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The Altamont School

4801 Altamont Road South
Birmingham, AL 35222
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Tel: (205)879-2006
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Students feel confident talking to teachers after class - or anytime - and they take that confidence on to college. Teachers, in turn, feel very much a part of each student's success.
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Students feel confident talking to teachers after class - or anytime - and they take that confidence on to college. Teachers, in turn, feel very much a part of each student's success.
Two words define athletics at Altamont: opportunities and excellence. Two out of three students compete on one of more of the School's 25 teams. Hanging in the competition gym are banners for eight different teams, boasting 33 state championships.
At Altamont, athletes act in plays, science whizzes sing in the choir, and debaters produce award-winning photography. As a result, students aren't pigeonholed or stereotyped. All activities are considered cool; all achievements are celebrated.
At Altamont, learning doesn't stop when the bell rings or a class ends. Learning is a lifelong endeavor at Altamont and is celebrated as such.
The Honor Code is essential to the fulfillment of Altamont's mission. Its tenets are simple: to not lie, cheat, or steal; they allow students to establish sound moral and ethical standards that will serve them for the rest of their lives. Perhaps English Teacher Jim Palmer '70 best sums up Altamont's dedication to Honor: 'Where else do you find a high school with a student-operated Honor Code? Where else do students rise when an adult enters the classroom, and thank the teacher at the end of class? Walt Whitman once said, 'Make good people. The rest follows.' We make good people at Altamont.'
  • Altamont is a college preparatory school with a tradition of excellence and a special atmosphere evoking pride and loyalty on the part of students, parents, faculty and staff.
  • Our academic program not only prepares students for a high level of performance in the most rigorous college programs; it also provides the intellectual tools required in the most demanding sectors of the adult world.
  • The Altamont experience encourages students to think critically, communicate truthfully and live honorably.
  • A wide range of athletic and extra-curricular activities, in a diverse school community, helps to round out that experience.

School Overview

School Membership(s)School Assoc. National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
State or regional independent school association
Alabama Association of Independent Schools (AAIS)
National Association of College Admissions Counselors
Southern Association of Independent Schools
Religious Affiliation Nonsectarian
Grades Offered Grades 5-12
ADD/ADHD Support Yes
Year Founded 1922

Student Body

Total Students 374 students
Student Body Type Co-ed
% Students of Color
35%
State avg.: 22%
Students by Grade The Altamont School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers 48 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio 8:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
70%
Average Class Size 15 students
Number of AP Courses 14 courses
Advanced Courses AP American Literature, AP Art, AP B Physics, AP Biology, AP C Physics, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP French VI, AP Psychology, AP U.S. History, Common Denominator, Creative Writing, Differential Equations, Ecology, Finite, French I-IV, French V Literature, Greek, Human Anatomy & Physiology, Jazz Band I-IV, Journalism, Latin IV: Vergil, Latin V/VI: Ovid, Mandarin Chinese, Multimedia-Video Production, Multivariable Calculus, Music Technique and Composition, Music Theory, Musical Theater, Photography I-IV, Photojournalism, Senior Seminars: 20th Century America, Senior Seminars: 20th Century Europe, Senior Seminars: 20th Century World Literature - East, Senior Seminars: 20th Century World Literature - West, Senior Seminars: African American Literature, Senior Seminars: American Masterpieces, Senior Seminars: Art History I, Senior Seminars: Art History II, Senior Seminars: Cross-Cultural Psychology, Senior Seminars: Intro to Engineering and Design, Senior Seminars: Leadership and Civic Engagement, Senior Seminars: Macroeconomics, Senior Seminars: Microeconomics, Senior Seminars: Shakespeare, Senior Seminars: Sports Medicine, Senior Seminars: The Gothic Novel, Senior Seminars: Vietnam Wars 1945-1975, Senior Seminars: Women Writers, Senior Seminars: Zoology, Southern Literature, Spanish V: Peninsular Literature, Spanish VI: Latin American Literature, Statistics, String Sinfonietta I-IV, Technical Theater, The Music Biz, Vocal Production, Web Design, Wind Sinfonietta I-IV,
Average SAT score 1350
Average ACT score 29
Classroom Dress Code Casual

Finances and Admission

Admission Deadline None / Rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost $18,000
Tuition Notes Tuition varies depending upon grade level
% on Financial Aid
27%
Admissions Director Thomas Goldsmith

Sports

Total Sports Offered 12 sports
Sports Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter TrackBaseball, Basketball,
Bowling, Cross Country,
Golf, Soccer,
Softball, Swimming,
Tennis, Track and Field,
Volleyball, Winter Track,

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric. 20 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric. Altamont Musicians Society, Art Club, Avondale Tutoring Club, C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Center, Forensics, French Club, Friends of the World, IFC, Knightly Chefs, Latin Club, Middle School LEAD Program, Model United Nations, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, Service Club, Spanish Club, Student Government Association, Table Tennis Club, Thespians Art Club, Forensics, French Club, IFC, Knightly Chefs, Latin Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Service Club, Spanish Club, Thespians, Altamont Musicians Society,
Avondale Tutoring Club,
C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Center,
Friends of the World,
Middle School LEAD Program,
Model United Nations,
National Honor Society,
National Junior Honor Society,
Student Government Association,
Table Tennis Club,

School Notes

  • The Altamont School is a coeducational, traditional college preparatory independent day school enrolling students in grades 5-12. We are located on the crest of Red Mountain in a secluded residential neighborhood five minutes from downtown Birmingham.Altamont is a small family with socio-economic, ethnic and religious diversity. We have an intensive college preparatory academic program with a personalized college search program, including an annual college tour. And we offer many opportunities for children to develop multiple talents by participating in arts, foreign language, community service, clubs, class projects, science competitions and sports all at the same time. Altamont was established in 1975 through the merger of the Birmingham University School (BUS), founded in 1922, and the Brooke Hill School, founded in 1941 as the College Preparatory School for Girls.
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Quick Stats
  • Grades: 5-12
  • Students: 374 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $18,000
  • Average class size: 15 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
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Did You Know?
The average private school tuition in Birmingham, AL is $6,720 for elementary schools and $10,198 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Birmingham, AL is 86% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).
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