About Tuscaloosa Academy!

TUSCALOOSA ACADEMY PROFILE 2010

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420 Rice Valley Road North
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Phone (205) 758-4462 Fax (205) 758-4418

CEEB: 012-688

	Jeffrey L. Mitchell, Ph.D.
	Headmaster
Barry A. Peterson, Ph.D.		Wayne Brantley
Associate Headmaster / College Counselor		Dean of Students

           Tuscaloosa Academy, founded in 1967, is a non-sectarian, independent, co-educational, college-preparatory school serving approximately 400 students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade (100 students in grades nine through twelve). Located fifty miles south of Birmingham in West Alabama, the city and surrounding areas of Tuscaloosa is home to approximately 245,740 people. International students comprise twenty-two percent of the total enrollment at Tuscaloosa Academy. Traditionally, one hundred percent of Tuscaloosa Academy graduates attend four-year colleges and universities. The class of 2009 has 37 students. 38% of the faculty has Masters Degrees and 7% has Doctoral Degrees. Tuscaloosa Academy is accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
             In addition to a superior college preparatory/honors curriculum, denoted as CP (college preparatory) on official transcripts, the students learn and abide by an Honor System. This is a means of instilling in each individual student an active sense of honor, integrity, personal responsibility, honesty, trustworthiness, self-respect, good citizenship, and respect for the school. It creates an atmosphere of trust at the school by encouraging the entire student body to hold these qualities in the highest esteem.
             Tuscaloosa Academy students are involved outside of the classroom and are given the opportunity to excel in extracurricular activities. Upper School students average 20 hours of community service and over 75% play at least one sport. All students in grades 7-12 are required to purchase a personal tablet PC resulting in a mastery of technology before graduation. Student health and safety is supported by a preventative mandatory drug testing program for all students in grades 7-12.


THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM All students are enrolled in a combination of required core courses and electives. A typical course load consists of 6 courses and one study period. Concurrent enrollment at the University of Alabama is offered to qualified seniors at Tuscaloosa Academy, giving them the opportunity to earn college credit, while continuing their required senior year courses.				NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP Since 2000, Tuscaloosa Academy has had thirteen (13) National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists; thirteen (13) National Merit Scholarship winners; four (4) Commended students.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Twenty-four credits are required for graduation. Many students graduate with twenty-six credits or more by taking electives each year in addition to the following required course of study, grades 9-12.				STANDARDIZED TEST DATA ACT Assessment: The average ACT Composite score for the class of 2008 was 24 (41 students tested). SAT Assessment: The average SAT I score for the class of 2008 was 550 Critical Reading, 500 Math, and 540 Writing (18 students tested).
English		4 credits
History		4 credits		ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM Advanced Placement classes are open to all Junior and Senior students and are offered in the following courses: English Language, English Literature, Calculus, United States History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Spanish, French, and Studio Art. Students enrolled in AP courses are required to take the AP examinations. In 2007-2008, 39 students took 70 advanced placement exams in 9 subject areas.
Mathematics		4 credits
Laboratory Science		4 credits
Foreign Language		3 credits
Computer Science		1 credit
Health		1/2 credit
Speech / Drama		1/2 credit
Fine Arts		1 credit
Physical Education		1 credit
Elective		1 credit

ELECTIVES In addition to the required courses, students choose from the following electives.				COLLEGE MATRICULATION Since 2004, the following four-year colleges and universities are among those offering admission to graduates of Tuscaloosa Academy:


Anatomy and Physiology				Auburn University
Psychology / Sociology				Belmont University
Pre-Calculus / Trigonometry				Birmingham-Southern College
Calculus				Boston College
Statistics				Clemson University
Algebra III / Senior Math				College of Charleston
Latin				Columbia University
Spanish				Dallas Baptist University
French				Duke University
Creative Writing				Emory University
Philosophy				Fresno State
Journalism				Harding University
Art I, II, III				Harvard University
				Huntingdon College
GRADING SCALE Tuscaloosa Academy uses a 'weighted' GPA with AP courses receiving an additional one point and "College Prep / Honors" receiving a .5 increase.				Johns Hopkins University
				Louisiana State University
				Mississippi College
				MIT
				Purdue University
A+	101+	A+	4.3	Rhodes College
A	94 - 100	A	4.0	Rice University
A-	90 - 93	A-	3.7	Samford University
B+	87 - 89	B+	3.3	Sewanee - the University of the South
B	83 - 86	B	3.0	Southern Methodist University
B-	80 - 82	B-	2.7	Spring Hill College
C+	77 - 79	C+	2.3	Stanford University
C	73 - 76	C	2.0	Tulane University
C-	70 - 72	C-	1.7	University of Alabama
D+	67 - 69	D+	1.3	University of Alabama Birmingham
D	63 - 66	D	1.0	University of California, Davis
D-	60 - 62	D-	0.7	University of Chicago
				University of Colorado, Boulder
				University of Georgia
				University of Kansas
				University of Mississippi
				University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
				University of Pennsylvania
				University of South Alabama
				Vanderbilt University
				Wellesley College

Updated: 10/05/09