Private Lower School for Fun & Fundamentals

Kindergarten Prep (4+ years old) – 5th Grade

Helping Students Learn, Grow, & Mature

As the parent of a young learner, you’re looking for a school with the right balance of recreation and routine. You want your child to continue absorbing new information, but you’re also hoping for content mastery. You want to be sure you find the right fit so that the values you’re teaching at home are supported and encouraged during their school day.

The First Academy Lower School pursues excellence daily and was voted Central Florida’s best private Christian elementary school. Everything we do in our Lower School at TFA is designed to help students achieve personal excellence — academically, socially, and spiritually — as they learn, grow, and mature. Our teachers are committed to bringing joy to learning through creative, engaging lessons that help make complex content enjoyable and accessible.

Thank you Central Florida and Playground Magazine for voting The First Academy as the area’s Best Private Christian Elementary School! Schedule a meeting with admissions by contacting us at admissions@thefirstacademy.org or 407-206-8602 and find out more about why so many families choose (and love) TFA.

At The First Academy, our curriculum is distinguished by a biblical worldview and content is taught by Living Curriculum teachers who exemplify Christian values. Weekly chapel services, daily devotionals, and memorizing scripture help keep students grounded in faith.

These youngest years are some of the most critical in a child’s journey. Kindergarten Prep through kindergarten is a time of not only building on fundamentals, but also establishing classroom etiquette, such as sitting still and waiting your turn, and strengthening fine motor skills, such as cutting with scissors and handwriting. Grades 1-5 are when we start incorporating more problem-solving, critical thinking and working both collaboratively and independently. The result is a confident 5th-grade graduate who is ready for the more challenging curriculum of Middle School.

K-Prep 3
(3 years old on or before September 1)

K-Prep 4
(4 years old on or before September 1)

Transitional Kindergarten
(5 years old on or before September 1)

Kindergarten
(5 years old on or before September 1)

Elementary
(grades 1–5)

What initially drew us to The First Academy was the warmth of the staff, teachers, and administration during the admissions process.  We have been very pleased that the welcoming feeling and attentive care for our children has continued past the admissions phase and is truly part of the school’s daily culture.  God is clearly at work in the school and we feel so blessed that God led us to The First Academy.”

The Heinz Family

See Why We’re Central Florida’s Best Private Christian School

Download our Parent Information Packet and learn more about how The First Academy can meet the needs of your child. Your e-book will also include information about Middle and High School, athletics, and electives and extracurriculars.

OUR LOWER SCHOOL

Strong Academics for Future Success

The First Academy’s small class sizes means teachers are able to identify individual student strengths and weaknesses, learning styles and personal interests, so that they’re able to meet young learners where they are and keep them engaged. Creative instruction through hands-on activities and project-based learning simplifies complex concepts. A combination of group work and individual work help establish self-discipline and collaborative cooperation.

At the elementary level, core skills are developed in:

  • Bible
  • Handwriting
  • Language Arts
  • Math 
  • Reading
  • Science
  • Social Studies

Enrichment classes are available for students in grades 1-5 who have been identified as academically talented or gifted.

Meet a Teacher

Photo of Kristen Leader, an elementary school teacher at The First Academy in Orlando, FL

Kristen Leader

Degree: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Master’s in Early Childhood Education
Teaching Experience: 2nd and 3rd grades


“I feel extremely blessed to teach at The First Academy. I believe God has called me to serve as an educator and I am grateful for the relationships with my second grade students and families. Inspiring the children in my classroom to grow in learning while creating a deep spiritual foundation is one of the many reasons why I love TFA!”

See for Yourself!

Schedule an on-campus tour and see first-hand why families choose The First Academy for their kids.