I3 Academy
I3 Academy is a tuition-free public charter school network in Birmingham, Alabama, operating three campuses serving 935 K-10 students with a STEAM-focused curriculum, 1:1 Apple device ecosystem, and a high school co-located on Jefferson State Community College campus.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What I3 Academy does
I3 Academy, legally i3 Academy Charter Schools, is a tuition-free public charter school network operating three campuses in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 2020 (with a $1.5M raise in late 2019), the network originated as i3 Elementary in the Woodlawn community and has since expanded to a middle school in East Lake and a high school co-located on the Jefferson State Community College campus that opened in fall 2024. Total enrollment stands at 935 students spanning grades K-10 in the 2025-2026 school year, with the high school adding one grade annually toward a first graduating class in 2028.
The educational model centers on a STEAM-focused, project-based curriculum built on a 1:1 Apple device ecosystem, Cognia-accredited standards-aligned core curricula (Collaborative Literacy, Into Math, Inspire Science, A+ College Ready), the Caring School Community SEL program, and standards-based grading in place of traditional letter grades. Operational technology is vendor-orchestrated — PowerSchool for enrollment lottery and SIS, NWEA for assessments, Lightspeed Systems for content filtering and classroom management, and the 1EdTech TrustEd Apps Dashboard for digital resource verification. Auxiliary services include after-care programming, child nutrition through the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, athletics, and bus transportation.
The business model is that of a public charter school: per-pupil state funding and federal Title I allocations form the primary revenue base, supplemented by modest after-care program fees ($180/month first child with sibling discounts). Enrollment is managed through a lottery system administered via PowerSchool, with priority tiers for siblings of current students, children of staff and board members, Birmingham City Schools zone families, and Woodlawn community residents. The network is a nonprofit organization governed by an independent Board of Directors and is not owned by, or affiliated with, any private equity sponsor or parent company.
I3 Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- I3 Academy
- Legal name
- i3 Academy Charter Schools
- Website
- https://i3academy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- I3 Academy is a tuition-free public charter school network in Birmingham, Alabama, operating three campuses serving 935 K-10 students with a STEAM-focused curriculum, 1:1 Apple device ecosystem, and a high school co-located on Jefferson State Community College campus.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
I3 Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Charter School Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF), STEAM-Focused Early Learning Academies (EDACADAJ)
Keywords
Where I3 Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
I3 Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Per-Pupil State Funding: Public charter schools receive per-pupil state funding based on enrollment. I3 Academy is a free, public charter school receiving standard state per-pupil allocations.
- Federal Title I Funding: Federal Title I funding for schools serving low-income students, supporting academic programs and interventions
- After-Care Program Fees: Monthly fees for after-school care program: $180/month first child, $90 second child, $45 third child
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Others | Tuition-free public education K-10 |
| Subscription | Monthly | After-Care Program - Elementary (K-5) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
I3 Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
I3 Academy is a tuition-free public charter school network operating three campuses in Birmingham, Alabama, serving students from kindergarten through 10th grade (expanding to 12th). The school delivers a STEAM-focused, project-based curriculum with social-emotional learning, supported by a 1:1 Apple device program and dual enrollment opportunities at Jefferson State Community College for high school students.
Product overview
I3 Academy is a free, public charter school network operating three campuses in Birmingham, Alabama: i3 Elementary (Woodlawn, K-5), i3 Middle School (East Lake, 6-8), and i3 High School (Jefferson State, 9-12). The educational model integrates STEAM curriculum, project-based learning, and social-emotional learning (Caring School Community) with a strong literacy and numeracy foundation. Core academic programs are supported by Response to Intervention, standards-based grading, and enrichment offerings including visual arts, Makerspace, and foreign language. The network provides supplementary services including athletics, after-school care, transportation, and child nutrition programs. The high school, launched in fall 2024, offers dual enrollment and professional certification opportunities through Jefferson State Community College, with the first graduating class expected in 2028.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rockets: School mascot for i3 Academy, used as mascot identity for all campuses
Products and services
- i3 Academy Elementary School (Woodlawn) Free public charter elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade, located in the Woodlawn community. First i3 Academy campus with capacity for 420 students and a 10:1 student-to-adult ratio.
- i3 Academy Middle School (East Lake) Free public charter middle school serving grades 6-8, located in the East Lake community on the campus of St. Barnabas Catholic Church. Offers athletics, enrichment activities, and STEAM-focused curriculum.
- i3 High School (Jefferson State) Free public charter high school co-located on Jefferson State Community College campus. Opened fall 2024 with ninth grade, adding one grade per year. Offers dual enrollment courses and professional certifications; first graduating class expected in 2028.
- After-School Care Program Extended care services for kindergarten through fifth grade students, operating Monday 1:45-5:30pm and Tuesday-Friday 3:00-5:30pm. Features math, literacy, social-emotional learning, and enrichment activities.
- Athletics Program Middle school and high school athletic programs including volleyball, basketball, track, cross country, flag football, soccer, and golf, governed by AHSAA.
- Child Nutrition Program No-charge healthy breakfast and lunch meals for all students through the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, provided by SLA Alabama Consortium.
- Transportation Services Bus transportation using central hubs throughout Birmingham, offered on a first-come, first-served basis with required completion of the Bus Service Request Form.
Quantifiable outcome
- 935 enrolled students across three campuses
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use I3 Academy
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
I3 Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature3 records
I3 Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Jefferson State Community Collegecorei3 High School is co-located on the Jefferson State Community College campus, enabling high school students to take dual credit courses and complete professional certification courses on the same campus. Most students will graduate with college credits while receiving college and career preparation.
- St. Barnabas Catholic Churchminori3 Academy Middle School is co-located on the campus of St. Barnabas Catholic Church (not affiliated), providing educational facilities for middle school students in the East Lake community.
- NWEAcoreNWEA provides assessment solutions used by i3 Academy for measuring student progress and academic achievement
- SLA (School Nutrition Partner)minorSLA supplies meals for i3 Academy schools as part of the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, providing nutritious meals at no charge to students
- Center for Collaborative ClassroomcoreProvides Collaborative Literacy curriculum (Being a Reader, Being a Writer) and Caring School Community SEL program used throughout I3 Academy schools
- A+ College ReadycoreProvides curricula for middle and high school English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Computer Science aligned with Alabama standards
- Charles Drew Charter SchoolminorI3 Academy is modeled on the highly successful Charles Drew Charter School in the East Lake neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
I3 Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Heritage Academies: For-profit charter management organization operating K-8 (and select K-12) charter schools with a moral focus curriculum. Comparable in operating multiple campuses and K-12 grade structure, though for-profit rather than nonprofit.
- ACCEL Schools: Charter management organization operating K-12 campuses across multiple states with a college-prep focus. Comparable in multi-campus charter model and K-12 span, though structured as a for-profit CMO rather than nonprofit.
- Aspire Public Schools: Nonprofit charter school network operating K-12 campuses with a college-for-certain mission in underserved communities. Directly comparable in mission, K-12 grade span, and public charter structure.
- Success Academy Charter Schools: Large nonprofit charter school network operating K-12 campuses with rigorous academics and STEAM emphasis. Directly comparable to I3 Academy in charter structure, K-12 span, and emphasis on academic outcomes for underserved students.
- BASIS Charter Schools: Network of STEM-focused charter schools offering K-12 education with rigorous academic expectations. Comparable to I3 Academy's STEM/STEAM emphasis and college-prep mission.
- Charles Drew Charter School: Atlanta-based charter school in the East Lake neighborhood that I3 Academy explicitly modeled itself on, including the cradle-to-career approach. Direct peer with nearly identical philosophy and grade structure.
- KIPP Public Schools: National nonprofit charter management organization operating K-12 schools with a college-prep mission, project-based learning emphasis, and similar commitment to underserved communities. Most directly comparable to I3 Academy in operating model, mission, and grade span.
- Uncommon Schools: Nonprofit charter management organization operating K-12 schools with a college-prep focus in underserved communities. Comparable in structure, mission, and emphasis on college readiness and character development.
Others
- Jefferson State Community College: Public community college that hosts i3 High School on its campus and provides dual-enrollment and certification pathways. Strategic partner and peer-like institution in the broader Birmingham education ecosystem.
Regional players
- Alabama State Department of Education: State education authority that oversees public school funding and charter authorization in Alabama. Not a direct competitor, but a regulator and counterparty that shapes I3 Academy's operating environment and revenue model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
I3 Academy social profiles
Digital presenceI3 Academy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
I3 Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
I3 Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
I3 Academy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
I3 Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
I3 Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about I3 Academy
What does I3 Academy do?
I3 Academy is a tuition-free public charter school network operating three campuses in Birmingham, Alabama, serving students from kindergarten through 10th grade (expanding to 12th). The school delivers a STEAM-focused, project-based curriculum with social-emotional learning, supported by a 1:1 Apple device program and dual enrollment opportunities at Jefferson State Community College for high school students.
Is I3 Academy a public or private company?
I3 Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was I3 Academy founded?
I3 Academy was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is I3 Academy based?
I3 Academy is headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does I3 Academy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Per-Pupil State Funding is the primary driver. The others are federal Title I Funding and after-Care Program Fees.
Who are I3 Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Heritage Academies, ACCEL Schools, Aspire Public Schools, Success Academy Charter Schools, BASIS Charter Schools, Charles Drew Charter School, KIPP Public Schools and Uncommon Schools. Jefferson State Community College is listed as an others. Alabama State Department of Education is listed as a regional player.
Does I3 Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for I3 Academy.
What industry is I3 Academy in?
I3 Academy's product category is K-12 Charter School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAG, International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.), with a secondary code of EDAJACAF, Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.