The First Academy prepares students to succeed not only in academics, but also as Christian leaders.

At The First Academy (TFA), faith comes first. But that doesn’t mean that excellence in academics, athletics or the fine arts has to take a back seat.

At TFA, students from preschool through 12th grade are known, nurtured, and challenged through its Traditional College Prep, Hybrid Home+School, and Distinct Abilities Learning programs. TFA integrates its Christ-centered philosophy into all aspects of student life, aiming to develop the mind, body, and spirit of each student. Students learn to excel in academics and athletics through being a Christian leader. This is especially evident in the Upper School, which boasts a 100% college acceptance rate for graduating seniors. TFA graduates go on to attend top-30 colleges and universities such as Duke University, Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and many more.

“We have this small time with our students,” Joyce Kwak, Upper School Principal, explains. “This small chapter of their life where we get to really help them in their journey in understanding what their faith is. As a faith-based school, what’s amazing is that all of our students are taught that they are created with a purpose.”

Opened in 1987, The First Academy serves more than 1,600 Central Florida students. The Orlando-based school is known for its academic rigor, and students benefit from learning from Christ-following teachers. In fact, teachers at The First Academy are not only instructors but also considered Living Curriculum Influencers, modeling their Christian values both inside and outside the classroom.

“That’s such a huge part of what we do,” Kwak says.

Leading by Example

There are seven different characteristics Living Curriculum Influencers exude. They are Christ-followers, prayer warriors, servant leaders, relationship builders, faithful encouragers, grateful communicators, and engaging instructors.

“Our teachers are being continually trained to live out those seven characteristics so our students are seeing that modeled before them,” Kwak says.

Encouraging students to see Christ in their learning is a focus of The First Academy faculty every day. They incorporate life learning beyond the textbook.

“They show up for the students,” Kwak affirms.

As the 2025-2026 school year began, Kwak emphasized the Living Curriculum Influencer mindset with her faculty—essential, she believes, to cultivate high expectations among students, too.

Finding the Right Balance

The word “balance” often suggests that everything in life should be neatly divided and equal. But at The First Academy, that’s not the expectation.

“Sometimes it’s not that. Sometimes you have to put more energy and emphasis into one subject area or extra-curricular demand and less into another. Something has to give sometimes, or something has to be sacrificed for something else to grow,” explains Kwak.

For students, balance is not a one-size-fits-all formula—it looks different for everyone. At The First Academy, leaders mentor teenagers, encouraging them to move beyond impossible expectations and instead cultivate excellence of character and skill in academics, athletics, the arts, and spiritual life.

In the Upper School, students have a wealth of opportunities to discover their strengths and passions: 26 AP courses, 47 athletic teams, more than 40 leadership roles, weekly chapel gatherings, and a wide range of clubs and extracurricular activities. With so many pathways to explore, students are encouraged to challenge themselves, pursue what excites them most, and ultimately find the balance that works best for their individual journey.

“It’s a lot to take on. They’re only teenagers. Pursuing excellence doesn’t always mean perfection, and that’s OK. It means you’re doing your best with what God has given you, and everybody’s best looks different,” Kwak says.

This philosophy shapes the student experience in tangible ways—through one-on-one advisor meetings, conversations about the college process, and gentle reminders that comparison has no place in personal growth.

“It truly is a very individualized process,” Kwak emphasizes.

Strength of Character

Students at The First Academy learn that developing a strong character is dependent on a relationship with God. And that character piece, Kwak explains, plays into every aspect of their life—how they are as a sibling, a teammate, a group project worker, etc.

“How that relationship with God transforms them really seeps into every area of their life,” Kwak says. “In glorifying God, you know you have to put your best foot forward and do your best work. It should show up in your schoolwork. It should show up in your relationships.”

The First Academy outlines five aspirations for its students: to be devoted Christ-followers; to be committed servant leaders; to be respectful relationship builders; to be consistently honest communicators; and to be relentlessly hard workers. These aspirations all stem from building that foundation of faith.

In the Upper School specifically, Kwak says, students are reminded that “They’re on this journey in following God’s calling.” At The First Academy, the pursuit of excellence in academics, athletics, and the fine arts is paired with the deeper purpose of seeing Christ in every aspect of their lives.

The First Academy
Orlando
(407) 206-8602
TheFirstAcademy.org