Reviewed by: Patience Itson
Get on the waitlist now for the 1st-ever high school co-located on a college campus in Bham
Reading time: 6 minutes
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Imagine an innovative public high school in Birmingham where students graduate not only with a high school diploma but potentially a professional certification, an associate’s degree and/or enough credits to transfer to a four-year university as a second-semester sophomore.
This is how Dr. Tommy Bice, former State Superintendent of Education, introduced the vision of the Greater Birmingham Area’s newest high school on September 29, 2023. Although the lottery deadline for i3 Academy High School has passed, parents of rising 9th graders can still get on the waitlist. These students will make up the school’s first graduating class—the Class of 2028.
Securing a spot on the waitlist at this tuition-free public charter school takes about five minutes—apply now.
1. i3 Academy High School: what you need to know
Sneak preview of i3 Academy High School at Jeff State (Ernest Josiah Kenty)
i3 Academy is a network of three tuition-free public charter schools (elementary, middle and now high school) that currently serves K-8th graders and will add a grade a year until the 2027-28 school year, when it will include grades K-12.
The leaders of the network are passionate about creating a “cradle-to-career-or-college” pathway for every student and have come up with new ways to achieve that goal. So far, parents and teachers alike love it.
Applications are open to any student in Alabama each year between October 1 and the Dr. King holiday. When i3 receives more applications than seats, students go into a lottery. Once a student has been admitted and enrolled, their seat is secure until they decline it.
That said, rising 9th graders can still get on the waitlist for the new high school.
2. Meet Dr. Martin Nalls, the man behind i3’s “Cradle to College” vision
Dr. Nalls grew up in Fayette, Alabama and originally came to Birmingham to attend UAB. A familiar face in Birmingham’s education scene, he served in leadership positions in Fairfield, Homewood and Hoover before starting a nonprofit called College Admissions Made Possible. In the summer of 2018, he was invited to lead the i3 Academy effort, which he has been doing since.
Not only did his team succeed in opening i3 Elementary in Woodlawn in August 2020, during the pandemic, but they opened the doors to i3 Middle in East Lake the following fall. Now, in the fall of 2024, they’ll be welcoming the first students to i3 Academy High School at Jeff State, near Center Point.
Here are just a few of the things that make i3 High unique among Birmingham high schools:
- It’s located on a community college campus, where students can take college-level classes at no cost during their regular school day, beginning in 10th grade.
- Students will have the opportunity to earn a professional certification while in high school, opening the door to well-paid jobs while they are continuing their education. Examples include:
- Accounting
- Business
- Child Development
- Computer Information Systems Technology
- Construction Management
- Culinary + Hospitality
- Law Enforcement
- Manufacturing Tech
- Welding
- Students can earn an associate degree while in high school.
- Students can complete up to two years of coursework toward their bachelor’s degree while working toward their high school diploma.
- Altogether, this equals money in the pockets of students who can become qualified for well-paid jobs and for families who can save significant amounts on college—not just the two-to-500 dollars most in-state institutions in Alabama charge per credit hour, but also thousands of dollars of room, board and other costs associated with college.
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions + get your rising K-9th grader on the waitlist for the 2024-25 school year.
3. Meet Dr. Tamala Maddox, Founding i3 Academy High School Principal
Like Dr. Nalls and Dr. Bice, Dr. Tamala Maddox is a well-known and highly experienced educational leader in the Greater Birmingham Area.
She spent 21 years with Hoover City Schools, with 10 years as principal of Bumpus Middle School, before leaving to become the founding principal of i3 Middle School in 2021. Now, in 2024, she begins her next role as founding principal of i3 Academy High School at Jeff State.
“I am excited about the opportunities this endeavor presents for our students and families. As the newly appointed principal of i3 Academy High School, I cannot wait to embark on this journey with you. My vision for i3 Academy High School is rooted in collaboration, innovation, and a relentless commitment to the success of every student.
Together, we will continue to foster an environment that values academic excellence, personal growth, and a sense of community. Working as a team, we can help our agents of change acquire the tools they need to solve the problems they see in their world.”
Dr. Tamala Maddox, Founding Principal, i3 Academy High School
4. Why i3 Academy High School at Jeff State matters to the community
We spoke to Councilor JT Moore, who represents District 4 on the Birmingham City Council, about why i3, and particularly this new high school, matters to the community.
“Since their doors first opened, the leadership at i3 Academy has continued to make a huge positive impact on the lives of students in our city. I’m forever grateful for their vision and their commitment to providing educational opportunities while keeping an eye on the future.
We all know about how the school-to-prison pipeline has negatively affected our most at-risk students for decades, not just in Birmingham but across the country. I’m so encouraged to hear about this new partnership and look forward to providing support in any way I can to ensure our young people have every tool they need to become the best version of themselves.”
Councilor JT Moore, District 4, Birmingham City Council
5. Learn more about the i3 Network
Interested teachers can attend a teacher recruitment fair Jan. 30, 5:30-6:30PM at i3 Elementary
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