2667 Bruton Boulevard Orlando, FL 32805
Phone: 407.206.8600
CEEB Code 101316
Steve D. Whitaker, Ph.D. Head of School
Joyce Kwak Upper School Principal
Reed Reynolds Upper School Assistant Principal
Stephanie Clark Upper School Assistant Principal
Mary Gooseman Upper School Coordinator
COLLEGE GUIDANCE
THE FIRST ACADEMY is a Christ-centered college preparatory school serving over 1,400 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.
ACAD E MI CS
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 9% annually on the WrAP test. 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).
Susan Gentry College Advisor
407.206.8633
Grayson Merritt College Advisor
407.206.8761
Ellen Stewart Guidance Assistant 407.206.8631 ellenstewart@thefirstacademy.org
The First Academy has a rich and growing Fine Arts community where students are involved in performing, visual, and media arts. In 2024, TFA’s Upper School Theatre received 25 nominations and 4 wins at the Dr. Phillips Applause Awards including Outstanding Ensemble and Orchestra. TFA’s Thespian Troupe 5165 received various awards and recognitions at the district, state, and international levels of competition. TFA’s visual art college prep program has earned over a million dollars in scholarships to art colleges globally. Our 2D and 3D/Ceramics disciplines utilize 3D printers, Raku ring, street painting, and mural events on campus and in the community. Students have achieved high awards, including multiple Best in Shows, in local, state, and nationwide competitive exhibits, and more.
The Media Production program trains students with top-of-the-line equipment in digital, print, and video productions in the iMac Lab using Adobe Creative Suite training. The 2024 Legacy Yearbook received Gold Recognition from the Florida Scholastic Press Association for its design, photography, and reporting work. Broadcast students produced short LMS and 25 episodes of Raw Footage in their newly updated TV Studio. The TFA Band program features a variety of ensembles, including a pep band that energizes our football and basketball games, a jazz band that explores the rich traditions of jazz music, and a contemporary band that performs at school events. Our students have earned top honors at events such as Music in the Parks and The Applause Awards.
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, 116 district titles, 47 regional titles, 68 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 nishes 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.
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
Anatomy & Physiology Honors**
Biology
Biology Honors**
Chemistry Chemistry Honors**
Marine Science Honors** Physics Honors** AP Biology** AP Chemistry** AP Computer Science A** AP Computer Science
Health Science Anatomy & Physiology Honors** Principles**
AP Environmental Science** AP Physics** AP Physics II**
CHRISTIAN STUDIES
Apologetics
Foundations of Theology Biblical Formation & Financial Stewardship World Religions
SOCIAL SCIENCE
American Govt. Honors+** American History Honors** Economics Honors+** World History Honors**
SAT & ACT SCORE RANGES
MID RANGE - CLASS OF 2025 *Class of 2025 is continuing to take tests throughout the school year
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES
2020-2024
Adelphi University
AdventHealth University
Albright College
American University
Anderson University
Appalachian State University
Arcadia University
Arizona State University (Main Campus)
Arkansas State Uni. (Main Campus)
Asbury University
Auburn University
Ave Maria University
Azusa Pacific University
Babson College
Bard College
Barry University
Baylor University
Beacon College
Belmont University
Benedictine University
Bentley University
Berklee College of Music
Berry College
Bethune-Cookman University
Boston College
Boston University
Brevard College
Brewton-Parker College
Broward College
Bryant University
Bucknell University
Butler University
Caldwell University
California College of the Arts
California Lutheran University
California State University (Fullerton)
California State University (LA)
Case Western Reserve University
Catholic University of America
Central Michigan University
Cerritos College
Chapman University
Citadel Military College of S Carolina
Clark Atlanta University
Clemson University
Coastal Carolina University
Colgate University
College of Charleston
College of Mount Saint Vincent
College of the Holy Cross
Colorado State University (Ft Collins)
Columbia College
Columbia International University
Columbia University
Concordia University (Chicago)
Covenant College
Dartmouth College
Davenport University
Daytona State College
DePaul University
Dickinson College
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Athletic Performance I, II,
Personal Fitness+ & III
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
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS
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 III & IV Honors** Band I & II
Care & Prevention of Athletic Injury
Ceramics I & II
Ceramics III & IV Honors**
Chorus I & II
Chorus III**
Classical Mythology
Constitutional Law
Debate
Drawing & Painting I & II
Early Childhood Development
Guitar
Introduction to Media Production
Media Production I
Media Production II & III Honors
Media Production IV Honors
Drake University
Drexel University
Duke University
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 Uni. (Daytona B)
Emerson College
Eugene Lang Coll. of Lib. Arts/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 Memorial University
Florida Polytechnic University
Florida Southern College
Florida State University
Fordham University
Francis Marion University
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Franklin & Marshall College
Full Sail University
Furman University
Gardner-Webb University
Geneva College
George Brown College
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Ghent University
Goucher College
Grand Valley State University
Hampton University
Harding University
Harvard University
Hawai'i Pacific University
High Point University
Hofstra University
Howard University
Indiana University (Bloomington)
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville University
Johnson & Wales Uni. (Charlotte)
Kent State University
Keystone College
LaGrange College
Lee University
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
Marist College
Maryland Institute College of Art
Marymount Manhattan College
Mercer University
Methodist University
Michigan State University
Milligan University
Mississippi College
Mississippi State University
Missouri Southern State University
Monmouth College
Montclair State University
Montreat College
Moody Bible Institute
Morehouse College
Muhlenberg College
New College of Florida
New England College
New Mexico State University (Main Campus)
New York University
North Carolina A & T State
University
North Carolina State University
North Central College
North Greenville University
Northeastern University
Northern Illinois University
Northwest Missouri State University
Notre Dame College
Nova Southeastern University
Oberlin College
Oglethorpe University
Oklahoma State University (Main Campus)
Ontario College of Art and Design University
Oral Roberts University
Ouachita Baptist University
Pace University (New York City)
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Parsons School of Design at The New School
Penn State University (Brandywine)
Penn State Uni. (University Park)
Penn State University (World Campus)
Pensacola State College
Pepperdine University
Philadelphia University
Piedmont University
Point University
Polk State College
Pratt Institute
Purdue University (Main Campus)
Queens University of Charlotte
Regis College
Rider University
Rollins College
Rosemont College
Rutgers University (New Brunswick)
Rutgers University (Newark)
Saint Leo University
Salve Regina University
Samford University
Santa Fe College
Savannah College of Art and 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
Shenandoah University
Shorter University
Southeastern University
Southern Methodist University
Spelman College
St. John's University (New York)
St. Thomas University
State College of Florida (Manatee-Sarasota)
Stetson University
Stony Brook University
SUNY at New Paltz
SUNY University at Bu alo
Tabor College
Tallahassee State College
Temple 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 TN (Knoxville)
The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of West Florida
Thomas University
Tri-County Technical College
Trinity Baptist College
Trinity College of Florida
United States Naval Academy
University of Akron Main Campus
University of AL 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 CA (Santa Barbara)
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 Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Kentucky
University of Maryland (College Park)
University of Massachusetts (Boston)
Special Needs Development
Stagecraft
Test Prep
Public Speaking AP
University of Memphis
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)
University of Mississippi
University of Missouri (Columbia)
University of Missouri (Kansas City)
University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of New Hampshire (Main Campus)
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
Wilmington
University of North Florida
University of Northern Colorado
University of Notre Dame
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)
University of Richmond
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 Campus)
University of S. Florida (Sarasota-Manatee)
University of South Florida (St Petersburg)
University of Southern California
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Virginia (Main Campus)
University of Washington (Seattle Campus)
University of Wisconsin (Madison)
Valencia College
Valparaiso University
Vanderbilt University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Uni.
Wake Forest University
Warner University
Washington University in St. Louis
Webber International University
Webster University
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wesleyan University
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Western Carolina University
Wheaton College - IL
William & Mary
Williams College
Wingate University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Xavier University
Yale University