The PennZone

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. & INDIANAPOLIS - PennZone -- Agape Leadership Academy (ALA) is now open for enrollment across seven states, giving families in Alabama, Florida, Arizona, Utah, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Indiana access to a rigorous, faith-aligned virtual private high school education for students in grades 9 through 12. Built to the standards of WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation and actively pursuing that designation, ALA was designed from the ground up to be a school that families can trust — and for most families, the state covers the entire tuition bill through Education Savings Account scholarship programs, leaving zero out-of-pocket cost for eligible students.

Annual tuition at ALA is set at $7,500, and ESA scholarship awards across the school's seven active enrollment states range from $6,500 to $8,500 per student each year — enough to cover tuition in full in most cases. State programs including Alabama's CHOOSE Act, Florida's FES-EO, Arizona's ESA+, and Utah's FITS All scholarship fund private school tuition directly for qualifying families, and ALA is an approved education service provider within those programs. Payments are administered through ClassWallet, a government-approved ESA payment platform trusted by states across the country. There are no income restrictions in most states, no academic prerequisites, and no complicated enrollment barriers — just a straightforward path to an exceptional private school education for every family who deserves it.

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"Every child deserves access to an excellent education system, and now the state pays for it. Agape Leadership Academy exists to make that promise a reality," said Shakira Releford, Co-Founder and Dean of Agape Leadership Academy. "The ESA scholarship model is the great equalizer in American education. A family in rural Alabama or urban Phoenix can access the same college-prep curriculum and CTE options that private school families in wealthy zip codes have always had — plus, the state funds it. We built ALA specifically to serve those families."

ALA's academic program is built on a state-aligned, AP-level curriculum platform used by accredited schools nationwide, paired with an adaptive literacy program that carries an ESSA Strong Evidence rating and has produced measurable reading growth for students at every grade level. Every student also has access to ThriveMind, an AI-powered intelligent tutoring system developed by ALA's own founding leadership. ThriveMind's adaptive AI academic coach, Mia, meets each student at their current level and advances them forward at their own pace — making personalized, one-on-one academic support a standard feature of the ALA experience, not a premium add-on. Students pursuing advanced standing can earn verified college credits before graduation through ALA's dual credit program, and eight supplemental courses — including Introduction to World Religions, Ethics, and Servant Leadership — round out a curriculum built to develop the whole student, academically and in character.

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Every element of ALA's academic program, governance structure, and student support infrastructure has been built to meet and exceed WASC accreditation standards from the very first day the school opened. "We did not cut corners when we built this school," said Releford. "Every course, every platform, every policy was designed to meet the highest national standards. Our families deserve a school that will be fully recognized by colleges, by employers, by the military — and equipped to help students successfully thrive in their adolescence and young adulthood. ALA is building exactly that."

Agape Leadership Academy is grounded in a Christian foundation that shapes the school's culture, community tone, and elective course offerings without tying students to any single denomination. ALA was built for families who want their child's education to reflect the values they are raising them with — integrity, servant leadership, and a sense of purpose that extends beyond the classroom. The school's motto, virtus, sapientia, caritas — virtue, wisdom, and love — defines the kind of young men and women ALA is committed to sending into the world.

Enrollment for the 2025–2026 academic year is open right now, and founding family spots are intentionally limited. Families who join ALA's inaugural cohort will lock in founding-year tuition rates and help shape the identity of the school from the inside out. To check ESA eligibility by state, start the enrollment process, or register for an upcoming family information session, visit agapeleadershipacademy.org or reach out to the admissions team directly.