given lots of individual attention by teachers.
It’s also a fairly new school with plenty of growth room. This makes it an excellent choice for parents who want their kids to have a great education and learn about Jesus Christ in a secular setting.
If you have elementary-age children in grade PK-K, you might also consider Ascension Episcopal Kindergarten as an option.
Like their high school counterparts, Kindergarteners at Ascension Episcopal receive individualized attention and learn Bible stories—but more broadly they study science, language arts, math, art, and music.
Contact details:
Address: 1912 Canyon Rd., Birmingham, AL 35216
Phone: (205) 979-8711
Visit School: www.ascensionkindergarten.com
Saint Rose Academy
While private Christian schools are commonplace in larger cities like Atlanta, Memphis, and Charleston, they’re a fairly rare find in smaller cities like Birmingham.
Fortunately, there are a few options to choose from if you live here. The private school that seems to have experienced the most success is Saint Rose Academy.
This is one of the best private catholic schools in Birmingham Alabama that gives its students utmost attention to growth.
It has been praised for its strong academics and focuses on small class sizes with individualized attention from its teachers, the size is just about 206 students in PK-8 grades
Address: 1401 22nd Street S. Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone: (205) 933-0549
Visit School: strosebhm.org
Alabama School of Fine Arts
Alabama School of Fine Arts is one of the top private schools in Birmingham Alabama that offers a K-12 program that focuses on visual arts and performing arts.
ASFA’s academics are presented through a modern, tech-savvy lens; students use Chromebooks and iPads to research information and keep track of assignments.
Alabama School of Fine Arts provides an excellent extracurricular experience as well: Through connections with local groups like Fox Theatre and local businesses like Regions Bank, students get exposure to new experiences almost every day.
Their arts curriculum is also some of the best available in all of Alabama—if you want your children to learn about things like set design or public speaking in an urban environment, look no further than ASFA!
Contact details:
Address: 1800 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203
School Website: http://www.asfa.k12.al.us/
Phone: (205) 252-9241
Cornerstone Schools of Alabama
The Cornerstone Schools of Alabama is one of the best private schools in Birmingham Alabama that provides education to grades PK-12.
Cornerstone Schools of Alabama does not offer religious instruction but does provide opportunities for spiritual growth by incorporating prayer and worship into each school day.
The academic program at Cornerstone is designed to ensure all students meet challenging standards through:
- Differentiated instructions
- Meaningful assessments, and
- An academically rigorous curriculum that promotes critical thinking skills.
This is really a good school to send your ward as a parent, the class size is just about 535 students.
Contact details:
Address: 118 55th Street N. Birmingham, AL 35212
Phone: (205) 591-7600
Visit School: http://www.csalabama.org/
Hilltop Montessori
Hilltop Montessori is one of the K-12 schools in Birmingham Alabama with only about 237 total students in attendance, the students are mostly within the age range of 3-5 years.
Hilltop Montessori is a tight-knit and loving private preschool and has a very rich academic program, emphasizing:
- Science
- Math,
- Spanish
- Reading and writing skills
Students also receive 45 minutes of art classes every day.
Contact details:
Address: 6 Abbott Square, Birmingham, AL 35242
Phone: (205) 437-9343
Visit School: http://www.hilltopmontessori.com/
Arlington School
The Arlington School is another on our list of best private high schools in Birmingham Alabama.
This private school has an enrollment of fewer than 20 students and provides classes for students in grades 7-12.
Contact details:
Address: 1312 22nd St S. Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone: (205) 939-3665
Visit School: https://www.arlingtonschool.net/
All Saints’ Episcopal Preschool
All Saints’ Episcopal Preschool is one of the top private elementary schools in Birmingham Alabama located in Hawthorne.
Students benefit from small class sizes of just about 145 students and a commitment to character development.
Students develop strong relationships with teachers, who strive to create an environment of acceptance, faith, and responsibility.
Over time, teachers work with students to help them cultivate skills such as cooperation and social interaction.
The school provides both traditional preschool services like art and music classes, as well as enrichment opportunities like swimming lessons (available in summer) and family dance parties (available in autumn).
It also boasts strong academic outcomes: 97% of All Saints’ Episcopal Preschool’s third-graders performed at or above grade level on reading assessments.
Contact details:
Address: 112 W. Hawthorne Road, Birmingham, AL 35209
Phone: (205) 879-1092
Visit School: www.allsaintsbhm.org
Also Read: Best PA Schools in Alabama & Programs for Aspiring Physicians
Alabama Waldorf School
Alabama Waldorf School is one of the private Christian schools in Birmingham that offers students in grades PK-8, students class size is about 167 with a very interesting approach to learning.
Students use an innovative and interactive technique called Hands-on Learning, which makes learning fun.
Contact details:
Address: 5901 Crestwood Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35212
Phone: (205) 592-0541
Visit School: www.alabamawaldorf.org
Alabama Clinical Schools
Alabama Clinical School is one of the top private schools in Birmingham Alabama that believes strongly in the need for dynamic academics that engage students and encourage a love for learning.
As a result, clinical courses encourage students to think critically and work collaboratively in order to develop practical solutions to complex problems.
Address: 1221 Alton Dr. Birmingham, AL 35210
Phone: (205) 836-9923
Visit School: alabamaclinicalschools.com
Westminster School At Oak Mountain
Westminster School at Oak Mountain is one of the top private schools in Birmingham Alabama.
Students at Westminster develop respect for each other through their honor code and are expected to be fully honest with one another.
Students benefit from small class sizes of just about 541 students and a commitment to character development.
Contact details:
Address: 5080 Cahaba Valley Trace, Birmingham, AL 35242
Phone: (205) 995-9694
Visit School: www.westminsterknights.org
Other Private Schools In Birmingham Alabama
- East Birmingham Church Of God Academy
- Creative Montessori School
- Covenant Classical School
- Covenant Classical School
- The Church At Brookhills Early
- The Children’s Place-Huffman United Methodist Church
- Canterbury Day School
- Cornerstone Schools of Alabama
FAQs on Private Schools
Can homeschoolers play sports for private schools?
According to Homeschool Sports Connection Magazine, Alabama does not have any specific laws or policies on whether or not homeschooled students can play for private schools. It is up to each individual private school and may vary from institution to institution. If you’re looking to play sports in high school, it’s a good idea to ask about homeschoolers.
Can BTech students teach in private schools?
The formal requirement for a private school teacher to teach a course or subject is a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Thus, any person with a bachelor's degree should be able to get an employment offer at most private schools as long as they have relevant experience.
Who regulates private schools?
Private schools fall under a patchwork of different agencies, depending on where they’re located. The U.S. Department of Education regulates private schools that receive federal funding and have certain religious affiliations.
Conclusion
Private schools in Birmingham provide students with a host of important benefits.
Private high schools may cost more than public high schools, but for many parents that is money well spent when it comes to their child’s future success.
Investing in your child’s education can pay off for years to come.
2 comments