Tuscaloosa Academy

420 Rice Valley Road North
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
PHONE (205) 758-4462 FAX (205) 758-4418
CEEB: 012-688
www.tuscaloosaacademy.org

Barry A. Peterson, Ph.D.
George B. Elder, Ed.D.
Ms. Christine Parsons
Associate Headmaster
Headmaster
College Counselor

PROFILE 2008

                                        Tuscaloosa Academy, founded in 1967, is a non-sectarian, independent, co-educational, college-preparatory school serving 435 students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade (128 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 2008 has 41 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 program, 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.

                  

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.

English                                       4 credits
History                                       4 credits
Mathematics                             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, Spanish, French, and Studio Art. Students enrolled in AP courses are required to take the AP examinations. In 2006-2007, 35 students took 73 advanced placement exams in 10 subject areas.
Laboratory Science                 4 credits    
Foreign Language                   3 credits   COLLEGE MATRICULATION                  
Computer Science                   1 credit                          Since 2004, the following four-year colleges
and universities are among those offering admission to graduates of Tuscaloosa Academy:
Health                                        1/2 credit  
Speech / Drama                       1/2 credit  
Fine Arts                                   1 credit  
Auburn University
Physical Education                  1 credit  
Belmont University
Elective                                      1 credit  
Birmingham-Southern College
   
Clemson University

ELECTIVES
                           In addition to the required courses, students choose from the following electives.

 
College of Charleston
Columbia University
Dallas Baptist University
Anatomy & Physiology
 
Duke University
Psychology / Sociology
 
Fresno State
Pre-Calculus / Trignometry
 
Harding Univesity
Calculus
  
Harvard University
Statistics
  
Huntingdon College
Computer Science II
 
Louisiana State University
Latin
  
Mississippi College
Art I, II, III
 
Mississippi State University
   
MIT
GRADING SCALE  
Purdue University
A+      101+            4.3
  
Rhodes College
A        94 - 100       4.0
  
Rice University
A-       90 - 93         3.7
  
Samford University
B+       87 - 89        3.3
  
Sewanee - The University of the South
B         83 - 86        3.0
  
Southern Methodist University
B-       80 - 82         2.7
  
Tri-State University
C+       77 - 79        2.3
  
Tulane University
C         73 - 76        2.0
  
University of Alabama
C-       70 - 72         1.7
  
University of Alabama Birmingham
D+       67 - 69        1.3
  
University of Alabama Huntsville
D         63 - 66        1.0
  
University of California, Davis
D-       60 - 62         0.7
  
University of Chicago
   
University of Colorado, Boulder
STANDARIZED TEST DATA  
University of Georgia
                            ACT Assessment: Mid 50th percentile  
University of Kansas
for the class of 2007 was 20-26 (25 students tested).  
University of Mississippi
                           SAT Assessment: The average SAT I  
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
score for the class of 2007 was 576 Critical Reading,  
University of South Alabama
508 Math, and 568 Writing (18 students tested).  
University of Southern Mississippi
   
University of West Alabama
   
University of West Florida
   
Vanderbilt University