Schools in Tuscaloosa (Birmingham, Hoover, Northport: lawyers, best school, property tax)

[bjhs08]

My wife and I are moving to Tuscaloosa this summer and are currently looking for a house. We have a teenage son who will be attending high school and I would like some info about the quality of the high schools in that area. I have looked at greatschools.com and have a small list. Commute time for me really isn't an issue. The best school zone for our son will be the deciding factor.

Private school is out of the question financially so the public schools I have narrowed it down to are: Northridge, Tuscaloosa County, Hillcrest, Sipsey Valley, Brookwood and Northside. Which of these has the best reputation for good teachers and successful students? What is the culture of these schools?

Thanks so much.

[rawrockills]

If I remember from when I was in high school in Birmingham, Northridge was considered one of the better Tuscaloosa schools.

[Southlander]

From what I hear, Northport schools are better than Tuscaloosa's.

[ttownfeen]

You can't go wrong with Northridge, Hillcrest or County High. Northridge is in the so-called "North of the River" part of town, where all the doctors, lawyers, UA professors, etc., live. Hillcrest and County High are more middle class. Not the say that Brookwood, Northside or Sipsey Valley are bad, though. They are more, for the lack of a better word, "country."

[finzup2]

For public, Northridge is really the only real option, but many opt for Holy Spirit or Tuscaloosa Academy. Holy Spirit is relatively strict and small. TA is known for some issues with drugs (recreational). There are several episodes of violence at Northridge with bussing and zoning. Tuscaloosa News Forums is a good place to ask, as well. Honestly, Holy Spirit is dirt cheap when you consider that you don't really pay property tax in Tuscaloosa or Northport. Consider tuition the price of property tax anywhere else ;-).

Edited to add: We live in Tuscaloosa and are moving to Hoover because we no longer find Tuscaloosa options acceptable for our kids and the 45 minute commute is worth it for me.

[TDGS7149]

I live in tuscaloosa.
The school system is good overall, with many new high schools and middle schools.
Northridge, bryant high and central are in the city system. There have been incidences there just as ther have been with county high and hillcrest. The problems here are minor compared to cities of the same size.