A family preparing to move to Birmingham once asked this question: Is it enough to consider Mountain Brook public schools, or should we also look into private schools? Mountain Brook is known for its high academic achievement among public school districts in Alabama. However, once they checked the home prices in that area, another question arose: Would it be better to live in a different neighborhood while sending our child to a private school?

First, looking at the housing market in Mountain Brook, Zillow reports that the average home value for 2026 is $845,086, which is a 14.7 percent increase over the past year. According to Redfin, the median sale price in May 2026 is $1,159,306, reflecting a 20.3 percent rise compared to the previous year. Both figures are relatively high, indicating a steady demand for the school district.

So, what about private schools? One well-known option among Korean parents near Birmingham is Indian Springs School. This private school serves grades 8 through 12 and is located on a 350-acre campus, 15 miles south of Birmingham. According to official school data, the tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is $30,600.

How does this school's performance measure up? They offer 130 courses, including 18 Advanced Placement (AP) subjects. Recent data released by the school shows that 50 percent of graduates go on to top 50 colleges, 38.24 percent to top 25 colleges, and 11.76 percent to elite institutions like Harvard and Yale. According to Niche, it ranks as the number one private high school in Alabama.

When comparing the home prices in Mountain Brook with the tuition at Indian Springs, what conclusions can we draw? Buying a home in Mountain Brook and utilizing the public school district incurs a significant initial housing cost, while living in a different neighborhood and paying for a private school like Indian Springs results in fixed annual expenses. There is no definitive answer as to which option is better; it depends on the number of children in the family and the intended length of residence.

If there is one child and we only consider the high school years, the total cost of private school tuition may be lighter. Conversely, if there are multiple children or if the plan is to reside for a long time starting from elementary school, buying a home in Mountain Brook and continuing to use the public school district may be more advantageous in terms of cumulative costs. Each family's calculations will differ.

For families moving from out of state, it's worth noting that homes in neighborhoods with good school districts like Mountain Brook tend to sell quickly. Renting first to confirm school assignments before transitioning to a purchase seems to be a method that reduces trial and error. Rental prices can vary significantly, so it's safest to check the latest listings directly.

What about property taxes? Alabama is known for having relatively low property tax rates compared to other states, but additional education taxes may be imposed by each school district, so the actual burden can vary by county and district. For accurate tax rates, please check with the Shelby County or Jefferson County tax authorities.

Admission to private schools can be difficult to assess based solely on grades. Each school has different admission processes and waitlist procedures, so it seems practical to allow ample time when applying.

The family that was questioning whether to choose public or private schools ultimately decided to apply to Indian Springs, considering that their child is in upper elementary grades, while maintaining their current rental home for the time being. They postponed the decision to move until after receiving the school admission results. They believed that waiting for the results would save them the hassle of moving twice.

The housing market and tuition information contained in this article is for reference based on the time of research, and it is advisable to confirm with real estate and school professionals before making any contracts or admission decisions. This is not investment or legal advice.