ALMetro360

Alabama's 2020 1A-3A Indoor Girls Track State Champions, 2019 IA-3A Indoor Girls Track State Champions, 2019 1A-3A Girls Tennis State Champions, 2019 3A Girls Track & Field State Cham- pions, and 2017 4A State Volleyball Champions. The school offers 47 team sports played in the AHSAA’s aggressive 3A Division, in- cluding football, baseball, softball, basketball, cross country, wrestling, indoor track, soccer, tennis, golf, and cheerleading. After winning their recent State title, Saint James Volleyball competed in the 5A Division the last two years and competed at the State tournament in 2019. Of note, STJ offers the only official high school equestrian team in the area. ARTS: Saint James seniors are regularly awarded scholarships to nationally respected arts colleges based on their excellent choral, band, dramatics, and visual arts training. In the winter of 2019, the Saint James high school choir earned first place at a national competition in Chicago and several band members were selected to march in the Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps. STJ's acclaimed Performing Arts Department stages three elaborate dramatic and musical productions each year, using a modern wireless sound system in the school's spacious theater. There are also studios and rehearsal spaces for band and choral music, and facilities for teach- ing drama and technical theatre classes. Artwork created by Saint James students is often displayed at local galleries, pieces are con- sistently selected through competition for regional display, and many students are awarded Scholastic Gold and Silver Keys each year. Several Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the arts are of- fered to students each year at Saint James. In addition, Saint James School was honored as the 2019-2020 Leading Chapter Award in the Deep South District by the National Speech & Debate Associ- ation, and in 2018, the school’s Speech and Debate Team claimed four State Championships, Speaker of the Year for the state of Al- abama, and was ranked as an overall top 3 team in Alabama. ANNUAL TUITION: In 2019, Saint James School launched a healthy, chef-inspired lunch program served from the new Saint James Commons to all students, Pre-K3 through 12th grade – with the daily cost included in tuition. In addition to lunch, Saint James tuition also includes activity fees for Pre-K3 through 5th grade; all school supplies for elementary students; all school sup- plies for middle school students (does not include calculator, ear buds, or iPad stylus); consumable books for Pre-K3 through eighth grade; day field trips for all grades; fall school pictures for all grades; junior and senior class fees; most middle school textbooks; Parent Association dues for each family; student admission to all home sporting events; technology due for all grades; and a yearbook for all students. Current tuition rates are listed on the school's website at STJweb.org. Additionally, Saint James School makes funds available on an annual basis to assist families who demon- strate need inmeeting the cost of an independent school education. In fact, more than $1 million in tuition assistance was awarded for the 2020-2021 school year. Please see Tuition Assistance details on the school's website at STJweb.org. THE MONTGOMERYACADEMY 3240 Vaughn Road, Montgomery – Middle & Upper School (Grades 6-12) 1550 Perry Hill Road, Montgomery – Lower School (Grades K-5) TELEPHONE: (334) 272-8210 WEBSITE: Montgomeryacademy.org MISSION: The Montgomery Academy develops leaders com- mitted to honor, scholarship, service and the pursuit of excellence. ABOUT: The Montgomery Academy offers an education second to none. Students who enroll are exposed to a variety of challenging academic courses, competitive athletic teams, and a phenomenal visual and performing arts program. Integrity is important at the Academy and students adhere to an honor code governed by a student-led Honor Council. ACADEMICS: With a challenging college preparatory curricu- lum, Academy students are recognized annually as National Merit Semifinalists and Finalists. Twenty-two Advanced Placement sec- tions are offered in all core areas. Students have earned Advanced Placement Scholar Awards and have been recognized as AP Schol- ars, AP Scholars with Honor, AP Scholars with Distinction and as National Scholars. Amajority of our seventh grade students qualify to participate in the Duke University Talent Identification Program. ARTS: Our Speech & Debate program is ranked in the top 1% in the nation and has won 17 state championships, more than any other public or private school in Alabama. Both Lower and Middle School Choruses have earned statewide accolades and have been invited to participate in festivals across the southeast. Our Upper School Chorus has earned superior ratings at district and state competitions, including winning first place the past four con- secutive years in a national choral competition. The black-box the- ater on the Vaughn Road campus is where students in grades 6-12 may participate in full-length productions during the year. Every single child in grades K-5 participates in a performance each year. Student actors compete and are honored annually in the State Theater Festival. Our K-12 Visual Arts program submits pieces to exhibits across the River Region, the state and nationally, winning at every level. ATHLETICS: Athletic teams at The Montgomery Academy have earned 74 state championships, more than any other public or private school in the River Region! Both our boys and girls athletic teams have achieved success. Seventy-two percent of Mid- dle and Upper School students participate on an athletic team. With thirty-five team offerings, there is something for every athlete. Our students have also been honored over the years by receiving the Jimmy Hitchcock Memorial Award, the Jimmy Hitchcock Freshman Award, and Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athlete award. Sev- eral Academy student-athletes have gone on to participate at the collegiate level. Students in grades K-9 participate in physical ed- ucation every day. ACTIVITIES: Students learn leadership skills both in and out- side the classroom. Many participate in organizations like Student Council, Youth in Government, Mock Trial, Model UN, and various community service organizations. With over 23 clubs offered in the Upper School, from cooking to coding, student government to STEM, there is something for every student's interest. 40 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com 2020 Private School Review ...................................................................................................