A Birmingham charter is Alabama’s first to receive this award for getting kids ready for college

I3 Academy Middle School has officially made history, becoming the first charter school in Alabama to be honored with the A+ College Ready School of Excellence Award.

A Growing Legacy of Academic Success

I3 Academy serves students from kindergarten through eleventh grade across its network of tuition-free public charter schools in the Birmingham area. By securing the top distinction from the A+ Education Partnership program, the middle school has proven its commitment to elevating student academic outcomes across the state.

Principal Enjuli Alexis celebrated the milestone in a recent statement: “Being recognized as the first charter school in Alabama to achieve this distinction is truly an incredible accomplishment. I am immensely proud of our students and deeply grateful for the collective dedication of our middle school faculty and staff, whose unwavering commitment to excellence continues to make achievements like this possible.”

From Humble Beginnings to Educational Excellence

I3 Academy first opened its doors in 2020, launching during the challenging landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic. At its inception, it stood as the state’s largest charter, welcoming 420 students in kindergarten through fifth grade within the Woodlawn community.

The network's reach expanded quickly, with the Middle School campus opening in East Lake in 2021. By 2023, the institution achieved another major milestone by opening its high school on the Birmingham campus of Jefferson State Community College. Today, the three campuses serve a growing community of 935 enrolled students.

Raising the Bar for Students

The A+ Education Partnership focuses on promoting statewide policies that strengthen public education. Through the A+ College Ready program, educators are supported with resources that prepare students for college and career paths, largely through the introduction of rigorous Advanced Placement coursework.

The recent award specifically highlights the success of eighth-grade students at I3 Academy Middle School, who surpassed performance goals on the PSAT, a critical standardized college readiness assessment.

“This award was the result of a staff who delved even more deeply into rigorous instruction, held higher expectations for students, and collaborated effectively,” said Dilhani Uswatte, the academy’s chief academic officer. “Congratulations to i3 Middle School students, staff, and administration; you bring pride to the i3 family.”