Summary:
Zip code 35212 in Birmingham, Alabama, is served by two public elementary schools—i3 Academy Phase 1 and Oliver K5 School—which together educate 754 students across grades K-5 in a community where the majority of families face economic challenges.
For parents comparing the two schools, i3 Academy Phase 1 is the clear academic leader. It ranks in the 28th percentile statewide (496th out of 686 schools) for 2025-2026, compared to Oliver K5 School's 11th percentile (610th). i3 Academy posts higher proficiency rates in math, English, and science across most grade levels—for example, 5th-grade math proficiency is 18.67% at i3 versus 11.76% at Oliver. It also has a more favorable student-teacher ratio (16.4 vs. 20.7) and a lower chronic absenteeism rate (12.0% vs. 15.2%), with i3 matching the state average for attendance. While both schools serve economically disadvantaged populations, Oliver K5 has a higher need level at 85.13% free/reduced lunch eligibility versus i3's 74.21%.
Both schools show relative strength in English compared to math and science, though they remain below state averages. However, year-over-year test scores are volatile, particularly at Oliver K5 School, where 3rd-grade English proficiency dropped from 55.93% to 38.78% between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. i3 Academy Phase 1 also saw swings, with 4th-grade science proficiency jumping from 18.06% to 38.24%. For parents, the key takeaway is that i3 Academy (a charter district) offers stronger overall performance and smaller class sizes, while Birmingham City's Oliver K5 School faces greater resource challenges—higher poverty, larger classes, and more absenteeism—that may impact its ability to provide individualized attention.
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