Public School Review - Established 2003

Phillips Academy vs. Christian School

Should you attend Phillips Academy or Christian School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Phillips Academy
2316 7th Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35203
: 
9/
10
Top 20%
Christian School
725 Mountain Dr
Birmingham, AL 35206
: 
8/
10
Top 30%
Top Rankings

Phillips Academy ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)

Christian School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:

Category
Attribute
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Overview
Serving 631 students in grades Prekindergarten-8, Phillips Academy ranks in the top 20% of all schools in Alabama for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 49% (which is higher than the Alabama state average of 30%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 71% (which is higher than the Alabama state average of 47%).
The student-teacher ratio of 18:1 is higher than the Alabama state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 99% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Alabama state average of 49% (majority Black).
Christian School in Birmingham, AL, ranked #267 in the state in 2023, declining from #196 in 2022 and exhibiting overall fluctuation in ranking since 2012.
Math proficiency was 33%, higher than the state average of 30% but down from previous highs, while reading proficiency reached 68%, higher than the state average of 47%, and science proficiency ranged between 55–59%, higher than the state average of 38%.
Enrollment remained stable around 630 students in recent years with a high minority enrollment of 98%, predominantly Black (530 students), and approximately 50% of students eligible for free lunch, indicating consistent socioeconomic need.
The school serves grades PK–8 with 587 students and a student–teacher ratio of 18:1, with an average class size of 20 students.
Christian School is a Title I magnet school in the South Roebuck neighborhood offering no virtual instruction, with an acceptance rate of 85% and participation in the National School Lunch Program under the Community Eligibility Option.
Grades Offered
PK-8
PK-8
Total Students
631 students
587 students
This chart illustrates the total number of students at Phillips Academy over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart illustrates the total number of students at Christian School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
% Male | % Female
52% | 48%
55% | 45%
This pie chart depicts the gender distribution at Phillips Academy.
This pie chart depicts the gender distribution at Christian School.
Total Classroom Teachers
35 teachers
32 teachers
This chart illustrates the total number of teachers at Phillips Academy over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart illustrates the total number of teachers at Christian School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
This chart presents a comparison of the student-teacher ratio at Phillips Academy with the average student-teacher ratio for public schools in the Birmingham City School District and the state of Alabama, utilizing data from multiple years and featuring the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the student-teacher ratio at Christian School with the average student-teacher ratio for public schools in the Birmingham City School District and the state of Alabama, utilizing data from multiple years and featuring the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.

Test Scores

#148 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Top 20%)
#267 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Top 30%)
This chart illustrates the overall school ranking of Phillips Academy, encompassing data from multiple years, including the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart illustrates the overall school ranking of Christian School, encompassing data from multiple years, including the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
49%
(Top 20% in AL)
33%
(Top 50% in AL)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Phillips Academy who have achieved proficiency or higher in Math with the average percentages observed in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Christian School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Math with the average percentages observed in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
71%
(Top 10% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
68%
(Top 20% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Phillips Academy who have achieved proficiency or higher in RLA (Reading and Language Arts) with the average percentages observed in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2021-22 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Christian School who have achieved proficiency or higher in RLA (Reading and Language Arts) with the average percentages observed in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2021-22 school year.
45-49%
(Top 30% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
55-59%
(Top 20% in AL)(21-22 School Year Data)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Phillips Academy who have achieved proficiency or higher in Science with the average percentages observed in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2021-22 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Christian School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Science with the average percentages observed in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2021-22 school year.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Phillips Academy by grade.
This chart displays the students of Christian School by grade.
Pre-K Students
18
18
Kindergarten Students
52
52
Grade 1 Students
52
50
Grade 2 Students
65
47
Grade 3 Students
70
49
Grade 4 Students
61
60
Grade 5 Students
58
58
Grade 6 Students
100
83
Grade 7 Students
76
92
Grade 8 Students
79
78

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
1%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Asian at Phillips Academy, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Asian in the Birmingham City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2013-14 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Asian at Christian School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Asian in the Birmingham City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% Hispanic
2%
5%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Hispanic at Phillips Academy, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Hispanic in the Birmingham City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Hispanic at Christian School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Hispanic in the Birmingham City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% Black
96%
90%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Black at Phillips Academy, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Black in the Birmingham City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Black at Christian School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Black in the Birmingham City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% White
1%
2%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as White at Phillips Academy, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as White in the Birmingham City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2021-22 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as White at Christian School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as White in the Birmingham City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
2%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as two or more races at Phillips Academy, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as two or more races in the Birmingham City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as two or more races at Christian School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as two or more races in the Birmingham City School District and in Alabama, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
0.08
0.19
This chart showcases the diversity score of Phillips Academy, juxtaposed with the average diversity score for public schools in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart showcases the diversity score of Christian School, juxtaposed with the average diversity score for public schools in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
48%
50%
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for free lunch at Phillips Academy, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for free lunch in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for free lunch at Christian School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for free lunch in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
10%
12%
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for reduced-price lunch at Phillips Academy, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for reduced-price lunch in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for reduced-price lunch at Christian School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for reduced-price lunch in the Birmingham City School District and Alabama, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
 
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