UPPER SCHOOL
PROFILE 2023-2024 THE FIRST ACADEMY is a Christ-centered college
2667 Bruton Boulevard Orlando, FL 32805 Phone: 407.206.8600 CEEB Code 101316
ADMINISTRATION Steve D. Whitaker, Ph.D. Head of School Shayne Grove, Ph.D. Upper School Principal Reed Reynolds Upper School Assistant Principal
COLLEGE GUIDANCE Joyce Kwak Director of College Guidance 407.206.8822 Susan Gentry College Advisor 407.206.8633 Grayson Merritt College Advisor 407.206.8761
ENROLLMENT Approximately
385
students are enrolled in Upper School
ACCREDITATION & MEMBERSHIP • Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS) • Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) • National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) • Southern Association of College Admission Counseling (SACAC) • Council on Educational Standards & Accountability (CESA) • Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) • Cognia (formerly AdancedEd)
preparatory school serving over 1,300 Central Florida students from Nursery School through 12th grade. Since its opening in 1987, TFA has continued to grow the academic, fine arts, athletic, and faith-based programs that have elevated its students to the highest levels of achievement and helped them develop the strength of character that leads young men and women to serve their own communities and across the globe.
ACHIEVEMENTS & HONORS ACADEMICS The First Academy boasts a 100% college acceptance rate for its graduating seniors, who have received over $90 million in scholarship offers since 2007. TFA students at every grade level consistently score well above the state and national average on standardized tests. For nearly a decade, more than half of TFA seventh-grade students have qualified for the Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) for the academically accomplished. The First Academy has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Program and has been named to the prestigious list of Blue Ribbon Schools (top 1% of schools in the nation). FINE ARTS The First Academy has a rich and growing Fine Arts community where students are involved in band, choir, visual arts, and theatre. The Marching Royals placed in the Top Ten of 1A Bands, earning Superior ratings at each competition and First Place in Class. TFA’s Upper School Theatre program received 11 nominations for the 2022-2023 Dr. Phillips Applause Awards for their production of Shrek:The Musical. TFA’s Thespian Troupe 5165 received Superior Tech & Overall Superior for their One Act The 39 Steps, Even More Abridged at the Florida District V Thespian Festival. Students also received various individual awards regionally and at the state competition level including Best in Show Costume Design (District V Festival) and Outstanding Stage Manager (Applause Awards). TFA’s visual arts is a college prep program with students who have earned over a million dollars in scholarships to art colleges all over the world for art careers. Our programs include 2D and 3D/Ceramics disciplines and also features 3D printers, one of a kind Raku firing, street painting, and mural events on campus and in the community. Students have achieved high awards, including multiple Best in Shows, in competitive exhibits both local and statewide. Student art has been chosen for the Congressional Art Competition with artwork displayed in congressional offices in Tallahassee and Washington DC. The Digital Media Production program has received recognition from the Florida Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association for their 2023 Legacy Yearbook and weekly Raw Footage TV production program. ATHLETICS TFA Athletics has been a cornerstone of success in Central Florida, earning 6 citrus league championships, 113 district titles, 43 regional titles, 67 individual state titles, and 20 team state championships. Most recently, The First Academy won the 2020-2021 Class 3A Floyd E. Lay Sunshine Cup which is given to one school that earns the most points based on their postseason finishes in all sports. The First Academy offers 23 interscholastic sports and is home to two world-class athletic facilities, the Payne Stewart Athletic Complex and the Cramer Family Field House.
GRADE POINT AVG. DISTRIBUTION CLASS OF 2024 FOR GRADES 9-11 Weighted GPA
Number
% of
5.0 and higher
20
25%
4.0-4.99
58
61%
3.0-3.99
14
14%
Total students
92
The First Academy is a Christ-centered college preparatory school whose mission is to prepare children for life as Christian leaders who choose character before career, wisdom beyond scholarship, service before self, and participation as a way of life.
CLASS OF 2023
81
SENIOR GRADUATES IN THE CLASS OF 2023
$5.5
MILLION EARNED IN SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS
15k
HOURS OF MISSION TRIPS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
90%
OF SENIORS WERE PART OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN ART, ATHLETICS, OR LEADERSHIP
12
ROYAL SCHOLARS
25
HUMANITIES SCHOLARS
22
AP SCHOLARS
ACADEMIC RECOGNITION The First Academy has four Honor Roll distinctions based on all credit courses for each nine-week period. Head of School’s List Principal’s Honor Roll Collegiate Honor Roll Honor Roll
GPA of 5.0 and up GPA of 4.75 - 4.999999 GPA of 4.5 - 4.749999 GPA of 4.00 - 4.499999
Royal Scholars: The Royal Scholars are students who have completed at least 10 Advanced Placement (AP) /Dual Enrollment courses and 13 Honors courses with grades no less than 80% in those courses. Humanities Scholars: Humanities Scholars are students who have completed high level courses in the Fine Arts, Social Sciences, and world language. Humanities Scholars must maintain an 85% or higher in Honors courses; 80% or achieve a 3 or higher on Advanced Placement exams. • 4+ Social Science Credits (at least 1 AP) • 3+ World Languages (at least 1 Honors) • 2+ Fine Arts