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Very Good

#22 of 206 private schools in AL

Top 10% of private schools

Hilltop Montessori School

Elementary School

6 ABBOTT SQ, Birmingham, AL 35242

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 58 schools in Birmingham. Learn more

Enrollment

113

Student-Teacher

5.3:1

Score

7.8

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Birmingham

#9 of 31

public schools

Alabama elementary schools

#13 of 65

About Hilltop Montessori School

Hilltop Montessori School serves 113 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in Birmingham's affluent Shelby County area. This regular public school operates with an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.3:1, supported by 21 full-time equivalent teachers who can provide highly individualized attention to each child. The school has earned impressive recognition with a MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10 and ranks #71 out of 206 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 66th percentile among Alabama schools.

This strong performance reflects the school's commitment to the Montessori educational philosophy within the public school framework. Hilltop Montessori draws families from a well-educated community where 64% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The surrounding ZIP code 35242 is characterized by a median household income of $115,541 and median home values of $433,800, with a low poverty rate of 5.6%.

This demographic profile suggests strong family investment in education and community resources that support student achievement. The school's small size creates an intimate learning environment where teachers can closely monitor each student's progress through the distinctive Montessori approach. Hilltop Montessori School operates within Birmingham's large suburban setting, serving families who value both innovative educational methods and the benefits of public education.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 113 students, Hilltop Montessori School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 5.3:1, Hilltop Montessori School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Hilltop Montessori 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
$22,270
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$25,045
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.12x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
76%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$7.7M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 113 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Hilltop Montessori School compares to 53 public schools serving similar grades in Birmingham, AL

Student-Teacher Ratio
5.3:1
This School
vs
19.4:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
113
This School
vs
490
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.8
This School
vs
6.6
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 72.6% vs 0%
Asian 13.3% vs 0%
Black 6.2% vs 0%
Hispanic 3.5% vs 0%
Hilltop Montessori School Birmingham Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Hilltop Montessori School (this school) 7.8
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 Intermediate School 7.6
Grantswood Community School 7.8
Oliver K5 School 8.9
Jefferson County Virtual School 4.0
Avondale Elementary School 7.6
i3 Academy Phase 1 6.9
Hayes K8 7.4
Barrett Elementary School 6.2
Ossie Ware Mitchell Middle School 5.1
Glen Iris Elementary School 5.5
i3 Academy Phase 2 4.8
EPIC Alternative Elementary School 7.3
Christian School 7.5
Robinson Elementary School 6.6
Magic City Acceptance Academy 8.0
Phillips Academy 6.8

Showing 20 of 53 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.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A+ 9.5 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 5.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C 3.1 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.5 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,170
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 45%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A 8.5 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 113
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 72.6%
Asian 13.3%
Black 6.2%
Two or More 4.4%
Hispanic 3.5%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

6 ABBOTT SQ, Birmingham, AL 35242

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Hilltop Montessori School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Greystone Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Hoover), which scores notably higher. Another option is Inverness Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 4.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, JOSEPH S BRUNO MONTESSORI ACADEMY (rated 8.6/10, 6.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Birmingham, see our Birmingham schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Mt Laurel Elementary School Birmingham 0.6 mi 8.1
Greystone Elementary School Hoover 1.7 mi 9.0
ESSENTIAL CHURCH SCHOOL Birmingham 2.2 mi 3.4
Inverness Elementary School Birmingham 4.2 mi 9.0
ALLAN COTT SCHOOL Birmingham 4.9 mi 7.7
Chelsea Middle School Chelsea 5.4 mi 6.2
Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park Vestavia 5.2 mi 8.4
Liberty Park Middle School Vestavia 5.3 mi 7.4
Forest Oaks Elementary School Chelsea 5.9 mi 7.8
Chelsea Park Elementary School Chelsea 6.1 mi 7.2
Chelsea High School Chelsea 6.2 mi 6.4
Oak Mountain Middle School Birmingham 5.6 mi 5.6
Oak Mountain Elementary School Birmingham 5.7 mi 8.4
Spain Park High School Hoover 5.9 mi 6.3
Berry Middle School Hoover 6.1 mi 7.3
GODS HOUSE KINDERGARTEN AND DAY CARE Birmingham 6.3 mi
Brookwood Forest Elementary School Mountain Brk 7.1 mi 8.3
Oak Mountain High School Birmingham 6.8 mi 6.4
JOSEPH S BRUNO MONTESSORI ACADEMY Birmingham 6.9 mi 8.6
Mountain Brook High School Mountain Brk 7.3 mi 7.6

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Hilltop Montessori 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
ST PIUS X SCHOOL Mobile, AL 7.7
Barbour County Primary School Clayton, AL 7.9
DC Wolfe School Shorter, AL 7.9
MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC PREPARATORY SCHOOL, ST BEDE Montgomery, AL 7.9
ST BENEDICT CATHOLIC SCHOOL Elberta, AL 7.9
ST ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL Decatur, AL 7.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Hilltop Montessori School

What grades does Hilltop Montessori School serve?

Hilltop Montessori School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Hilltop Montessori School?

Hilltop Montessori School has an enrollment of approximately 113 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Hilltop Montessori School?

The student-teacher ratio at Hilltop Montessori School is 5.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Hilltop Montessori School rank in AL?

Hilltop Montessori School is ranked #22 out of 206 private schools in AL.

What is Hilltop Montessori School's MySchoolScout rating?

Hilltop Montessori School has a composite rating of 7.8 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 Hilltop Montessori School a private school?

Yes, Hilltop Montessori School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Hilltop Montessori School a religious school?

No, Hilltop Montessori School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
43 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (5,331/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Birmingham). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
113
Gender Split
51% M / 49% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
5.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.5 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
SHELBY
Data Year
2022–2023

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 methodology

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