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Excellent

#8 of 206 private schools in AL

Top 3% of private schools

St Bernard Preparatory School

High School

1600 SAINT BERNARD AVE SE, Cullman, AL 35055

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 16 schools in Cullman. Learn more

Enrollment

133

Student-Teacher

8.2:1

Score

8.4

Grades

7th – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Cullman

#1 of 4

public schools

Alabama high schools

#1 of 17

Academic performance

7.1 / 10

Strong

About St Bernard Preparatory School

St Bernard Preparatory School serves 133 students in grades 7 through 12 in Cullman, Alabama. With just 16 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 8.2:1, allowing for personalized attention and close mentorship between faculty and students. The school has earned recognition for its academic excellence, receiving a 9.4 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranking 58th out of 206 schools statewide, placing it in the 72nd percentile among Alabama schools.

This strong performance reflects the school's commitment to providing quality education in a smaller, more intimate learning environment. St Bernard Preparatory School operates as a regular public school, serving families throughout the Cullman area. The surrounding community in ZIP code 35055 has a median household income of $56,769 and a median home value of $185,300, with 28% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher.

The area maintains a relatively low poverty rate of 14.3% among its 22,521 residents. Located in a rural area near town, St Bernard Preparatory School offers students the benefits of a close-knit educational community while remaining connected to the broader Cullman area's resources and opportunities.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 133 students, St Bernard Preparatory 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 8.2:1, St Bernard Preparatory 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, St Bernard Preparatory 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.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How St Bernard Preparatory School compares to 8 public schools serving similar grades in Cullman, AL

Student-Teacher Ratio
8.2:1
This School
vs
18.3:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
133
This School
vs
487
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.4
This School
vs
5.0
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 65.4% vs 0%
Hispanic 19.5% vs 0%
Asian 6.8% vs 0%
St Bernard Preparatory School Cullman Public Avg

Nearby High Schools

School Rating
St Bernard Preparatory School (this school) 8.4
Cullman High School 6.4
Cullman Middle School 6.8
Cullman Child Development Center 5.9
Good Hope High School 3.9
Good Hope Middle School 5.3
Fairview Middle School 5.1
Fairview High School 3.1
West Point High School 3.4

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- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 8.2:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.4 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,302.4
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 8.8 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 52%
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 133
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 65.4%
Hispanic 19.5%
Two or More 7.5%
Asian 6.8%
Pacific Islander 0.8%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1600 SAINT BERNARD AVE SE, Cullman, AL 35055

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St Bernard Preparatory School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Cullman High School (rated 6.4/10, 1.8 miles away), a more accessible option. Another option is Vinemont High School (rated 5.2/10, 5.6 miles away, in nearby Vinemont), a more accessible option. Additionally, Hanceville High School (rated 4.0/10, 8.4 miles away, in nearby Hanceville), a more accessible option. For more schools in Cullman, see our Cullman schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 8.4 mi
School Distance Rating
East Elementary School Cullman 1.1 mi 7.8
ST PAULS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Cullman 1.2 mi 5.8
Cullman City Primary School Cullman 1.5 mi 9.9
CULLMAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Cullman 1.6 mi 5.5
SACRED HEART ELEMENTARY Cullman 1.5 mi 8.3
Cullman High School Cullman 1.8 mi 6.4
Cullman Middle School Cullman 1.8 mi 6.8
West Elementary School Cullman 2.3 mi 8.0
Cullman Child Development Center Cullman 4.1 mi 5.9
Welti Elementary School Cullman 4.8 mi 6.1
Vinemont Middle School Vinemont 5.5 mi 5.1
Vinemont Elementary School Vinemont 5.6 mi 8.3
Vinemont High School Vinemont 5.6 mi 5.2
Good Hope Elementary School Cullman 6.1 mi 5.9
Good Hope High School Cullman 6.1 mi 3.9
Good Hope Middle School Cullman 6.1 mi 5.3
Good Hope Primary School Cullman 6.7 mi 9.1
VINEMONT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Vinemont 7.8 mi 4.2
Hanceville Middle School Hanceville 8.4 mi 5.6
Hanceville High School Hanceville 8.4 mi 4.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 35055 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$58,488

Median Home Value

$195,400

Median Rent

$934/mo

Population

23,231

College Educated

26.4%

Homeownership

63%

Avg Commute

22.8 min

Poverty Rate

16.2%

Median Age

41.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding St Bernard Preparatory School has a median household income of $58,488. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $195,400, with a median rent of $934/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.2%. The average commute for residents is 23 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
CORNERSTONE HIGH SCHOOL Birmingham, AL 7.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St Bernard Preparatory School

What grades does St Bernard Preparatory School serve?

St Bernard Preparatory School serves students in grades 7th through 12th.

How many students attend St Bernard Preparatory School?

St Bernard Preparatory School has an enrollment of approximately 133 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St Bernard Preparatory School?

The student-teacher ratio at St Bernard Preparatory School is 8.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St Bernard Preparatory School rank in AL?

St Bernard Preparatory School is ranked #8 out of 206 private schools in AL.

What is St Bernard Preparatory School's MySchoolScout rating?

St Bernard Preparatory School has a composite rating of 8.4 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 St Bernard Preparatory School a private school?

Yes, St Bernard Preparatory School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is St Bernard Preparatory School a religious school?

St Bernard Preparatory School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
8 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
7 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,682/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
7th – 12th
Enrollment
133
Gender Split
49% M / 51% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
16
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
7.4 hours
Days Per Year
176 days
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
CULLMAN
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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