UPPER SCHOOL
PROFILE 2022-2023 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
360
students are enrolled in Upper School
preparatory school serving over 1,200 Central Florida students from Preschool through 12th grade. Since its opening in 1987, TFA has continued to grow the academic, fine arts and athletic 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, and theater. 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 Troupe 5165 received Superior Tech & Overall Excellent score for their One Act performance of The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe. TFA’s Visual Arts program includes 3D printers and one of a kind Raku events. Student pieces were chosen as finalists for the Congressional Art Competition. The Digital Media Production program has created award winning publications including the yearbook. ATHLETICS TFA Athletics has been a cornerstone of success in Central Florida, earning 108 district titles, 42 regional titles, 66 individual state titles, and 19 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 24 interscholastic sports and is home to two world-class athletic facilities, the Payne Stewart Athletic Complex and the Cramer Family Field House.
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 2022
74
SENIOR GRADUATES IN THE CLASS OF 2022
$5.2
MILLION EARNED IN SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS
11k
HOURS OF MISSION TRIPS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
90%
OF SENIORS WERE PART OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN ART, ATHLETICS, OR LEADERSHIP
10
ROYAL SCHOLARS
23
HUMANITIES SCHOLARS
21
AP SCHOLARS
GRADING SCALE 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)
GRADE
GPA
A
90-100
4.0-5.0+
B
80-89
3.0-3.999
C
70-79
2.0-2.999
D
60-69
1.0-1.999
F
0-59
0
GRADE POINT AVG. DISTRIBUTION CLASS OF 2023 FOR GRADES 9-11 Weighted GPA
Number
% of
5.0 and higher
20
24%
4.0-4.99
58
70%
3.0-3.99
4
6%
Total students
82
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
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 11 English 11 Honors** English 12 Honors** AP English Language** AP English Literature**
SCIENCE
Agricultural Science Foundations Anatomy & Physiology Honors** Biology Biology Honors**
Chemistry Chemistry Honors** Health Science Anatomy & Physiology Honors** Marine Science Honors** Physics Honors** AP Biology** AP Chemistry** AP Environmental Science** AP Physics**
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**
ACT SAT
SAT & ACT SCORE RANGES MID RANGE - CLASS OF 2023
22-28 1100-1200
*Class of 2023 is continuing to take tests throughout the school year.
AP Government & Politics** AP Human Geography** AP Psychology** AP U. S. History** AP World History**
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Athletic Performance I, II, & III Personal Fitness+ Team Sports I & II Varsity Sports Conditioning
MATH
Algebra I Algebra I Honors** Algebra II Algebra II Honors** Calculus Honors** Geometry Geometry Honors** Math for College Readiness Probability & Statistics Honors** Pre-Calculus
Pre-Calculus Honors** AP Calculus AB & BC** AP Statistics**
WORLD LANGUAGE
Spanish I & II Spanish II, III & IV Honors** Latin I & II Latin III & Latin 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+ Band I & II Band III & IV Honors** Care & Prevention of Athletic Injury
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS 25 CREDITS 100 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
Ceramics I & II Ceramics III & IV Honors** Chorus I & II Chorus III** Constitutional Law Debate Digital Cinema I, II & III Drawing & Painting I & II Early Childhood Development Introduction to Media Production Media Production I Media Production II & III Honors Music of the World Musical Theatre Music Theory Honors Public Speaking Special Needs Development Test Prep Worship Arts AP Art History** AP Studio Art 2D** AP Studio Art 3D** AP Studio Art Drawing** AP Computer Science**
+ ½-year credit course ** weighted course AP Advanced Placement Course
English.......................4.0 Math..........................4.0 Science*....................3.0 Social Studies*.........3.0 Christian Studies....2.5
World Languages.........2.0 Physical Education.......1.0 Elective Credits............4.5 Fine Arts........................1.0
*3 or 4 Credits in this academic discipline are required.
Davenport University
Lake-Sumter State College
SUNY University at Buffalo
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Daytona State College
Lawrence University
SUNY at New Paltz
University of Iowa
DePaul University
Lee University
Saint Leo University
University of Kentucky
Dickinson College
Lehigh University
Salve Regina University
University of La Verne
Drexel University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Samford University
University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
Duke University
Liberty University
Santa Fe College
University of Massachusetts (Boston)
East Carolina University
Lipscomb University
Savannah College of Art and Design
University of Memphis
AdventHealth University
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Louisiana State University
School of Visual Arts
University of Miami
Alabama A&M University
East Tennessee State University
Loyola University Maryland
Seminole State College of Florida
University of Michigan
Albright College
East Texas Baptist University
Loyola University New Orleans
Shenandoah University
University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)
American Academy of Dramatic Arts (New York)
Eckerd College
Lycoming College
Shorter University
University of Mississippi
American University
Edward Waters University
Lynn University
Southeastern University
University of Missouri (Columbia)
Anderson University
Elon University
Marist College
Southern Methodist University
University of Missouri (Kansas City)
Appalachian State University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Mars Hill University
Spelman College
University of Montevallo
Maryland Institute College of Art
St Petersburg College
University of Nebraska at Kearney
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES
2019-2022
Arcadia University
(Daytona Beach)
Arizona State University (Main Campus)
Emerson College
Marymount Manhattan College
St. John's University (New York)
University of New Hampshire (Main Campus)
Arkansas State University (Main Campus)
Emory University
Mercer University
St. Thomas University
University of New Mexico (Main Campus)
Asbury University
Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The
Methodist University
State College of Florida (Manatee-Sarasota)
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Auburn University
LNew School
Miami University (Oxford)
Stetson University
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Ave Maria University
Fairmont State University
Michigan State University
Stony Brook University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Azusa Pacific University
Fashion Institute of Technology
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Syracuse University
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Babson College
Flagler College
Milligan University
Tabor College
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Bard College
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical
Mississippi College
Tallahassee Community College
University of North Florida
Barry University
LUniversity
Mississippi State University
Temple University
University of Notre Dame
Baylor University
Florida Atlantic University
Monmouth College
Texas A&M University
University of Oklahoma
Beacon College
Florida Gulf Coast University
Montclair State University
Texas Tech University
University of Oregon
Belmont University
Florida Institute of Technology
Montreat College
The College of William and Mary
University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)
Bentley University
Florida International University
Moody Bible Institute
The New School
University of San Diego
Berklee College of Music
Florida Memorial University
Morehouse College
The Ohio State University (Main Campus)
University of San Francisco
Berry College
Florida Polytechnic University
Muhlenberg College
The University of Alabama
University of Scranton
Bethune-Cookman University
Florida Southern College
New College of Florida
The University of Tampa
University of South Carolina (Upstate)
Boston College
Florida State University
New Mexico State University (Main Campus)
The University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
University of South Carolina
Boston University
Fordham University
New York University
The University of Texas at Arlington
University of South Florida (Main Campus)
Broward College
Franklin & Marshall College
North Carolina State University
The University of Texas at Austin
University of South Florida
Bryant University
Full Sail University
Northeastern University
The University of West Florida
L(Sarasota-Manatee)
Bucknell University
Furman University
Northern Illinois University
Thomas Jefferson University
University of South Florida (St Petersburg)
Butler University
Gardner-Webb University
Notre Dame College
Thomas University
University of Southern California
Caldwell University
George Brown College
Nova Southeastern University
Tri-County Technical College
University of Tulsa
California Baptist University
George Mason University
Ohio University (Main Campus)
Trinity College of Florida
University of Utah
California College of the Arts
George Washington University
Ontario College of Art and Design University
United States Naval Academy
University of Vermont
Carson-Newman University
Georgetown University
Orange Coast College
University of Akron Main Campus
University of Virginia (Main Campus)
Case Western Reserve University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Pace University (New York City)
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Washington (Seattle Campus)
Catholic University of America
Gettysburg College
Palm Beach Atlantic University
University of Arizona
University of Wisconsin (Madison)
Central Michigan University
Grand Canyon University
Parsons School of Design at The New School
University of Arkansas
Valdosta State University
Centre College
Grand Valley State University
Penn State University (Brandywine)
University of California (Berkeley)
Valencia College
Chapman University
Hampton University
Penn State University (University Park)
University of California (Davis)
Vanderbilt University
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Harding University
Penn State University (World Campus)
University of California (Irvine)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
Clark Atlanta University
Harvard University
Pepperdine University
University of California (Los Angeles)
LUniversity
Clark University
Hawai'i Pacific University
Piedmont University
University of California (Riverside)
Wake Forest University
Clarkson University
High Point University
Polk State College
University of California (San Diego)
Warner University
Clemson University
Hofstra University
Pratt Institute
University of California (Santa Barbara)
Washington University in St. Louis
Coastal Carolina University
Howard University
Princeton University
University of California (Santa Cruz)
Webber International University
Colgate University
Indiana University (Bloomington)
Purdue University (Main Campus)
University of Central Florida
Webster University
College of Charleston
Jacksonville State University
Queens University of Charlotte
University of Cincinnati (Main Campus)
Wentworth Institute of Technology
College of the Holy Cross
Jacksonville University
Rhode Island School of Design
University of Colorado Boulder
West Virginia University
Colorado State University (Fort Collins)
Johns Hopkins University
Rice University
University of Connecticut
Western Carolina University
Columbia College
Johnson & Wales University (Charlotte)
Rider University
University of Denver
Wheaton College
Columbia University
Kent State University
Rollins College
University of Florida
Williams College
Concordia University (Chicago)
Keystone College
Rosemont College
University of Georgia
Wingate University
Covenant College
King's College
Rutgers University (New Brunswick)
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Yale University
Dartmouth College
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Rutgers University (Newark)
University of Illinois at Chicago
Young Harris College