Public School Review - Established 2003

Phillips Academy vs. Washington K8

Should you attend Phillips Academy or Washington K8? 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%
Washington K8
115 Fourth Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35205
: 
2/
10
Bottom 50%
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%)

Washington K8 ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:

Category
Attribute
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Largest percent of students eligible for free lunch (Top 10%)
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).
Washington K8, a Birmingham public K–8 school, ranked between #1087 and #1139 in Alabama from 2022 to 2023, placing it in the bottom 50% statewide.
Math proficiency at was 7% in 2023, lower than the state average of 30%, with recent test scores showing a decline from 15% in 2019; reading proficiency was 22%, also lower than the state average of 47%.
The school's minority enrollment was 98%, with 89% of students eligible for free lunch, reflecting a high level of socioeconomic need and stable free lunch rates since 2019.
served 590 students in PreK–8 grades in 2024, with a student–teacher ratio of approximately 20:1 and an enrollment growth from 506 students in 2022.
Despite low proficiency rates, the school maintained a graduation rate above state averages, reaching 95% in 2023 compared to the state rate of 88%.
Grades Offered
PK-8
PK-8
Total Students
631 students
590 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 Washington K8 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 Washington K8.
Total Classroom Teachers
35 teachers
29 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 Washington K8 over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
20:1
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 Washington K8 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%)
#1139 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Bottom 50%)
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 Washington K8, encompassing data from multiple years, including the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
49%
(Top 20% in AL)
7%
(Bottom 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 Washington K8 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)
22%
(Bottom 50% 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 Washington K8 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)
6-9%
(Bottom 50% 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 Washington K8 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 Washington K8 by grade.
Pre-K Students
18
36
Kindergarten Students
52
36
Grade 1 Students
52
44
Grade 2 Students
65
58
Grade 3 Students
70
48
Grade 4 Students
61
45
Grade 5 Students
58
34
Grade 6 Students
100
95
Grade 7 Students
76
94
Grade 8 Students
79
100

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
n/a
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.
n/a
% Hispanic
2%
37%
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 Washington K8, 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%
60%
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 Washington K8, 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 Washington K8, 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%
1%
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 Washington K8, 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
0.51
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 Washington K8, 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%
87%
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 Washington K8, 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%
3%
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 Washington K8, 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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