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Best Alabama Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 453 private schools serving 81,755 students in Alabama (there are 1,534 public schools, serving 751,099 students). 10% of all K-12 students in Alabama attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
The average private school tuition is $10,644 for elementary schools and $11,706 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The top-ranked private schools in Alabama include Indian Springs School, Randolph School, and John Carroll Catholic High School.
The average acceptance rate is 86% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 25% and the student-teacher ratio is 12:1.
73% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Baptist or Christian.

Overview

This State (AL)
US
# Schools
453 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
81,755 Students
5,693,709 Students
% Average Students of Color
25%
34%

Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
6,990 Teachers
507,994 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
56%
55%
Average Class Size
15 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
10 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1284
(Out of 1600)
1234
Average ACT score
25
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$11,553
$14,913
Average Summer Program Cost
$1,223
$1,146
Average % on Financial Aid
32%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$5,305
$7,191
Average Acceptance Rate
86%
82%
Average Endowment Size
$118.01 million
$62.25 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.59
0.65
# American Indian Students
159 Students
29,825 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
1,457 Students
264,979 Students
% Asian Students
2%
5%
# Hispanic Students
2,157 Students
507,039 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
9%
# Black Students
8,808 Students
416,385 Students
% Black Students
11%
7%
# White Students
48,156 Students
2,931,618 Students
% White Students
58%
52%
# Hawaiian Students
72 Students
20,066 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
22,172 Students
1,471,670 Students
% of Others Students
27%
26%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
8 sports
7 sports

Top-Ranked Alabama Private Schools by County (2026)

County
# Schools
# Students
% of K-12 Students in Private Schools
8
1,387
16%
17
3,433
9%
3
572
7%
2
177
5%
2
127
1%
1
98
7%
1
489
15%
14
1,372
8%
4
657
11%
1
214
3%
2
561
35%
2
634
17%
2
395
18%
3
434
4%
2
253
3%
1
256
18%
1
101
2%
1
208
9%
6
814
6%
2
152
2%
7
979
17%
2
554
4%
5
691
4%
3
341
6%
8
1,395
8%
2
330
11%
1
220
8%
14
3,221
20%
3
158
2%
100
15,241
13%
8
1,655
12%
1
52
2%
8
2,022
7%
4
1,060
5%
1
267
19%
3
142
4%
49
8,811
14%
1
34
1%
3
295
2%
53
13,867
19%
1
409
12%
36
6,284
18%
5
676
3%
1
53
4%
1
299
12%
4
778
16%
1
117
3%
5
207
2%
6
863
6%
19
3,790
10%
1
33
2%
3
200
2%
9
3,206
10%
2
411
4%
2
268
18%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Alabama?
The top-ranked private schools in Alabama include Indian Springs School, Randolph School, and John Carroll Catholic High School.
How many private schools are located in Alabama?
There are 453 private schools are located in Alabama.
How much do private schools cost in Alabama?
The average private school tuition in Alabama is $10,644 for elementary schools and $11,706 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in Alabama?
Approximately 25% of students in Alabama private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in Alabama go to private school?
10% of all K-12 students in Alabama attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Alabama?
73% of private schools in Alabama are religiously affiliated, with most being Baptist or Christian.
Which private schools in Alabama are often viewed compared to one another?

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