Education Program Profiles: From global

From state-of-the-art technology to old-fashioned Socratic sessions by a lakeside, there's a school, a method and an academic home for your children in Tampa Bay. Check out some of these exciting and enriching programs from local schools.

Since 1968, Corbett Prep has taught generations of children in a uniquely child-centered culture and community. At the heart of the Corbett Prep experience are the positive, supportive relationships between students and teachers. Located on a beautiful 15-acre lakeside campus, Corbett Prep offers the International Baccalaureate programme for all PreK3-8th grade students. Teachers use research-based strategies to engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. In this extraordinary learning environment, a social-emotional curriculum provides the framework for student mindfulness and wellbeing with opportunities to discover and develop individual areas of giftedness for all students academics with joy and challenge; robust visual and performance arts classes; a dedicated Application Lab for experiential learning in science, engineering, the art of design and mathematics; a competitive middle school athletics program and strong physical education curriculum; and emphasis on leadership and international-mindedness.

Through a diverse, multicultural student body as well as partnerships with schools around the world, Corbett Prep students grow in intercultural appreciation and understanding. Corbett Prep parents enjoy strong, often lifelong, connections with teachers, staff, and other families. The Parent-Faculty Association and the Dads’ Club provide opportunities for involvement and social activities open to the school community.

Graduates often say that at Corbett Prep, they learned and practiced the life skills they needed for success beyond 8th grade: the choreography of working respectfully and productively with those from different backgrounds and cultures, a growth mindset to approach and solve problems, and the confidence, poise, and presence to serve as leaders in their community.

Berkeley energizes education and students with incredible experiential learning opportunities on an incomparable campus. In a safe, nurturing environment featuring inspiring teachers and engaged parents and alumni, students enjoy a broad curricular and extracurricular program along personalized paths.

Whether it’s learning Chinese, playing football or the bagpipes, studying art in Florence, or distributing water filters in the Dominican Republic, Berkeley students have unlimited ways to grow beyond the classroom. With more than 40 clubs and electives and an extensive afterschool athletic program, Middle Division students discover and pursue their hidden talents. Upper Division students flourish in an atmosphere akin to a small liberal arts college under the guidance of inspiring teaching professionals from all over the world. As well as more than 72 AP, Honors and Advanced Topics courses, future artists can explore visual and performing arts in one of the most diverse and complete arts programs in the Tampa Bay area.

Students broaden their horizons through the study of world languages (beginning in Pre-K), overseas travel and service, and our unique Global Scholars Program. Berkeley students perform more than 30,000 hours of service each year, learning how to unleash their leadership qualities to contribute to the world.

Berkeley’s full range of varsity and junior varsity teams in the Middle and Upper Divisions includes 16 sports and more than 80 teams. As a 3A school and member of the Florida High School Athletic Association and the Florida West Coast League, Berkeley has won more than 70 FHSAA Academic Team State Championships and been the Overall Team Academic Champion nine of the last 11 years.

As an Episcopal school, Berkeley embraces students from all faiths, traditions and perspectives. Every Berkeley student is accepted and appreciated. That’s why you’ll find no homecoming kings, no prom queens, no valedictorians and no class ranks. We truly are “One Berkeley.”

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For nearly 30 years, Westlake Christian School has developed and maintained a unique blend of faith, academics and community. The school is based in the belief of a well-rounded school experience with faith formation, academics, fine arts, athletics, technology and leadership development as the primary areas.

Westlake is especially proud of using best practices throughout the school and in all areas. The whole school is a best practices environment. Families can expect a community-minded school dedicated to serving each child and family individually.

Westlake graduates are well-rounded and the best thinkers and problem-solvers in this locale. The school is also proud to be the only Christian school to hold accreditation by the Florida Kindergarten Council, the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/AdvancED.

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Celebrating nearly 100 years of academic excellence, Shorecrest Preparatory School combines academic excellence and robust co-curriculars in a connected, inclusive community. From the very littlest 3-year-olds nurtured in a Reggio-inspired curriculum, students up to 12th grade are guided by dedicated teachers and staff to become global, future-ready citizens. Shorecrest is ranked first in Pinellas county for STEM by Niche.com and in the top 500 schools for STEM nationwide by Newsweek Magazine. The Peck Center for Medical Sciences offers an in-depth, applied sciences academic track that includes coursework, specialized laboratories, guest experts, field experiences and student-directed projects. The school’s STEAM signature program offers pathways to investigate computer science, engineering or entrepreneurship and design.

An award-winning visual and performing arts faculty and a full week dedicated to community service are other draws, as is the Global Scholars Initiative that provides language skills and a deeper understanding of global cultures. The Shorecrest College Counseling Office ensures the best fit colleges and universities. With forward-thinking programming and school initiatives like the 1:1 iPad Program, Shorecrest is recognized as an Apple Distinguished School as it meets criteria for innovation, leadership and educational excellence, and demonstrates a clear vision of exemplary learning environments. Shorecrest encourages meaningful family involvement. Modeling core values of responsibility, respect, integrity, knowledge and compassion, Shorecrest students become curious lifelong learners who continue to seek knowledge and take intellectual risks even after their formal education is completed.

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With small class sizes, caring faculty and a beautiful campus in Odessa, Keystone Prep High School is committed to providing the best educational experience for all students. With an average of eight to 10 students per class, Keystone Prep students thrive within an individualized approach based on students’ strengths and challenges. The school’s advocacy program, which runs parallel to the academic program, focuses on social and emotional learning and college and career exploration.

At Keystone Prep, parents can expect a family atmosphere where students feel safe, supported and challenged to reach levels of performance they may have not thought possible. Families can also expect a partnership with the school where they work together to help their students reach their full potential academically, emotionally and socially.

The school’s goal is that all students do everything in their power to leave a positive impact on their communities and the world. Faculty and staff encourage students to learn compassion and understanding, to work hard and apply themselves to whatever task is before them. Students are taught the knowledge and skills to not only navigate an ever-changing world—but to thrive in it.

While Keystone Prep is not a special-needs school, they espouse the philosophy that any student, regardless of a formal diagnosis, can benefit from the school’s unique approach.

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The Vanguard School serves neurodiverse learners in sixth through 12th grades in beautiful Lake Wales in sunny central Florida. Vanguard supports students who learn diversely to share commonalities and learn about themselves and others in a safe, encouraging environment. Our students excel in small, targeted education settings and utilize individualized academic support, self-confidence building and social/independence skills.

The campus offers tennis, swimming, soccer and a running track, as well as fishing and canoeing. Students can take advantage of competitive athletic opportunities and recreational club sports. Our athletics and clubs integrate our core values to demonstrate application in mindful behavior.

The Vanguard School’s academic program meets students where they are, helping them find self-paced and level-appropriate instruction and accommodations to meet their needs. Students will be joined in the small classroom setting with other students in their similar learning realm whether they benefit from intensive skill building or high-level exploration of a subject. High school students explore opportunities in dual enrollment for college/university, certifications or trades while gaining applicable experience in the next-step expectations with support. Our safe and diverse environment helps build confidence, share cultures and create connections along an individualized path. Our core value-based open mindset helps students gain empathy, leadership and resilience, and contribute to the community. We prepare diverse learners to thrive in a diverse world.

Waldorf education is 100+ year old European school movement whose learning process is three-fold, engaging head, heart and hands. All curriculum is based on the science of human development, honoring childhood, and teaching the right thing, at the right time.

Along with robust academics, we teach art, music, storytelling, handwork, movement and games, practical arts, world languages and earth stewardship. The whole point of Waldorf Education is rhythm, ritual, rites of passage and delayed gratification; we teach and do things when the child is ready.

Our Forest Kindergarten is a magical place where children frolic outdoors, swinging from ropes and tending the garden. Our second and third graders camped out at a biodynamic farm in Ocala for four days, working the land and tending to the chickens, pigs and cows. Our fifth graders’ rite of passage is to attend a regional Pentathlon in the spring after a year of studying Greek history and mythology. They compete with other Waldorf schools in the five classic Greek sports, and are honored not for their athleticism, but for their beauty, grace and fair play. Our sixth, seventh and eighth graders perform a delightfully entertaining, but also extremely impressive Shakespeare production every year.

The core values of a Waldorf education—truth, beauty and goodness—coupled with our shared school values of no screens until after graduation and stewardship and healing for our Mother Earth, bring together like-minded souls who have been searching for each other. All our children graduate with extremely expanded capacities of resilience, innovation, critical thinking skills, risk management, problem solving and a desire to seek out, connect with and create more of what is beautiful in our world.

The Tampa Bay area is lucky to have such a wealth of incredible private, charter and magnet education options that make it easy to find the perfect school for your child.

The school’s ethic of opportunity and “You Matter Here” philosophy empower our students to become well-rounded individuals who have the confidence and the knowledge to change the world. With talented, dedicated, and caring teachers leading the way, Academy enjoys a 100% 4-year college placement rate.

The Academy of the Holy Names is a Catholic, coeducational elementary school and college preparatory high school for young women, sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. Since 1881, the Academy has empowered students to be authentic individuals who engage in independent thought, are inspired by creativity, and lead culturally aware, spiritually rich lives.

Alegria Montessori School is an authentic Montessori program that creates a rich learning environment and supports individual development. We are also a bilingual program, with students receiving Spanish instruction throughout the week from native Spanish speakers. We offer a true Montessori education through middle school. Come discover the joy of Montessori.

Bayshore Christian School is a college preparatory, accredited, non-denominational Christian school serving students 2 years old through 12th grade. Founded in 1971, Bayshore Christian School is located on 10 acres in residential South Tampa. BCS provides athletics and fine arts opportunities in addition to a rigorous and challenging academic curriculum.

A tuition-free public charter school proudly serving grades 6-12, Bell Creek provides a well-rounded college preparatory education. The challenging and rigorous curriculum includes a special concentration on math and science, a technology-rich atmosphere and a focus on character development. We are an “A” rated Florida School of Excellence offering the Cambridge Program for Advanced Studies and an award-winning athletic program and are Cognia accredited.

Ranked as one of the BEST private schools in Florida (NICHE), Berkeley Preparatory School presents a safe, nurturing environment featuring inspiring teaching, engaged parents and alumni, and outstanding resources, including incomparable facilities on a beautiful campus. We develop and expect strong character, promote innovation and growth, and desire excellence in all that we do. Simply put, the educational journey at Berkeley is truly extraordinary. Enrollment: 475 Class-Size: 7:1 Grades: PreK3-grade 12 Tuition: $14,000 - $26,500

Enrollment: 975 Class-Size: Varies Grades: PreK-grade 8 (Coed); grades 9-12 (All Girls) Tuition: $13,650 – $21,790

Enrollment: 140 Class-Size: Small class sizes in elementary and middle school Grades: age 1 - grade 8 Tuition: Varies depending on age

Enrollment: 340 Class-Size: 11:1 Grades: age 2 - grade 12 Tuition: $9,300-$11,340

Grades: 6-12 Tuition: FREE

Enrollment: 1,401 Fall 2022 Class-Size: 20 Grades: PreK-grade 12 Tuition: $19,400-$29,390