The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on I3 Academy
i3 Academy is a charter district in Jefferson County, Alabama, serving students from prekindergarten through grade 12. The district currently enrolls a modest number of students across two schools, i3 Academy Phase 1 and i3 Academy Phase 2. Its student body is predominantly Black, with a small share of White students and a handful of students who are Hispanic, multiracial, or from other backgrounds. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch was not reported, and information on students with disabilities and English learners was also absent from the data.
The district describes itself as an independent charter district and has recently expanded into high school. According to publicly reported material, i3 Academy now serves ninth graders, with plans to go fully through twelfth grade. The high school is co-located on the campus of Jefferson State Community College, which allows students to take dual credit and professional certification courses. This is a distinguishing feature giving families access to college-level coursework and career credentials as part of the charter district’s offerings. The exact timeline of the expansion was not fully confirmed from available sources, but the program is underway.
State assessment results are available for grades 3 through 8 in math, English language arts, and science. Proficiency rates in math were low across all tested grades, with a wide gap between the stronger early elementary performance and the even lower middle school results. In English language arts, proficiency rates were somewhat higher, ranging from roughly a third of students to just over half, depending on the grade. Science proficiency was low as well, with about a fifth of fourth and eighth graders meeting the bar. Only one year of test data was available, so trends cannot be assessed.
When placed among Jefferson County’s districts, i3 Academy’s overall proficiency index fell below the midpoint. Chronic absenteeism, a measure of how often students miss a substantial number of school days, was above the midpoint, meaning it is a significant concern at the district. A parent may want to ask the school what supports are in place to address attendance. On the resource side, per-pupil current spending was in the upper range compared to other districts in the county, which may reflect the costs of a small charter operation or program investments.
Because the district does not yet serve grades 10 through 12, a four-year graduation rate is not applicable; that measure will become relevant once the high school has a graduating cohort. The district’s current enrollment stops at grade 8, with ninth graders appearing in the expansion but not reflected in the enrollment breakdown provided.
For a family, i3 Academy offers a small, predominantly Black student body and the early stages of a high school pathway that includes dual enrollment and certification courses. The academic numbers on state tests are soft, particularly in math and science, and chronic absenteeism is high. The dual credit opportunity on a community college campus is a concrete strength worth weighing. A visit and a conversation with the school about academic supports and attendance strategy would give a fuller picture.
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