Leaders Break Ground On New Charter School At Stillman College

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Stillman College and other local officials on Tuesday broke ground on I Dream Big Charter School, which will serve as the first HBCU-Charter School partnership in the state of Alabama.

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The school is set to open in the fall of 2025 and will welcome students in grades sixth through eighth before adding a grade level each year.

Enrollment applications are currently being accepted but Stillman College said some grade levels are at capacity and operating on a wait list.

I Dream Big Charter — Tuscaloosa’s first and only tuition-free charter school — will offer families a free choice educational option and will serve as Alabama’s only Big Picture Learning school.

“We are excited to build a school that not only serves students today but shapes the educators and leaders of tomorrow,” IDB Charter Founder and Executive Director Angela Lang said. “This partnership with Stillman College reflects our shared commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community transformation.”

I Dream Big Charter says it will also become a lab school that will offer a pipeline for teacher development and early access to college and career opportunities for its K–12 students.

“Our partnership with I Dream Big Charter School will not only be a successful resource for our student educators, but also helps lay the foundation for our Cradle-to-Career Model," Stillman President Yolanda Page said. "Ultimately, at Stillman College, we believe in helping educate tomorrow’s leaders by preparing students from their early years for future careers."

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