Tuscaloosa and the surrounding suburban areas within the county total approximately 157,000 people. One of the major attractions within the city is the University of Alabama, which brings an additional 20,000 people to the area each year. Mercedes-Benz has located a large manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa County with over 1500 employees. The City of Tuscaloosa and Tuscaloosa County operate separate school systems. The mission of Tuscaloosa Academy is to provide a college-preparatory education in a supportive environment of intellectual freedom, to cultivate a love of learning, and to maximize each student's potential for academic achievement, character development and readiness for life.
International students comprise five percent of the total enrollment.
Typically, one hundred percent of Tuscaloosa Academy graduates attend four-year colleges and universities. The school year is divided into four nine-week reporting periods. Classes are forty-five minutes in length with a seven period day. Advanced Placement courses are offered in English Language and English Literature, Calculus, United States History, Biology and Spanish. Students enrolled in AP Courses are required to take the AP examinations.