Lower School at The First Academy

Preschool (3+ years old) – 5th Grade

As the parent of a little learner, you’re looking for a school with the right balance of fun and fundamentals. You want your child to continue soaking up 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 aren’t undermined during their school day.

The First Academy was voted Central Florida’s best private Christian elementary school, and it’s an honor we uphold daily. 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. Preschool 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.

Preschool
(age 3)

Kindergarten Prep
(4 years old as of September 1)

Transitional Kindergarten
(4/5 years old as of September 1)

Kindergarten
(5 years old as of 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.

Fine Arts & Extracurriculars

The Lower School core curriculum is complemented by art, fine arts, math team (3rd – 5th), and music. Students learn the basic objectives of music — rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and timbre — through listening, movement, notation, playing, singing, and speaking, and have opportunities to perform in chapel and school-wide programs. Students explore the visual art mediums of ceramics, drawing, painting, and sculpture, and begin to see and experience art as a form of visual expression.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Lower School is a prime time to tap into a child’s natural inquisitiveness. In addition to active learning in the classroom, TFA students also get to experience the world around them through exploration outside those four walls. Biology and sustainability come alive in our aquaponics greenhouse. Field trips mean exploring everything from art to science at the Central Florida Zoo, Gatorland, St. Augustine, The Orlando Repertory Theatre, Sea World, and more.

After School Options

The First Academy knows families are busy and that kids need to be kept active and engaged after the dismissal bell rings. Lower School sports programs are offered throughout the school year, including basketball, cheer, flag football, and volleyball. After School Care is available from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. The Academies, our expanded after school program, offers after school athletics, courses, and clubs, including cheerleading and Lego robotics.

Meet a Teacher

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.

Is The First Academy the Right Fit For Your Child?

Download our Parent Information Packet and learn more about how we nurture a love of learning in our students.