Betty Shabazz International Charter School was founded in 1998[2] by Robert J. Dale, Anthony Daniels-Halisi, Carol D. Lee, Haki R. Madhubuti, and Soyini Walton.

[3] The same year, the school accepted a request from the school district to open the Barbara A. Sizemore Academy campus in the Auburn Gresham community three weeks prior to the start of the academic year.

Music, dance and visual arts form the center of the school's interdisciplinary approach to instruction.

Through educational programs such as writing, oral tradition, history, art, music, dance, drumming and literature, students can discover and develop their creative gifts or talents.

Benchmark assessments are conducted regularly to make sure that the teachers are following the necessary guideline for adequate teaching of lesson plans and covering the necessary school subjects.