Last verified: October 2026
Do Birmingham Catholic schools take the CHOOSE Act ESA?
Yes. The Diocese of Birmingham states that all of its schools are approved as CHOOSE Act participating schools, so the $7,000 account can pay tuition and listed fees. In Jefferson and Shelby counties that covers 10 Catholic schools in our directory, from parish K-8s in Homewood, Hoover and the 280 corridor to John Carroll and Holy Family Cristo Rey.
Which Catholic schools work with scholarship granting organizations?
The diocese lists AOSF as serving Our Lady of Sorrows and Holy Family Cristo Rey, and Renaissance Scholarships as serving St. Francis Xavier and John Carroll. Families apply to the SGO the school names, and an SGO scholarship replaces, rather than adds to, the ESA for that student.
What usually comes after the state money?
Parish and school aid closes the gap. The diocese's own pages describe state programs rather than a central diocesan fund, so each school's business office is the place to ask about parishioner rates, sibling pricing and need-based help.
Catholic school money: ESA vs SGO
| CHOOSE Act ESA | SGO scholarship |
|---|---|
| $7,000 at any diocesan school | Up to $10,000 at the SGO's partner schools |
| Also pays textbooks, tutoring and tests | Tuition only |
| 2027-28: no income test | Income at or below 250% of poverty, or IEP/504 |