Are you living in sunny Birmingham, Alabama?
Well then, if you have children or teens, we have the ultimate guide to every kind of school offered in the area. We'll take you through the best public, private, Christian, charter schools, and more so that you can pick the best learning environment for your kids.
So, let's get into it.
Well-Rounded Public Schools
Public schools serve children and teens from their kindergarten to senior year of high school. They run on public funds, which is a big plus for many parents. Additionally, they provide numerous after school activities and offer a varied curriculum for their students.
Typically parents and students decide before entering high school whether they will attend a public or private school. Mountain Brook High School, Spain Park High School, Homewood High School, and Hoover High School are among the top-rated public high schools in Birmingham.
Birmingham School Districts
Now, a school district is compiled of multiple schools because it's a geographical unit for schools' local administration. It's often comprised of several towns within a state or neighborhoods within a city.
Many parents find themselves moving to areas with strong school districts, so their children are given the best opportunities at public schools, from kindergarten to high school graduations.
The top three school districts in the area are Homewood City Schools, Mountain Brook City Schools, and Vestavia Hill City Schools.
They each have between five and eight schools within their districts. Their exceptional ratings are due to the quality of teachers provided, the schools' diversity, and the opportunity to take college preparation & AP courses.
High Schools to Prep
Parents and students know that high school is a pivotal time in life. A student's education from ninth to twelfth grade really prepares them for the next step in their life, whether that be college or another route. If students plan to attend college, they can take AP courses and receive college credit if they pass the AP test.
If they rack up enough college credits, they could move ahead a semester or even a year in college, thus paying less for tuition and being more prepared for higher education.
High school is also a crucial time for adolescents' social life and mental health, so making sure they're in a welcoming, safe environment is key.
Middle Schools in the Area
Dun, dun, dun. The infamous middle school years. We all remember those days, for better or worse.
The ages of 11 to 13 are rough, but as a parent, you can make it easier on your child by being there for them and picking a middle school that will best fit their needs.
Elementary Schools
For children ages 5 to 10, they'll attend elementary school. This equates to kindergarten until fifth grade. Here, students will gain socialization skills, behavioral adjustments, and basic spelling, writing, math, and more.
As the first mandatory school, a child must attend, elementary schools are a big deal that shouldn't be glossed over by parents. Schools need to be a place where your elementary school-aged children start the foundation of their education.
Recommended Private Schools
Differences between private and public schools include the cost, the administration, the curriculum, and the atmosphere.
Students will likely adhere to a dress code, and parents will have to pay tuition. Many of these private academics are affiliated with Roman Catholicism, but there are various religious and non-denominational private school choices.
Christian Schools for Faith-Based Education
Another branch of schooling is Christian schools. This is where education and Christianity are intertwined.
This looks like teachers openly teaching about Scripture and implementing Christian principles in the curriculum. Among the city’s top Christian schools is Hoover Christian School.
Charter Schools
A charter school is a primary or secondary education institution. They receive government funding and operate independently of the state school system. They're unique since they have the freedom to design the classroom's curriculum to meet their student's needs.
Charter schools are technically public schools and are free to attend. In Birmingham, charter schools are a relatively new establishment. For example, Legacy Prep is Birmingham's first charter school, and it opened in 2019. i3 Academy is another charter school for kindergarten to fifth grade that opened during the COVID pandemic.
Boarding Schools: Getting Ready for the Next Stage
A boarding school gives students insight into what college will be like since they live on campus during the school year. That's because it's designed to immerse students in their studies fully. Tuition is required for attendance.
Summer Schools
Simply enough, a summer school is a school that offers classes in the off-season of the typical school year, A.K.A. the summertime.
Summer schools are useful for students who want to gain more credit, sharpen their skills, or they might have to retake a class they didn't get credit for during the school year. In general, and in Birmingham, there aren't specific summer schools but rather schools that offer summer classes.
If your child is specifically interested in coding, game development, or robotics, then they can check out summer tech camps for ages 7-17 at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Hopefully, now it's a bit easier to find or narrow down a school for your child or children to attend while living here.