BHM - Founded in 2018, Build Up Community School is the flagship campus of Build UP—America’s first early-college, career-connected high school model that integrates education, workforce development, and homeownership to break cycles of poverty. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, we currently serve grades 9 through early postsecondary and support students on a six-year pathway that includes a high school diploma, an associate degree and/or industry credential, and ownership of a renovated home. Our school mascot, the hammer, symbolizes the strength, resilience, and craftsmanship our students develop as they rebuild not only properties but entire communities—beginning with their own.

Build Up Community School is committed to empowering youth from historically marginalized neighborhoods through a unique blend of academic rigor, paid internships, and real estate training. Students emerge as skilled professionals, civic leaders, and wealth-builders who are equipped to revitalize their communities from within. As we continue to grow, our school remains deeply rooted in the belief that equity equals ownership—and that the best way to transform a city is to invest in the talent and potential of its youth.