Best Performing Schools in Florida 2021

Best Performing Schools in Florida
grade. Since its opening in 1987, TFA
has prepared students to stand out from
their peers and become leaders who
influence the world through Christ-like
leadership — choosing character
before career, wisdom beyond
scholarship, service before self, and
participation as a way of life.
By the time your child has graduated
from TFA, they will: develop a strong
identity in Christ and the plan God has
for their life; build their knowledge,
skills, and maturity to successfully go
on to a college or career of their
choice; be a confident leader and
communicator, as well as a caring and
successful individual; remain grounded
in family values that align with TFA’s
mission and vision.
The TFA Experience
TFA’s campus is centrally located for
Central Florida families, offering stateof-the-art
academic and athletic
facilities. The school serves students
from preschool through 12th grade.
The First Academy boasts a 100%
college acceptance rate for its
graduating seniors, who have received
over $70 million in scholarship offers.
TFA’s Lower School focuses on
building a strong foundation for
lifelong learners, while its Middle
School nurtures their emerging gifts
and academic interests. In the Upper
School, students have the opportunity
to further prepare themselves for
college including Advanced Placement,
concurrent and dual enrollment, and
accelerated learning opportunities. The
school also offers hybrid homeschool
and special needs programs.
The Cultivated Commander-In-
Chief Dr. Steve D. Whitaker has
served as the Head of School at The
First Academy since July 2003. During
his tenure, the school has advanced a
bold spiritual formation agenda,
The First
Academy is
positioned to
continue as a
leader in
Christian, private
education with its
ability to balance
accelerated
scholastic
excellence with
life-changing
spiritual
formation.
experienced outstanding enrollment
growth, and has witnessed remarkable
scholastic achievements. Multiple
capital campaigns led to major
renovations and expansion of the
Lower School, the building of a new
Upper and Middle School, the opening
of the Tennis Center, expanded athletic
facilities at Payne Stewart Athletic
complex, a renovation of the Boyd-
Moline Library, a Black Box Theatre, a
new $10.5 million Field
House/Gymnasium Facility, and an
impressive culinary farm to table
newly constructed kitchen and dining
space.
The First Academy families have
generously pledged over $44 million to
fund these initiatives. Dr Whitaker has
written on a variety of topics, including
school culture, Christian living,
generous giving, and Biblical
worldview issues. He published a book
entitled ‘In God We Trust: Five Anchor
Points for Turbulent Times’.
His past and present activities include
serving on the ACSI Executive Board,