Needs Improvement
#202 of 206 private schools in AL
Essential Church School
School
4000 EAGLE POINT CORPORATE DR, Birmingham, AL 35242
Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 58 schools in Birmingham. Learn more
Enrollment
1,173
Student-Teacher
19.7:1
Score
3.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
1,173
Student-Teacher
19.7:1
Score
3.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Updated
2021-22
Updated 2021-22
How this school compares
In Birmingham
#31 of 31
public schools
Alabama schools
#123 of 124
About Essential Church School
Essential Church School serves kindergarten through 12th grade students in the Shelby area of Birmingham, Alabama, enrolling 1,173 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19.7:1 and 59 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. As a regular public school located in a large suburban area, the school provides education across all grade levels in a community setting. The school is currently working to strengthen its academic performance, with MySchoolScout rating it 2.7 out of 10 and state rankings indicating there is significant room for academic growth and development.
Families considering Essential Church School should take time to visit, speak with administrators and teachers, and explore what specific support systems and programs the school is implementing to help students succeed. The school's suburban location offers families convenient access to a range of community resources and services in the Shelby area.
What Parents Should Know
As a private school, Essential Church School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.
Financial Overview
Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)
- Per-Pupil Spending
- Total expenses ÷ enrollment
- $70
- Per-Pupil Revenue
- Total revenue ÷ enrollment
- $73
- Financial Health
- Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
- 1.04x — Stable
- Total Assets
- End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
- $34,428
Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 1,173 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.
Compare to Public Schools
BetaHow Essential Church School compares to 59 public schools serving similar grades in Birmingham, AL
Student Demographics
Nearby Other Schools
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Essential Church School (this school) | 3.4 |
| Mt Laurel Elementary School | 8.1 |
| Inverness Elementary School | 9.0 |
| Oak Mountain Middle School | 5.6 |
| Oak Mountain Elementary School | 8.4 |
| Oak Mountain High School | 6.4 |
| Oak Mountain Intermediate School | 7.6 |
| Grantswood Community School | 7.8 |
| Jefferson County Virtual School | 4.0 |
| Avondale Elementary School | 7.6 |
| Oliver K5 School | 8.9 |
| Ramsay High School | 6.6 |
| Glen Iris Elementary School | 5.5 |
| Magic City Acceptance Academy | 8.0 |
| EPIC Alternative Elementary School | 7.3 |
| Hayes K8 | 7.4 |
| Woodlawn High SchoolMagnet | 3.6 |
| i3 Academy Phase 1 | 6.9 |
| Washington K8 | 7.1 |
| Barrett Elementary School | 6.2 |
| Phillips Academy | 6.8 |
Showing 20 of 59 schools. View all schools in Birmingham
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
What This Rating Measures
This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in AL.
Data Unavailable
View data sources
Score basis: Private school model
Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data
Components scored: 4 of 5
Ranking pool: Private schools in AL
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)
Location
4000 EAGLE POINT CORPORATE DR, Birmingham, AL 35242
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Essential Church School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Greystone Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby Hoover), which scores notably higher. Another option is Inverness Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, JOSEPH S BRUNO MONTESSORI ACADEMY (rated 8.6/10, 4.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Birmingham, see our Birmingham schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 5.5 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 35242 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$116,053
Median Home Value
$452,300
Median Rent
$1,430/mo
Population
56,956
College Educated
64.5%
Homeownership
73.2%
Avg Commute
25.7 min
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Median Age
42.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding Essential Church School has a median household income of $116,053. It is a well-educated community where 65% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $452,300, with a median rent of $1,430/month. The local poverty rate of 5.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Athens Renaissance School Athens, AL | 4.2 |
| FAITH ACADEMY Mobile, AL | 4.6 |
| Isabella High School Maplesville, AL | 4.7 |
| UMS-WRIGHT PREPARATORY SCHOOL Mobile, AL | 4.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Essential Church School
What grades does Essential Church School serve?
Essential Church School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
How many students attend Essential Church School?
Essential Church School has an enrollment of approximately 1,173 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Essential Church School?
The student-teacher ratio at Essential Church School is 19.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does Essential Church School rank in AL?
Essential Church School is ranked #202 out of 206 private schools in AL.
What is Essential Church School's MySchoolScout rating?
Essential Church School has a composite rating of 3.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
Is Essential Church School a private school?
Yes, Essential Church School is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.
Is Essential Church School a religious school?
Essential Church School has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Birmingham). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,173
- Gender Split
- 75% M / 25% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 59
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Christian, no specific denomination
- School Day
- 6 hours
- Days Per Year
- 180 days
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- SHELBY
- Phone
- (205) 201-0327
- Data Year
- 2022–2023
Resources & Links
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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