Needs Improvement

#203 of 207 private schools in AL

Essential Church School

School

4000 EAGLE POINT CORPORATE DR, Birmingham, AL 35242

Last updated: July 2026

Private

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

Data vintage
2021-22

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Alabama private schools

#203 of 207

In Birmingham

#31 of 31

public schools

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About Essential Church School

Essential Church School is a private school in Birmingham, AL. Essential Church School serves approximately 1,173 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-12th, and has a 19.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Essential Church School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10 and ranks #203 of 207 private schools in AL.

How it compares3.0 pts below AL schools

3.4

This school 3.4 · Needs Improvement
AL avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Essential Church School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Essential Church School compares to 59 public schools serving similar grades in Birmingham, AL

Student-Teacher Ratio

19.7:1

This School

19.3:1

Public Avg

Avg School Size

1,173

This School

528

Public Avg

Avg School Scout Rating

3.4

This School

5.9

Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 82.8% vs 0%

Asian 4.6% vs 0%

Black 2.3% vs 0%

Hispanic 1.4% vs 0%

Essential Church School Birmingham Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School	Distance	Enrollment	STR	Rating
Essential Church School (this school)	—	1,173	19.7:1	3.4
Mt Laurel Elementary School	2.0 mi	481	19.2:1	9.0
Inverness Elementary School	2.2 mi	563	16.1:1	9.0
Oak Mountain Middle School	3.5 mi	1,194	19.6:1	6.9
Oak Mountain Elementary School	3.6 mi	689	18.1:1	9.0
Oak Mountain High School	4.6 mi	1,652	19:1	7.1
Oak Mountain Intermediate School	4.8 mi	638	15.9:1	8.7
Grantswood Community School	9.1 mi	396	16.5:1	8.3
Jefferson County Virtual School	9.6 mi	227	—:1	4.9
Avondale Elementary School	10.1 mi	327	16.4:1	6.7
Oliver K5 School	10.2 mi	349	18.4:1	8.2
Ramsay High School	10.2 mi	711	15.8:1	6.3
Glen Iris Elementary School	10.6 mi	786	21.8:1	4.8
Magic City Acceptance Academy	10.7 mi	343	14.3:1	4.6
EPIC Alternative Elementary School	10.8 mi	293	17.2:1	7.9
Hayes K8	11.0 mi	672	16.8:1	7.2
Woodlawn High SchoolMagnet	11.0 mi	764	21.2:1	2.0
i3 Academy Phase 1	11.1 mi	420	23.3:1	7.5
Washington K8	11.5 mi	590	20.3:1	7.0
Barrett Elementary School	11.6 mi	415	21.8:1	4.7
Phillips Academy	11.7 mi	631	18:1	8.3

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

Preliminary

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.

Classroom Attention

C- 1.7 / 10

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio 19.7:1

Instructional Commitment

C- 2.3 / 10

View breakdown

School Day Length 6 hours

Annual Instructional Hours 1,080

Diversity & Inclusion

B+ 6.7 / 10

View breakdown

Diversity Index 28%

Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile

C 3.3 / 10

View breakdown

Enrollment 1,173

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)

White 82.8%

Two or More 7.2%

Asian 4.6%

Black 2.3%

Native American 1.8%

Hispanic 1.4%

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 9.6/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby Hoover), which scores notably higher. Another option is Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park (rated 9.4/10, 5.4 miles away, in nearby Vestavia), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights (rated 9.3/10, 5.5 miles away, in nearby Vestavia Hills), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Birmingham, see our Birmingham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.5 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Greystone Elementary School Hoover	1.0 mi	412	9.6
Mt Laurel Elementary School Birmingham	2.0 mi	481	9.0
Inverness Elementary School Birmingham	2.2 mi	563	9.0
HILLTOP MONTESSORI SCHOOL Birmingham	2.2 mi	113	7.8
Oak Mountain Middle School Birmingham	3.5 mi	1,194	6.9
Oak Mountain Elementary School Birmingham	3.6 mi	689	9.0
Spain Park High School Hoover	3.7 mi	1,502	8.0
Berry Middle School Hoover	3.9 mi	1,111	8.1
Chelsea High School Chelsea	4.7 mi	1,291	6.3
Chelsea Middle School Chelsea	4.9 mi	857	7.1
GODS HOUSE KINDERGARTEN AND DAY CARE Birmingham	4.5 mi	14	—
Oak Mountain High School Birmingham	4.6 mi	1,652	7.1
JOSEPH S BRUNO MONTESSORI ACADEMY Birmingham	4.7 mi	117	8.6
ALLAN COTT SCHOOL Birmingham	5.4 mi	48	7.7
Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park Vestavia	5.4 mi	559	9.4
Liberty Park Middle School Vestavia	5.4 mi	500	8.9
Oak Mountain Intermediate School Birmingham	4.8 mi	638	8.7
Forest Oaks Elementary School Chelsea	5.4 mi	643	8.7
OUR LADY OF THE VALLEY SCHOOL Birmingham	5.0 mi	185	5.8
Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights Vestavia Hills	5.5 mi	490	9.3

Neighborhood 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

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School	Enrollment	Rating
FAITH ACADEMY Mobile, AL	1,623	4.6
Thorsby High School Thorsby, AL	847	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 ranks #203 of 207 private schools in AL.

What is Essential Church School's MySchoolScout rating?

Essential Church School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; 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

All schools in Birmingham, AL Schools in AL 20 nearby schools

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Neighborhood Context

Walk Score: 45 Car-Dependent
Bike Score: 13 Somewhat Bikeable

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 County
Phone: (205) 201-0327

Resources & Links

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Data sources

NCES PSSSY 2021-22 Census ACS2019-2023 MySchoolScout Rankings2024 Full details →

Essential Church School

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