I3 Academy

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I3 Academy
I3 Academy seal.png
Established 2020
School type Charter
District Alabama State Department of Education
Grades K-8
Head of School Martin Nalls
Enrollment 735 (2023)
Colors blue & gold
Mascot
Location 261 48th Street North and 7901 1st Avenue North
Birmingham
Website i3academy.org

I3 Academy (for "Imagine, Investigate, Innovate") is a K-8 charter school, chartered under the authority of Birmingham City Schools. The elementary school is located at the former First Baptist Church of Woodlawn at 261 48th Street North in Woodlawn. The school opened on August 20, 2020 with 420 students. The middle school is located in the St. Barnabas Catholic School building at 7901 1st Avenue North in East Lake.

Martin Nalls is the head of school, and former Alabama State Department of Education superintendent Tommy Bice is chair of its board. The school plans to adopt a "STEAM" (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) curriculum, with extended hours for extracurricular programs and "wraparound" programs in cases where social, emotional or medical support is necessary.

I3 Academy was the second charter school, after Legacy Prep, proposed for Birmingham since the passage of the 2015 Alabama School Choice and Student Opportunity Act. The school's application for a charter was rejected by the Birmingham Board of Education in January 2019, but that decision can be reversed by the Alabama Public Charter School Commission. The Woodlawn Foundation acquired the property and renovated for use by the school, which pays $40,000 per year to lease the space.

The property renovated to house the school was erected as West Woodlawn Baptist Church and later served as the home of First Baptist Church of Woodlawn. It was a contributing property to the Woodlawn Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

A groundbreaking for the renovation project was held on August 20, 2019. At that time, Nalls told reporters that the school would have a "culturally responsive curriculum," reflecting the life experiences of its student body. The anticipated 420 pupils would have access to in-school health, dental, and mental health services, and each classroom will have a lead teacher and an assistant present. He said that teachers would receive, "the highest salaries in the metropolitan Birmingham area." Enrollment is by application, but academic achievement or other requirements are not part of the process. Only Birmingham residents admitted in the "first tier", with a lottery to be held if more apply than can be accommodated.

Due to the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, the school began its first academic year with options for full- or part-time remote instruction.

Families were given choices: in-person, blended learning (meaning two days on campus, three days remote), or completely remote learning. While in the school, all faculty, students and guests are required to wear a face covering.

In 2023 I3 Academy partnered with Jefferson State Community College to operate a high school in the H. Y. Carson Building on their Center Point campus. Incoming 9th graders began attending classes there in 2023, with the first class graduating in 2027.

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