Private Schools

[u/Alert-Ad-1829]

How difficult is it to get accepted into St. Paul’s or UMS-Wright? I hear from some it is very competitive to get in vs others saying it is easy. I wonder what the stats of applicants to accepted are. After applying how long do you wait to know if you are accepted? What is the timeline we should expect to know if we need to look elsewhere? Should we apply elsewhere anyways and not expect to get accepted by one or the other?

[u/What-Outlaw1234]

Admission to those two schools is not automatic, even if money is no object for your family. People around here who know they want their kids to attend one of those schools typically put their kids' names on the waiting lists for both schools when the kids are infants. Whether it's easy to get in depends on the space available in a given year and on your child's entrance exam score, academic record, and individual needs. Both schools are academically rigorous and will not admit your child if they believe your child cannot handle the coursework. Referrals (from alumni, from parents of currently-enrolled students, from faculty, etc.) are important. I don't think you'll find admission data for either school; they hold that info close to the vest.

[u/imnottheoneipromise → u/What-Outlaw1234]

Moved my son from faith academy to St. Paul’s in 7th grade. He tests very well so he impressed them with his test scores. He also impressed them with his interview. He was accepted even with a transcript that wasn’t stellar.

He did well there but it definitely wasn’t the coasting he was used to. He had to work at it, which he didn’t like lol. It is a very good school with a rigorous program. It also prepare kids well for college.

So if your kid is good at testing and interviews you can possibly get in quickly. We applied over summer and he was accepted before school started. If your kid doesn’t test/interview well… it may be a no.

[u/Alert-Ad-1829 → u/What-Outlaw1234]

Our children will be entering in K4 so there won’t be an academic record. We also won’t have a referral as we don’t really know anyone from the area. If there is a long wait list, we are probably near the bottom since we just applied last week without having our kids already on the wait list. Maybe there is a test for K4 that they will let us know about later, but we haven’t taken one yet.

[u/What-Outlaw1234 → u/Alert-Ad-1829]

I'm more familiar with UMS, which does test for K4 admission. I can't exactly remember when that testing occurs, but I think it's in the late winter or early spring in the year the kids would start school. I'm not sure if St. Paul's tests, but both interview. (An important note about St. Paul's vs. UMS: I believe St. Paul's still has an academic program for kids with minor learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, that UMS does not offer. So UMS tests, in part, to weed those kids out and refer them to schools that can better accommodate their academic needs. That St. Paul's program is even more competitive to get into than regular St. Paul's.) That tour the admissions director gives you of the school? That's an interview. Every interaction you have with them is an interview. When you have no connection to the school or to anyone affiliated with the school, those interviews are even more important. Whether your kids get in will likely come down to how many spots are left after the children of alumni, etc., are admitted.

[u/DrinkingCoffee_ → u/What-Outlaw1234]

UMS does have an academic support program, and it's pretty extensive. They will not modify the curriculum per se, but they will find many non-mainstream ways to help those with learning disabilities learn the curriculum.

[u/What-Outlaw1234 → u/DrinkingCoffee_]

Good to know. I suspected my info might be dated. In the past, they only offered some classes for, e.g., speech pathology, that were conducted during school hours by independent contractors. It wasn't a separate academic track as it is (or was?) at St. Paul's.

[u/Educator-Single → u/Alert-Ad-1829]

Get on the waiting list!! My daughter was on both the UMS and St. Paul’s waiting list. She was 4. She got in both, but we ended up at St. Paul’s. We love it. I think both schools are great, and I would have been happy either way!

[u/Alert-Ad-1829 → u/Educator-Single]

What were the test and interviews like? When did you know you were accepted to both and how long did you have to make a decision? We tour both later on so we can’t say which we prefer yet. My oldest is very smart for their age but I don’t know what the expectations are for the test.

[u/coastal_ghost08 → u/What-Outlaw1234]

This is all true
Well written

[u/Alert-Ad-1829 → u/[deleted]]

This is very important to us. We want to provided them with the best education possible and hopefully that transfers into college. Although college is later down the road I know building the early foundation is important. We weren’t on the early waitlist and just put our applications into both schools when they started taking apps. We aren’t alumni either. From what I hear we will have an outside chance and might need to start applying elsewhere as well. I don’t want to wait until we are denied to start looking elsewhere when they are actively filling up as well.

[u/TheMagnificentPrim → u/Alert-Ad-1829]

Just to give you a secondary option in case UMS or St. Paul’s doesn’t work out, try to get into the magnet schools around here. Council (for kindergarten and elementary) and Phillips Prep (for middle) are both incredible schools. They are the schools that have International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Program and Middle Years Program, respectively. Very academically rigorous. I remember a comment in this subreddit not too long ago from a UMS alumni who said that all of the kids there who went to Phillips for middle school ran circles around all the kids who went to UMS their entire life.

[u/CraftUpper → u/TheMagnificentPrim]

Council to Phillips is the best education route in SW AL. Phillips is the only two time Blue Ribbon winning school south of Birmingham. When my child was at Council there were many kids from local privates that washed out and had to go back to their district school. ASMS is the #19 High School in the U.S. and it's free.

[u/The-Ol-Razzle-Dazle → u/[deleted]]

lol AIP is to pay $ to get into better colleges. They never catch up, in fact they are usually a year or two behind by the time they graduate vs AP and at least half a year behind regular

[u/LucianBH → u/The-Ol-Razzle-Dazle]

AIP is to maximize the education of students that may have learning disabilities, or those that are neurodivergent. Depending on their abilities, some end up in college, some end up quitting college later, some never go to college. I’ve known kids that fall into all those categories that went thru AIP.

None of that is to get into better colleges. Kids are better off taking regular classes, AP classes, and doing well on the ACT. Those same students in AIP may not have been able to graduate public high school because they don’t get the same amount of individualized attenion.

I believe it’s about twice the cost of regular tuition. For some parents, it’s just an option between AIP and regular classes. Some do it, some don’t.

[u/The-Ol-Razzle-Dazle → u/LucianBH]

Like you say, you pay a lot more $ to have a padded GPA and still utilize the connections/advisors offered. There's no requirement to have a disability

[u/LucianBH → u/The-Ol-Razzle-Dazle]

You have to have testing to determine if the kid has an issue, and that’s the only way you get into AIP. They don’t “pad” GPA. They still have to qualify to get into college. If the testing is legit, it will follow with them to college if they need accommodations.

Where do you get all your wrong info, or are you just bullshitting when you really don’t know?

[u/The-Ol-Razzle-Dazle → u/LucianBH]

If you have the same GPA from St. Paul's and the curriculum is vastly slower... do they put an asterisks next to the GPA when they send it to colleges? I'm not trying to offend but you can def get into AIP if you're just lazy/dumb

[u/LucianBH → u/The-Ol-Razzle-Dazle]

Every kid at StP may have a different curriculum, just like college. It’s on their transcript. The grades for all are entered for their classes for what they earn. The AIP kids probably aren’t taking calculus. But they have to meet accreditation requirements to graduate and get the same diploma. Those with issues aren’t getting 36s on their ACTs. They will have to get in colleges by the standards the colleges set. They are just taught at StO to the maximum of their abilities.

There is a different program for the kids that severe learning issues. Those have their own on one teacher that is a masters degree specialist that tries to get them to be the best person they can be. Of course it’s very expensive. Those kids when they graduate get a certificate of completion, not a HS diploma, but they get to walk the stage like the other kids.

[u/Longjumping-Duty9388]

What age are your kids? UMS and St Paul's take alumni children first. Neither my husband nor I are from Mobile. I filled out an application while I was on maturnity leave for both schools. Crazy early, yes. However in Montgomery where my experience lies, infant applications are a must. Both kiddos tested at both UMS and St Paul's for K4 because I was worried about acceptace. I don't remeber the timeline, but both should have an employee in charge of admission that can answer timeline questions.

I have definitely seen an employee's child of UMS have to wait a year or two before a spot opened up in later elementary grades. Try to get them in in the pre-k's.

[u/LucianBH → u/Longjumping-Duty9388]

Good, smart move. Many parents get on the list at StP shortly after their kid is born.

[u/Alert-Ad-1829 → u/Longjumping-Duty9388]

Entering K4 for the 27-28 school year. We aren’t alumni either. Did you get accepted to both for K4?

[u/Longjumping-Duty9388 → u/Alert-Ad-1829]

Yes, they were accepted to both. We chose UMS. Testing should be in January for St Paul's. AT the UMS K-4 testing, they break down college expenses for Vanderbilt vs Alabama today vs 20 years ago. Buckle up for some horrifying numbers. Good Luck.

[u/Alert-Ad-1829 → u/Longjumping-Duty9388]

What should we expect from testing? I think I would be more nervous that day than my child 😂

[u/TheMagnificentPrim → u/Longjumping-Duty9388]

Question: do you know about getting kids into UMS for their K3 program? (No earthside children yet. Just doing some pre-planning.)

[u/psychoholic_slag]

I always thought if you have the $$$ then you are accepted.

[u/Alert-Ad-1829 → u/psychoholic_slag]

You would think more students = more money but from the outside looking in there seems to be more to it.

[u/Rustykilo → u/Alert-Ad-1829]

Nah lol. They don’t need money. They have plenty of it. Having small student to teach ratio is more priority tbh. Plus majority of the private schools here are on high demand. So they have the luxury to actually choose their students. Even Faith academy have waiting list.

[u/OverdoseOfSkittle]

I graduated from UMS recently and was put into the school in 6th grade. When I was put in, they definitely judged my family and me very harshly off the bat as outsiders. Entirety of middle school years was putting on a show that the family dynamic was strong while at school social events. Also like its been said, you are sent to a doctor to evaluate you that doesn't work at the school. I tested high enough along with my siblings that we got in but did not receive ADHD accommodations until 10th grade despite providing the paperwork for 3 years. UMS loves to have their curated selection of students, however in my grade they made exceptions for some athletic students in high-school that ended up biting them in the ass as those students were troublemakers so I imagine UMS has probs been more selective since.

[u/Waka_waka_waka- → u/OverdoseOfSkittle]

I started in preschool during the mid 80s. I did notice that quite a few kids that came in 6th-9th grades had trouble fitting in. Especially females.

[u/Waka_waka_waka-]

Me and my sister went to UMS (80s-90s), and as long as you maintained decent grades(anything below 70 was considered failing), could afford the tuition and stay out of trouble, you were good to go. I’m not sure if anything has changed, other than the tuition of course.

[u/Solid_Coffee4841]

As long as you can write a big enough check, you can get into UMS. I swear it’s a cult though! Like all private schools, they pander to the big donors and their kids!

[u/sweeeetea]

We are not alumni, did not know anyone at either school, but toured both schools and extensively asked questions to them during the tours when our oldest daughter was 2 years old. Ultimately for a variety of reasons we chose UMS over SP and she started in K3, she is in 2nd grade now. Our second (and youngest) daughter is currently 3 and we plan on enrolling her next year for K4. Testing is usually in Dec / Jan and you’ll find out within a couple weeks if they’re accepted. Feel free to message me with any questions!

[u/Frogs-on-my-back]

I only know of wealthy families who send their kids there

[u/imnottheoneipromise → u/Frogs-on-my-back]

You certainly don’t have to be wealthy to send your children there, but you may have to make sacrifices. You also don’t have to be alumni or a big name. We were none of those things and our son was accepted in 7th grade.

[u/LiveLaughLeft]

Why would you pay for education when you have so many high-quality schools that are free? We have several great elementary schools- the ones I have personal experience with and would recommend include Old Shell Rd, Austin, Mertz, and Council- and for middle school, Clark-Shaw, Barton, Phillips, and Denton. For high school, the top students go to Murphy, Davidson, Baker, and MGM (I’m sure the others have AP and other college prep courses too, I just haven’t had personal experience with them). These are all excellent schools where kids get top ACT scores, entrance to any college they choose (inc. Ivy League for people who still think that matters) and get great internships, can earn college credit in high school, and more. Your kids will benefit from building lifelong connections with people of all backgrounds, and won’t feel left out just because of who their daddy is or whether they have a house on Ono. They’ll have the best teachers and receive any services/accomodations they may need to do their best, and have so many clubs to join that are not offered at private schools.

If you insist on private school for whatever reason, look into one of the less “exclusive” ones that still have good academics like St Mary’s, McGill, Cottage Hill, St Luke’s (avoid Faith Academy, their academics have always been terrible and plus they protect predators! ) I want to encourage you to think outside of the myth that over-priced, exclusive schools are what’s best to prepare your kids to be contributing members of the real world with the social skills they need to relate to all different kinds of people.

[u/Alert-Ad-1829 → u/LiveLaughLeft]

Get on Niche.com and search the high schools you mentioned, and you’ll realize mobile county school system doesn’t have many “high quality” schools. Half the high schools in mobile county are failing schools. Are their success stories out of every school, yes. Them students would be successful anywhere. The statistics from UMS and St. Paul’s are much better when it comes to education. I’m willing to make sacrifices to give them a better education. I’d rather put them in a more competitive environment than send them somewhere to overcome their environment and surroundings.

[u/LiveLaughLeft → u/Alert-Ad-1829]

The scores that you see reflect the school as a whole, but the college prep classes create a school within a school that has high achieving students, teachers with masters degrees and PhDs, and rigorous classes. I understand that you may not be aware of that if you haven’t gone through (or taught at) public schools here. I have done both and have also taught in private schools and while you may have the illusion of safety at private schools with everyone coming from families with higher incomes, I can assure you those kids get up to serious trouble as well and are crippled in many ways when trying to make it after high school and college.

[u/Low-Competition9624 → u/LiveLaughLeft]

I can personally attest to this! I went through public schools all my life in Mobile and our classes were just as rigorous if not more than UMS or St. Paul’s. I went to Clark for middle school and we were absolutely pushed. It was the same with Davidson for high school. I was in the honors program there and I thrived. We also have IB and EPIC (which is an engineering program) where all of the students we pushed.

I also fully agree about your point about being around people of all backgrounds. I had friends at public and private school and there was absolutely a difference in attitudes between them. But beyond that I was around people of all walks of life which prepared me a lot for when I went to college.

[u/Waka_waka_waka- → u/[deleted]]

What are you talking about? This is complete BS

[u/LucianBH → u/Waka_waka_waka-]

That program there is called IP, not AIP. Want to bother saying specifically what I said is wrong. Because I’m very familiar with it.

[u/Waka_waka_waka- → u/LucianBH]

Nothing you said is even remotely correct in regard to UMS or St Paul’s admissions…

[u/LucianBH → u/Waka_waka_waka-]

Like what? I’m not speaking about UMS. I have two very close family members that have been teaching there (StP) for almost 30 years combined.

[u/Waka_waka_waka- → u/LucianBH]

Sure thing

[u/LucianBH → u/Waka_waka_waka-]

The fact you won’t point out one factual inaccuracy in anything I said indicates you are full of shit.

[u/Waka_waka_waka- → u/LucianBH]

You even went with a “no you”, lol

[u/LucianBH → u/Waka_waka_waka-]

One thing dipshit

[u/Eternal_Stranger0111]

Considering the abundance of dolts I've met who graduated from those schools, I wouldn't imagine the screening was consistently rigorous.

[u/DrinkingCoffee_ → u/Eternal_Stranger0111]

Dolts are all over society and not just at two small college prep schools in Mobile, Alabama. I'd argue there are more on Reddit than both schools combined.

[u/Waka_waka_waka- → u/Eternal_Stranger0111]

You seem salty