Find Your
Becoming a Terrapin
HELLO
FUTURE TERRAPINS!
Tampa Prep is in its 50th year of being a major metropolitan college preparatory school for grades 6-12 in the heart of downtown Tampa. The pace of learning on this campus is mirrored in the growth of our fine city. We are known for our cutting-edge learning environments and innovative faculty, both of which stimulate the young minds that will lead us tomorrow.
As a place to think, create, be yourself, aspire to excellence and go beyond, our students find many ways to grow academically and personally within our halls. And with 17 sports offered and more than 50 clubs and activities, there are countless ways for students to cultivate friendships, pursue passions and have fun doing it!
I am delighted that your family is seriously considering Tampa Prep. When you meet our students and faculty you will see how diverse they are in culture and interests, which means here you will definitely find your place. I hope you enjoy exploring our school!
— KEVIN PLUMMER, HEAD OF SCHOOL
It’s human nature to venture beyond the next horizon. To push past boundaries. Outthink obstacles. To challenge. To question. Next is the fire in your belly that refuses to let you settle or back down. It’s the voice in your heart that says “Try, just once more.” And it’s that moment when impossible turns possible. We are TAMPA PREP. And we are here to inspire next – the next great discoveries, innovations, and creations. Join us.
find your next .
SCHOOL
FLORIDA’S MOST WELCOME TO INNOVATIVE Quick Facts
Our classes are not like average, ordinary classrooms. We flipped them. Made our desks into mobile think tanks. Gave the teachers the opportunity to bring the whole world into first period.
STUDENT POPULATION
COLLEGES ADMITTED OUR SENIOR CLASS OF 2024
OF FAMILIES STAY AT TAMPA PREP AFTER ADMISSION
Truly innovative classrooms require more than just modular, mobile furniture and 1-to-1 iPads, however. Tampa Prep’s commitment to INSPIRE NEXT is personified in our curriculum. We begin with a comprehensive approach that integrates technology into every aspect of curricular activities and extracurricular opportunities. Tampa Prep language students explore famous French museums through virtual reality. Our sixth grade English students produce movies of book reviews on their iPads. Our upper school students are writing VR apps to help themselves study the periodic table in Chemistry. And we are not just a 1-to-1 iPad school . . . we are a 1-to-1 robot school within the STEM curriculum.
“I think that is one of the things that distinguishes us. Tampa Prep has maintained the belief that it is safe to have your own ideas, and our students are encouraged to bring them forward.”
— Suzy Lassacher ‘85, alumna and faculty member
In the heart of Downtown Tampa
11.2-ACRE CAMPUS WITH UNIVERSITY-GRADE FACILITIES
Downtown Tampa is an amazing place to grow. The service learning opportunities, corporate partnerships that lead to senior internships, and the waterfront location cannot be found at any other independent school in Tampa Bay. Our campus places students in the midst
of a modern, energetic and diverse environment. The talented professionals we call faculty members are dedicated to the task of keeping education—in the classroom, on athletic fields and beyond—just as modern, energetic and diverse as this city.
BUILDING BOLD
Tampa Prep's new 4-story stateof-the-art Genshaft & Greenbaum Building of Learning and Discovery, boasts university level science labs, collaborative work spaces, outdoor event terrace and more!
OUR MISSION:
THINK CREATE BE YOURSELF ASPIRE TO EXCELLENCE GO BEYOND
MORE THAN JUST A COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL...
A PREPARATION FOR LIFE WITH A HIGHER PURPOSE THAN SELF
MISSION:
Academics
Tampa Prep integrates unconventional learning experiences throughout its curriculum, aiming to enrich students’ academic appreciation and self-awareness. Classes utilize diverse methods such as guest speakers, local field trips, and simulations like mock trials. A prominent approach is the Harkness method, fostering student-centered discussions in oval configurations with minimal teacher intervention.
The school offers a wide array of experiential learning opportunities. For instance, students participate in grade-specific activities such as ropes courses, historical trails in Boston, dolphin encounters in Key West, and camping in national forests. Additionally, traditions like Declamations enhance public speaking skills, while Senior Internships and projects like the 3# Project and Cookie Company Project prepare students through practical applications of knowledge and skills.
These initiatives underscore Tampa Prep’s commitment to holistic education, equipping students with both academic knowledge and practical competencies for future endeavors.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS UNIQUE
4 years
4 years
3 years World Languages 3 years of one language
2 years
Spoken Declamations Annual
Senior Internship
Students are expected to carry a minimum of six academic courses during each of the four years. Students generally take AP courses during their junior and senior years. A maximum of three AP courses per year is usually recommended.
ELECTIVES
– Biotechnology & Human Genetics
– Cultural Anthropology
– Emergency Medical Response
– Intermediate Python Programming
– Introduction to Physiological Performance
– Mock Trial
– Rock Band Ensemble
– Human Medical Disorders
– Forensic Science
– Food Chemistry
– Meditation & Wellness
students guiding
Tampa Prep's college counseling program is designed to support and empower students to calmly, thoughtfully, and competently navigate their plans after graduating from Tampa Prep.
Deciding what to do after graduation is one of the first significant life decisions students will make and own for themselves. We want our students to consider their values, passions, interests, and needs. From that foundation, they will research colleges, universities, and gap year programs that meet their criteria and evaluate how their credentials will position them for their next adventure. Starting in their Sophomore year, each Tampa Prep student will meet individually with their assigned college counselor in the spring of the sophomore year, a meeting in which a relationship will be established, and the counselor will begin to know the student and their family while offering thoughts on academic and broader goals. Our goal is not to launch into conversations about specific colleges, testing, and application techniques. Instead, we want to get to know our students as individuals.
WELCOME TO ADVISING
Beyond college counseling, one of the most important facets of Tampa Prep is its intensive advising program. Many parents cite it as influential in their enrollment decisions and come to depend on it to keep them informed of both existing and possible or anticipated challenges.
The goal of advising is to create a safe space for community. The advisor’s job is to provide a reliable, communicative link between the advisee and his or her parents/guardians and teachers, particularly for students with a grade of C or below in a course. In addition, the advisor functions as the advisee’s advocate, and monitors and promotes the advisee’s academic and personal growth. An open, communicative relationship between parents/guardians and advisors is important.
Ninth grade teachers and advisors are particularly sensitive to the academic and social adjustments involved in being an Upper School student and communicate early and frequently when concerns arise about these matters.
Tampa Prep offers four dedicated Concentration programs beginning in students' tenth grade year. Arts for those who want to specialize in an artistic discipline, Biomedical Sciences for students who are interested in a variety of medical professions, Global Studies for those who are passionate about international issues, and STEM: Engineering for those who relish the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Each of these programs requires students to select classes from a body of relevant coursework that lies at the heart of each focus. In addition, students must participate in one of several extracurricular activities that complement each program. Participants must also attend a manageable selection of related events.
The underlying goal of each Concentration is to equip graduating students with a range of experiences that prepares them for further opportunities in these fields, while also completing Tampa Prep’s graduation requirements. Students who successfully complete all requirements for a Concentration will be recognized at graduation.
Learn more: https://tampaprep.org/concentrations/
traveling terrapins
Wonder, along with an understanding and awareness of other cultures, is what we want our students to experience when they travel abroad. At the end of the day, everything we
do is about people. It’s about children and the kinds of adults they become and how they will impact their families, communities, and the world. Cultural empathy is one of the best ways to grow.
Tampa Prep offers several opportunities for students to travel abroad or host international students to assist in this growth.
Every class from 6th grade to 11th grade spends time away from home with an annual trip. Previous trips include the Florida Keys, Boston MA, Cedarkirk FL, and Pisgah National Forest NC. Allowing our students to visit places outside their homes give them a sense of independence and exploration that can grow and blossom for a lifetime.
athletics
At Tampa Prep, every Middle School student has the opportunity to participate in sports, from basketball to rowing, bowling to tennis, letting kids learn what they enjoy. Our Upper School has competitive JV and Varsity teams, encouraging students to do what inspires
FALL
Cross Country (B,G) V, MS
Diving (B,G) V, MS
Golf (B,G) V
Rowing (Club)
Soccer (B) MS
Swimming (B,G) V, MS
Volleyball (G) V, JV, MS
WINTER
Bowling (B,G) V, MS
Basketball (B,G) V, JV, MS
Soccer (B,G) V, JV (G) MS
Wrestling (B) V, MS
SPRING
Baseball (B) V, JV, MS
Lacrosse (B) V, MS
Rowing (B,G) V, JV, Novice
Tennis (B,G) V, MS
Track & Field (B,G) V, MS
Beach Volleyball (G) V
them. Our coaches help teach teamwork, resilience, health benefits, persistence, determination and how to handle victory as well as defeat. We consider athletics to be an important part of a student's overall wellrounded educational experience.
Fall, Winter and Spring sports offered for students in grades 6-12
Individual and State Titles
extra curriculars
At Tampa Prep we want students to seek out great “aha” moments. Figure things out. Make discoveries. Go exploring. Share interests with peers. It is through these “ahha” moments that leaders find their footing and step forward, initiating student-led clubs and special interest groups.
Our downtown location is ideal for community partnerships, and affords students the opportunity to gain real life experience in their areas of interest. For instance, our Medical Explorers Club has partnered with Tampa General Hospital to gain fullday immersion ER training. Tampa Prep clubs cover topics including:
Academic Visual Arts
Performing Arts
Just for Fun Service
STEM
Social Justice & Equality
Honor Societies
Student Council
Athletic
ACADEMIC COURSES
ARTS
DANCE
Middle School Dance Styles: Dance for Film & Social Media (7,8)
Upper School Dance Styles: Dance for Social Change & Development (9-12)
Musical Theatre Dance (9-12)
DIGITAL ARTS
Introduction to Journalism (9-12)
Intro to Digital Media (9-12)
Journalism (10-12)
Yearbook (10-12)
Web Design with HTML5 & CSS3 (9-12)
Honors App Development (9-12)
Film Studies (8)
Filmmaking 1 (9-12)
Filmmaking 2 (9-12)
Filmmaking Workshop (10-12)
Advanced Filmmaking (11-12)
MUSIC
Beginning Chorus (6)
Chorus (7,8)
Beginning Wind Band (6)
Instrumental Ensemble (7,8)
Chamber Strings (7-12)
Upper School Beginning Band (9-12)
Upper School Advanced Instrumental Ensemble (9-12)
Piano Lab (9-12)
Guitar Lab 1 (9-12)
Music Production (9-12)
Pop Rock Ensemble (9-12)
Treble A-Capella Group (9-12)
Chamber Chorus (9-12)
VISUAL ARTS
Middle School Art (6-8)
2D Art (7,8)
3D Art (7,8)
Studio Art 1 (9-12)
Studio Art 2 (9-12)
Ceramics 1 (9-12)
Ceramics 2 (9-12)
Ceramics 3 & Ceramics 4 (10-12)
Printmaking 1 (9-12)
Printmaking 2 (10-12)
Drawing and Painting 1 (9-12)
Drawing and Painting 2 (9-12)
Crafts & Design 1 & Crafts & Design 2 (9-12)
Crafts & Design 3 & Crafts & Design 4 (10-12)
Sculpture 1 and Sculpture 2 (9-12)
Sculpture 3 and Sculpture 4 (10-12)
Cultural Art Studies 1,2,3, & 4 (9-12)
Advanced Art Studies (11,12)
Honors Thinking About Art (11,12)
The Cemistry of Art (11,12)
AP Studio Art 2-D Design (11,12)
AP Studio Art 3-D Design (11,12)
THEATRE ARTS
Middle School Theatre Arts (7,8)
Introduction to Theatre (9-12)
Theatre Performance 1 (9-12)
Theatre Performance 2 (9-12)
Middle School Technical Theatre (7,8)
Technical Theatre 1,2,3,4 (9-12)
Advanced Technical Theatre (10-12)
Design for Live Entertainment (10-12)
ENGLISH
English 6
English 7
English 8
English 9: Genres of Literature and Composition
Honors English 10: World Literature and Composition
Honors English 11: American Literature and Composition
AP Language and Composition (11)
AP English Literature and Composition (12)
SEMESTER ENGLISH ELECTIVES
The following are one-semester courses.
Honors Creative Writing (12)
Honors English 11: Mysteries, Thrillers, and Killers
English 11: Contemporary American Literature 1951-Present
Honors English 11: Introduction to Philopophy
Honors English 11: Introduction to Public Speaking
Honors English 12: Literature in Film
Honors English 12: Reading & Writing Workshop
Honors English 12: Meditation & Wellness - A Literature Class
Honors English 12: Words, Sights, Sounds
Honors English 12: Graphic Novels
Honors English 12: Frankenstein & the Modern
Vampire
Honors English 12: College Writing Skills
Honors English 12: True Crime
Honors English 12: Fantasy & Dystopia
HISTORY & THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
World Geography & History (6) Civics (7)
United States History (8)
Honors Foundations of Historical Thinking: A Big History Approach (9)
Honors Topics in Global History (10,11)
AP World History: Modern (10)
Honors United States History (11,12)
AP United States History (11)
Honors Government & Civics (11,12)
AP US Government & Politics (11,12)
HISTORY ELECTIVES
Honors Mock Trial (10-12)
Introduction to Social Justice (11,12)
Honors Contemporary World Affairs (11,12)
Honors Cultural Anthropology (11,12)
Honors African American History (11,12)
Honors Economics (11,12)
AP Macroeconomics (11,12)
AP Microeconomics (11,12)
AP European History (12)
Honors Latin American Studies/Estudios
Latinoamericanos (11,12)
Honors Psychology (11,12)
Advanced Psychological Research (11,12)
AP Psychology (11,12)
Honors History of the Holocaust (11,12)
Honors Introduction to Law (11,12)
Honors United States Politics: Presidential Elections (11,12)
Honors World Religions (10-12)
Honors Thinking About Art (11,12)
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics (6)
Pre-Algebra (6,7)
Algebra Concepts (8)
Algebra 1 (7-10)
Geometry (8-10)
Algebra 2 (8-11)
Honors Algebra 2 (8-11)
Advanced Honors Algebra 2 (8-11)
Honors Algebra 3 with Financial Applications (11,12)
Honors Financial Literacy (11,12)
Honors Statistics and Probability (11-12)
Honors Precalculus (10-12)
Advanced Honors Precalculus (9-12)
Advanced Honors Calculus (11-12)
AP Calculus - AB (10-12)
AP Statistics (11,12)
AP Calculus - BC (10-12)
Advanced Honors Calculus III with Analytical Geometry (11,12)
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Middle School Athletic Requirement
All Middle School students are required to participate in athletics during the school year. Students will be allowed to select from a list of options each athletic season to fulfill this requirement. Please keep in mind the following when making your selections:
1. Each student must participate on at least one team during the school year.
2. A student may choose the Study Hall option only once per school year.
Middle School Athletic Options:
1. Athletic Team
• Each student must participate on at least one team during the school year
• Options
▫ Fall - Boys Soccer, Cross Country, Girls Volleyball, Swimming
▫ Winter - Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Girls Soccer, Wrestling
▫ February Intersession - Rowing, Track & Field
▫ Spring - Boys Baseball, Lacrosse, Cross Country, Girls Softball, Boys Tennis, Girls Tennis, Pickleball, Rowing (Crew), Swim
2. Physical Education
• Offered in Fall and Spring seasons
• Not offered during the Winter Athletic season
• This option ends at the end of each academic school day
3. Study Hall Athletic Conditioning (SHAC)
• Space is limited to 30 students
• This option ends at the end of each academic school day
4. Study Hall
• A student may choose the Study Hall option only once per school year
• This option ends at the end of each academic school day
When participating on an athletic team, student-athletes are expected to do the following:
1. Attend and participate in all team practices
2. Attend each contest for which their team is scheduled
Physical Education/Personal Fitness & Health (9-12)
Athletic Conditioning (10-12)
Honors Introduction to Sports Medicine & Athletic Training (10-12)
Honors Emergency Medical Response (10-12)
Fitness for Life (10-12)
Intro to Physiological Performance (10-12)
SCIENCE
Earth Science (6)
Life Science (7)
Physical Science (8)
Beginning Robotics (6)
Fall Semester Intro to Python Robotics (7,8)
Fall Semester Programming in Processing C (7,8)
Spring Semester Intermediate Python Programming (7,8)
Spring Semester Arduino Programming (7,8)
Honors Biology (9,10)
AP Biology (11,12)
Honors Chemistry (10-12)
Advanced Honors Chemistry (10-12)
AP Chemistry (10-12)
Honors Physics (10-12)
Advanced Honors Physics (10-12)
AP Physics 1 (11-12)
AP Physics 2 (11-12)
AP Physics C: Mechanics (11,12)
AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism (11,12)
AP Environmental Science (11,12)
Honors Introduction to Engineering Design (10,11)
Honors Principles of Engineering (11)
Honors Aerospace Engineering (12)
Honors Computer Science Principles (11,12)
SCIENCE ELECTIVES
Honors Organic Chemistry (11,12)
Honors Food Chemistry (11,12)
Honors The Chemistry of Art (11,12)
Honors Environmental Science (11,12)
Honors Forensic Science (10-12)
Honors Introduction to Sports Medicine & Athletic Training (10-12)
Honors Emergency Medical Response (10-12)
Honors Marine Biology: Oceans and Life (11,12)
Honors Marine Biology: Resources and Conservation (11,12)
Honors Intro to Python Programming (9-12)
Honors Intermediate Python Programming (9-12)
Honors Advanced Python Programming (10-12)
Honors Web Design with HTML5 & CSS3 (9-12)
Honors App Development 1 (9-12)
Honors App Development 2 (10-12)
Honors Human Medical Disorders (11,12)
Honors Biotechnology (10-12)
WORLD AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES
Prima Lingua (6)
French 1A (7,8)
French 1B (8)
Honors French 1 (9-12)
Honors French 2 (9)
Honors French 3 (9-12)
Advanced Honors French 4 (9,11,12)
AP French Language (11,12)
Honors French Language and Culture (11,12)
Latin 1A (7,8)
Latin 1B (8)
Honors Latin 1 (9-12)
Honors Latin 2 (9-12)
Honors Latin 3 (9-12)
AP Latin (11,12)
Advanced Honors Readings in Latin Literature (12)
Spanish 1A (7,8)
Spanish 1B (8)
Honors Spanish 1 (9-12)
Honors Spanish 2 (9-12)
Honors Spanish 3 (9-12)
Advanced Honors Spanish 4 (9-12)
Honors Spanish for Heritage Speakers (9,10)
Honors Spanish Language and Culture (10-12)
AP Spanish Language and Culture (11,12)
AP Spanish Literature and Culture (11,12)
Honors Estudios Latinoamericanos (11,12)
TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD
• Attend Open House or schedule a tour of the school. Such events reveal the true philosophies behind mission, curriculum, and community.
• Ask questions like, “What kind of children thrive here?” and “How do teachers and administrators handle problems when they arise?”
• Talk to current students and ask them what they do and don’t like about the school. Consider how the answers balance with your own child’s educational and emotional needs.
• Attend an extracurricular activity like an athletic or arts event if you can. Are there others there with whom you could envision yourself and your child spending time?
