Boarding School Review - Established 2003
Southern Preparatory Academy
St. Bernard Preparatory School

Alabama Boarding Schools

St. Bernard Preparatory School: Based in Cullman, it serves 133 students in grades 7-12 as a co-ed college-preparatory boarding school. Tuition is $34,000 and 70% of students receive financial aid. Classes average 20 students.
Southern Preparatory Academy: A co-ed college-preparatory boarding school in Camp Hill serving grades 7-12, with 130 students. Tuition is $25,500 and 20% of students receive financial aid. Classes average 12 students.
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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • # Boarding Schools: 2
  • # Students Served: 263

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • # Boarding Schools: 2
  • # Students Served: 263

Top Alabama Boarding Schools (2026-27)

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St. Bernard Preparatory School Photo - Academic achievement is high on the list of St. Bernard Prep priorities, with students consistently ranking above national and state averages in ACT and National Merit Exams.
St. Bernard Preparatory School
Gr: 7-12 | 133 students
Student-teacher ratio: 15:1
Avg. class size: 20 students
Acceptance rate: 80%
Tuition listed
Catholic
1600 St. Bernard Drive, S.E.
Cullman, AL 35055
(256) 255-5890
View Profile
Southern Preparatory Academy Photo - As the leading college preparatory school in Camp Hill for girls and boys in grades 7-12, Southern Prep prepares students for success in college and in life. Within the framework of Christian example, our students are challenged to think, inspired to create, empowered to lead, motivated to win, and prepared to reach their God-given potential now and in the future.
Southern Preparatory Academy
Gr: 7-12 | 130 students
Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
Avg. class size: 12 students
Acceptance rate: 92%
Tuition listed
Non-denom. / Christian
174 Ward Circle
Camp Hill, AL 36850
(256) 790-9202
(3)
View Profile
2
Boarding Schools
+100.0% (+1 school) 11-yr
261
Students
+53.5% (+91 students) 11-yr

Historical Statistics Overview

This State (AL)
US (avg. per state)
# Schools
2 Schools
6.4 Schools

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Total Number of Boarding Schools

YearAlabama (AL) TotalUS Avg per State
202526.4
202426.2
202326.0
202225.9
202125.7
202025.4
201925.4
201825.2
201715.1
201614.9
201515.0
201415.0
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# Students
261 Students
2,517 Students

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Total Number of Boarding School Students

YearAlabama (AL) TotalUS Avg per State
20252612,517
20242612,453
20232612,367
20222622,384
20213252,278
20203252,144
20193252,197
20183352,146
20172152,100
20162151,980
20152151,985
20141701,962
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Academics and Faculty

South Region*
US
* Fewer than 3 schools in Alabama report these figures, so the South regional average is shown.
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
8:1

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average Student-Teacher Ratio

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
20258:18:1
20248:17:1
20238:17:1
20228:17:1
20218:17:1
20208:17:1
20198:17:1
20188:17:1
20178:17:1
20168:17:1
20159:17:1
20149:17:1
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% Faculty with Advanced Degree
67%
69%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average % Faculty with Advanced Degrees

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
202567%69%
202468%68%
202369%69%
202268%68%
202168%67%
202068%66%
201967%65%
201869%66%
201767%66%
201666%65%
201566%65%
201466%65%
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Academic Programs

South Region*
US
* Fewer than 3 schools in Alabama report these figures, so the South regional average is shown.
Avg. AP Courses
23
22

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
20252322
20242322
20232322
20222222
20212422
20202322
20192221
20182221
20172321
20162220
20152020
20142019
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Avg. IB Courses
32
28

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average Number of IB Courses Offered

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
20253228
20243233
20233232
20223232
20213234
20203231
20193332
20183634
20173430
20163430
20152327
20142226
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Avg. Class Size
13
13

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average Class Size

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
20251313
20241313
20231313
20221313
20211313
20201212
20191313
20181313
20171313
20161313
20151313
20141313
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Academic Performance

South Region*
US
* Fewer than 3 schools in Alabama report these figures, so the South regional average is shown.
Avg. SAT Score
1232
1271

Regional Trends (South) in Average SAT Score

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
202512321271
202412351274
202312441278
202212451276
202112411277
202012411273
201912381271
201812501273
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Avg. ACT Score
26
27

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average ACT Score

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
20252627
20242627
20232627
20222627
20212627
20202627
20192627
20182626
20172626
20162626
20152626
20142525
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Avg. Acceptance Rate
64%
59%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average Acceptance Rate

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
202564%59%
202463%57%
202364%57%
202263%56%
202164%56%
202063%55%
201964%55%
201862%55%
201762%54%
201661%53%
201562%54%
201462%54%
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Tuition and Finances

South Region*
US
* Fewer than 3 schools in Alabama report these figures, so the South regional average is shown.
Avg. Tuition (Boarding)
$58,423
$64,455

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average Tuition Cost

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
2025$58,423$64,455
2024$58,791$62,584
2023$56,685$60,415
2022$53,804$58,343
2021$51,965$57,017
2020$51,389$55,760
2019$49,161$54,186
2018$46,459$52,108
2017$44,772$50,594
2016$43,727$49,180
2015$42,344$47,708
2014$41,093$48,599
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Avg. Tuition (Day)
$29,034
$38,004

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average Day Student Tuition

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
2025$29,034$38,004
2024$29,238$36,732
2023$27,149$35,848
2022$28,229$34,469
2021$28,198$34,614
2020$27,655$33,350
2019$25,186$31,555
2018$23,377$30,133
2017$21,911$29,344
2016$21,464$29,140
2015$20,860$28,042
2014$20,228$27,217
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Avg. Tuition (International)
$60,474
$62,450

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average International Student Tuition

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
2025$60,474$62,450
2024$59,657$59,956
2023$57,046$57,872
2022$54,398$56,738
2021$52,368$54,097
2020$51,636$52,930
2019$50,313$51,250
2018$46,981$47,647
2017$43,726$45,370
2016$42,874$45,211
2015$41,119$45,218
2014$40,574$45,073
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Avg. Financial Aid Rate
49%
42%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average Financial Aid Rate

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
202549%42%
202445%41%
202346%41%
202244%40%
202143%40%
202043%39%
201942%38%
201840%38%
201738%37%
201638%36%
201536%36%
201436%35%
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Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$21,503
$27,075

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average Financial Aid Grant

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
2025$21,503$27,075
2024$22,155$26,722
2023$23,238$26,202
2022$22,421$26,183
2021$23,069$26,267
2020$23,159$26,166
2019$22,149$26,311
2018$21,131$25,365
2017$20,206$24,537
2016$18,848$23,339
2015$17,911$22,851
2014$17,997$22,694
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Avg. Endowment
$62 MM
$84 MM

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average School Endowment

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
2025$62 MM$84 MM
2024$60 MM$83 MM
2023$59 MM$77 MM
2022$57 MM$73 MM
2021$53 MM$73 MM
2020$49 MM$67 MM
2019$49 MM$67 MM
2018$48 MM$72 MM
2017$47 MM$71 MM
2016$46 MM$68 MM
2015$44 MM$67 MM
2014$43 MM$64 MM
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Student Diversity

South Region*
US
* Fewer than 3 schools in Alabama report these figures, so the South regional average is shown.
% Students of Color
28%
30%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average % Students of Color

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
202528%30%
202428%29%
202328%29%
202227%27%
202128%27%
202027%26%
201924%24%
201823%24%
201722%22%
201621%22%
201520%21%
201419%21%
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Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

% International Students
18%
27%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average % International Students

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
202518%27%
202419%27%
202318%26%
202218%26%
202118%25%
202018%25%
201918%26%
201820%26%
201721%27%
201621%26%
201519%25%
201419%25%
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% Boarding Students
54%
59%

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (South) in Average % Boarding Students

YearSouth Region AvgNational Avg
202554%59%
202455%60%
202355%61%
202256%61%
202156%61%
202057%62%
201958%62%
201859%62%
201759%63%
201659%63%
201558%64%
201458%63%
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Frequently Asked Questions

How many boarding schools are located in Alabama?
There are 2 college-preparatory boarding schools located in Alabama.
What is the oldest boarding school in Alabama?
St. Bernard Preparatory School, founded in 1891, is the oldest boarding school in Alabama.

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