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PROFILE 2025-2026

THE FIRST ACADEMY is a Christ-centered college preparatory school serving over 1,600 Central Florida students from Preschool through 12th grade. Since its opening in 1987, TFA has continued to grow the academic, ne 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

The First Academy boasts a 100% college acceptance rate for its graduating seniors, who have received over $98 million in scholarship offers since 2007. TFA students at every grade level consistently score well above the state and national average on standardized tests and outperformed our peer institutions by 5% annually on the WrAP test in 2024. 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).

The First Academy is home to a thriving and dynamic Fine Arts community where students explore their creativity through performing, visual, and media arts.

20,848 SERVICE HOURS

Grayson Merritt College Advisor 407.206 8761

Matthew Westol College Advisor 407.206 8660 matthewwestol@thefirstacademy.org

Ellen Stewart Guidance Assistant 407.206.8631 ellenstewart@thefirstacademy.org

In 2025, TFA’s Upper School production of Little Women earned seven nominations at the Dr. Phillips Applause Awards, bringing home three major honors. TFA’s Thespian Troupe 5165 also excelled at the District Competition, with several performances advancing to state and international levels, where TFA earned 4 additional Superiors.

In Visual Arts, TFA’s college-prep program has generated over $1 million in scholarships to prestigious art schools worldwide. The Media Production program equips students with industrystandard skills in digital, print, and video production. The 2025 Legacy Yearbook was honored with Gold Recognition from the Florida Scholastic Press Association for excellence in design, photography, and reporting.

The TFA Band program offers a wide range of ensembles, including a spirited pep band, a jazz band celebrating the rich traditions of jazz, and a contemporary band that performs at school events.

ATHLETIC S

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)

TFA Athletics has been a cornerstone of success in Central Florida, earning 6 Citrus League championships, 122 district titles, 51 regional titles, 68 individual state titles, and 21 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 nishes in all sports. The First Academy offers 24 interscholastic sports and is home to two world-class athletic facilities, the Payne Stewart Athletic Complex and the Cramer Family Field House.

90% OF SENIORS WERE PART OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN ART, ATHLETICS, OR LEADERSHIP

SCHOLARS

PROGRAM OF STUDY

The academic year is divided into two semesters, each approximately 18 weeks in length. Grades are reported at nine-week intervals.

ENGLISH

English 9

English 9 Honors**

English 10

English 10 Honors**

English 12 Honors**

AP English Language**

AP English Literature**

SCIENCE

Anatomy & Physiology Honors**

Biology

Biology Honors**

Chemistry

Chemistry Honors**

Health Science

AP Biology**

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES

2020-2025

Adelphi University

AdventHealth University

Albright College

Allegheny College

American University

Anderson University

Appalachian State University

Arizona State University (Tempe)

Arkansas State University (Main)

Auburn University

Ave Maria University

Babson College

Barry University

Baylor University

Beacon College

Belhaven University

Belmont Abbey College

Belmont University

Benedictine University

Bentley University

Berklee College of Music

Berry College

Bethune-Cookman University

Boston College

Boston University

Brevard College

Brewton-Parker Christian University

Bucknell University

Caldwell University

California College of the Arts

California Lutheran University

California State University (Fullerton)

California State University (LA)

Campbell University

Case Western Reserve University

Catholic University of America

Central Michigan University

Cerritos College

Chapman University

Chipola College

Citadel Military College of SC

Clemson University

Coastal Carolina University

College of Central Florida

College of Charleston

College of the Holy Cross

Colorado State University (Ft Collins)

Columbia International University

Columbia University

Concordia University (Chicago)

Covenant College

Davenport University

Daytona State College

Dean College

DePaul University

Dickinson College

AP Chemistry**

AP Computer Science A**

AP Computer Science

Principles**

AP Environmental Science**

AP Physics I** AP Physics II**

CHRISTIAN STUDIES

Apologetics

Biblical Formation & Financial Stewardship Foundations of Theology World Religions

SOCIAL SCIENCE

American Govt. Honors+**

American History Honors**

Economics Honors+**

World History Honors**

World Geography Honors**

AP African American Studies+ **

AP Government & Politics+ **

AP Human Geography**

AP Macroeconomics+ **

AP Psychology**

AP U.S. History**

AP World History**

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Athletic Performance I, II, III, IV

Personal Fitness+

Varsity Sports Conditioning

MATH

Algebra I

Algebra I Honors**

Algebra II

Algebra II Honors**

Calculus Honors**

Geometry

Geometry Honors**

Math for College Algebra

Probability & Statistics Honors

Pre-Calculus Honors**

AP Calculus AB & BS**

AP Pre-Calculus**

AP Statistics**

WORLD LANGUAGE

Spanish I & II

Spanish II, III & IV Honors**

Latin I & II

Latin II, III, IV Honors**

Mandarin I & II

Mandarin II Honors**

Mandarin III Honors**

AP Chinese Language & Culture**

AP Latin**

AP Spanish Language & Culture**

ELECTIVES

2D Art Design+

2D Portfolio Development+

3D Art Design+

3D Printing+

Band I & II

Band III & IV Honors**

Care & Prevention of Athletic

Injury

Ceramics I & II

Ceramics III & IV Honors**

Chorus I & II

Chorus III**

Classical Mythology+

Contemporary Band Drawing & Painting I & II

Early Childhood Development Guitar I & II

Introduction to Media Production

Journalism II, III & IV Honors

Media Production I

Media Production II, III, IV Honors

Music of the World+ Yearbook Editor**

World Missions+

AP Studio Art 2D**

AP Studio Art 3D**

AP Studio Art Drawing**

+ ½-year credit cour se

** weighted cour se

AP Advanced Placement Cour se

Drake University

Duke University

Dyersburg State Community College

Earlham College

East Carolina University

East Tennessee State University

East Texas Baptist University

Eastern Kentucky University

Eckerd College

Edward Waters University

Elon University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach)

Emerson College

Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School

Fairmont State University

Fashion Institute of Technology

Flagler College

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Gulf Coast University

Florida Institute of Technology

Florida International University

Florida Polytechnic University

Florida Southern College

Florida State University

Fordham University

Fort Valley State University

Francis Marion University

Franciscan University of Steubenville

Franklin & Marshall College

Full Sail University

Furman University

Gardner-Webb University

Geneva College

George Mason University

George Washington University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Southern University

Ghent University

Goucher College

Grand Valley State University

Hampton University

Harding University

Harvard University

Hawai'i Paciﬁc University

High Point University

Hofstra University

Houston Christian University

Howard University

Indiana University (Bloomington)

Jacksonville University

Johnson & Wales Uni. (Charlotte)

Kent State University

Keystone College

LaGrange College

Lehigh University

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Liberty University

Lipscomb University

London College of Fashion

Louisiana State University

Loyola University Maryland

Loyola University New Orleans

Lynn University

Maryland Institute College of Art

Marymount Manhattan College

McGill University

Mercer University

Messiah University

Methodist University

Miami Dade College

Mississippi College

Mississippi State University

Missouri Southern State University

Monmouth College

Montclair State University

Morehouse College

Muhlenberg College

New College of Florida

New England College

New Mexico State University (Main Campus)

New York Institute of Technology

New York University

North Carolina A & T State Uni.

North Carolina State University

North Central College

North Central Texas College

North Greenville University

Northeastern University

Northern Illinois University

Northwest Missouri State Uni.

Nova Southeastern University

Oberlin College

Oglethorpe University

Oklahoma State University (Main)

Oral Roberts University

Ouachita Baptist University

Pace University (New York City)

Palm Beach Atlantic University

Penn State Uni. (University Park)

Pensacola State College

Pepperdine University

Philadelphia University

Point University

Purdue University (Main Campus)

Queens University of Charlotte

Radford University

Regis College

Rider University

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rollins College

Rutgers University (New Brunswick)

Rutgers University (Newark)

Saint Leo University

Salve Regina University

Samford University

Santa Clara University

Santa Fe College

Savannah College of Art & Design

Savannah State University

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

School of Visual Arts

Seminole State College of Florida

Seton Hall University

Sewanee: The University of the South

Southeastern University

Southern Methodist University

Spelman College

St. John’s University

St. Thomas University

Stetson University

Stony Brook University

SUNY at New Paltz

Tabor College

Tallahassee State College

Temple University

Tennessee Technological University

Texas A&M University

Texas Christian University

The College of the Florida Keys

The New School

The Ohio State University

The University of Alabama

The University of Tampa

The University of Tennessee (Knoxville)

The University of Texas at Arlington

The University of West Florida

Thomas University

Tri-County Technical College

Trinity Baptist College

University of Alabama at Birmingham

University of Arizona

University of Arkansas

University of California (Berkeley)

University of California (Davis)

University of California (Irvine)

University of California (Riverside)

University of California (San Diego)

University of Central Florida

University of Chicago

University of Cincinnati (Main)

University of Colorado (Colorado Springs)

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Connecticut

University of Denver

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Houston

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Kentucky

University of Mary Washington

University of Maryland (College Park)

University of Massachusetts (Boston)

University of Memphis

University of Miami

University of Michigan

University of Mississippi

University of Missouri (Kansas City)

University of Mount Saint Vincent

University of Nebraska at Kearney

University of New Hampshire (Main)

University of North Carolina at Asheville

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

University of North Florida

University of Northern Colorado

University of Notre Dame

University of Oklahoma

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh (Johnstown)

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)

University of Redlands

University of Richmond

University of Rochester

University of San Diego

University of San Francisco

University of Scranton

University of South Carolina

University of South Carolina (Upstate)

University of South Florida (Main)

University of S. Florida (Sarasota-Manatee)

University of Southern California

University of Utah

University of Vermont

University of Virginia (Main)

University of Wisconsin (Madison)

Valencia College

Valparaiso University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Wake Forest University

Warner University

Washington University in St. Louis

Webber International University

Webster University

Wesleyan University

West Virginia Wesleyan College

Western Carolina University

Wheaton College - IL

William & Mary

Wingate University

Wo ord College

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Xavier University

Yale University