We're Here to Serve the Students of Montgomery, AL
At Better Than Average (BTA), we don’t just close learning gaps – we build the confidence a student carries long after the report card. Every plan starts with objective diagnostic data, not guesswork, so families know exactly what their child needs and why. The goal isn’t a better grade for a season. It’s a student who trusts their own ability to work through what’s hard.
Families entrust us with their children’s confidence and their future – not just an hour on a schedule. We earn that trust the same way every time: by keeping our word to colleagues, clients, and this community, especially when no one is checking.
It takes a village to raise up the next generation of thinkers and achievers. We’re honored to be part of that village, which is why we communicate clearly and often with everyone invested in a student’s progress – from grandparents to legal guardians, parents to partners.
A great learning environment starts with keeping our word and the bonds we build with each family. We work to make BTA a place where students feel safe enough to get something wrong on the way to getting it right.
Owning our actions – and our misses – is how trust gets built and results get delivered. We’re partners in your child’s academic journey, and we hold ourselves to the same standard we ask of our students. Our founder grew up on his mother’s words: “Whatever is worth having is worth working for.” That’s the standard we teach, one student at a time.
Our students come from every age, ability, and background – but our commitment to each one is the same. Many of our tutors sat exactly where their students sit now, which is why they know how to meet them there. At BTA, we believe every student is capable of more than they’ve been told.
We bring real energy to the work and to the people doing it. That’s what makes room for students to be innovative and creative rather than just compliant. We won’t promise learning is always easy – but we make sure the hard parts feel worth it.
We treat every family with the decency we’d want for our own. Our rule is simple: treat others better than we expect to be treated ourselves. Every student we work with, in person or online, gets that same standard.
We balance every task so parents and students never have to guess where things stand. Frequent check-ins and clear progress tracking mean you’re always in the know, not chasing an update.
How We Meet the Needs of Learners in Montgomery
From Pre-K through college, we start with an objective diagnostic – not a guess – so families know exactly where their student stands and exactly what comes next. Our tutors and staff are trained to spot the difference between a good grade and true mastery, and to build the kind of confidence that outlasts any single test.
We stay close to the details: tracking progress, celebrating real breakthroughs, and working alongside students, parents, and teachers because education isn’t something we do to a family – it’s something we do with them. That approach has earned BTA 14 Award Nominations from this community – and every student who comes through our doors leaves more confident than when they arrived.
Our History
BTA didn’t start with a building or a budget. It started with L.J. and Jireh, two teenagers carrying tutoring supplies in a bucket to a borrowed daycare because a student needed help and there was nowhere else for them to go. Excellence was never a line item here – it was a decision, made before there was any infrastructure to back it up. Everything that’s grown since traces back to that same bucket.
Timeline
LJ’s Story: Starting in the 3rd grade at MacMillan International Baccalaureate Academy, LJ – now CEO and Founder of Better Than Average (BTA) – was already helping classmates after school. Twelve years in magnet schools taught him something most founders learn the hard way: talent without support goes nowhere. By eleventh grade at Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School, years of informal tutoring had turned into a calling. LJ opened Better Than Average (BTA) on a simple belief: students do their best work when they’re known, challenged, and believed in – not just drilled.
Jireh’s Story: Jireh Goldsmith has tutored at BTA since day one. A magnet school graduate who carried a 4.25 GPA through her own education, she turned down easier paths to build something that mattered more: a place where students stop doubting what they’re capable of.
Testing software was upgraded to deliver real-time progress data, sharper accountability metrics, and at-home resources that extend learning beyond session time. The Mayor of Montgomery issued an official proclamation recognizing BTA’s work reshaping education for hundreds of local students.
To date, we’ve accomplished: 10,000+ Tutoring Sessions and over a million + logged tutoring hours.
Academic Excellence Lives Here!
Become a Tutor.
Are you a Montgomery-local achiever interested in helping students unlock their true potential and gain confidence in school? We’re always interested in hearing from eager math tutors, English tutors, reading tutors, and more. We also have administrative positions for those who are passionate about helping support students and tutors as they learn together. Explore our current positions and learn more about how to apply at Better Than Average (BTA) today!
Contact Us
Is your child feeling lost or discouraged in school? Our tutors help students master concepts and build real confidence through one-on-one support – and we celebrate the wins along the way to keep that momentum going. Whether you meet us here in Montgomery or join us online, we’re ready to help your child succeed.
We also support adult learners! Ask about our GED help, ASVAB help, business skill workshops for local businesses, and more. We’re always looking for new ways to help learners of any age in the Montgomery and Prattville areas reach their biggest goals. With Better Than Average (BTA), everyone can learn. Get in touch today to get started or ask us any questions you may have.