Foundation Academy continues to make significant updates and additions to its three campuses while staying true to the Christ-centered and values-based education for which it has long been known.

Every January, Foundation Academy (FA)—one of the premier private, Christian schools in Florida—brings the staff and families from all three of its campuses together for a special event called the “State of the Academy.” It’s an opportunity for school leadership to share their vision for the future of education, while also highlighting recent achievements and developments at FA.

Needless to say, there has been quite a bit of ground to cover at the past few annual gatherings.

A plan hatched more than a decade ago to update FA’s facilities, to add modern touches to the classrooms, to embrace technology and to beautify the grounds has come to fruition to transform the look of the school while remaining true to its Christ-centered educational philosophy that has struck a chord with local families since its founding in 1958.

“We’ve had a lot of expansion in recent years, both in enrollment and amenities,” says Joe Cioffi, a longtime teacher and coach at FA who became the director of marketing and communications eight years ago. “It has really complemented the kids’ experience.”

FA consists of three campuses: Plant Street, the original location in Winter Garden, serves students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade; Lakeside, which opened in 2019 in Windermere, has kindergarten through fifth; and Tilden, a beautiful rural setting in Winter Garden, is home to middle and high school for grades sixth through 12th.

All three have undergone significant changes lately, especially Tilden, which has added spaces that promote learning, growth and camaraderie. Those include The Mane, a full-service cafeteria spanning more than 15,000 square feet; Better Bean, a coffee shop featuring drinks and snacks; a brand-new educational building; and a worship center.

“Our courtyard now has artificial grass too, and it’s the social heartbeat of the campus,” Cioffi adds. “It’s created the ability for the kids to fellowship, to socialize and to build a real sense of community.”

There is also a full-fledged, 4K studio named Studio 58—after the year FA was founded—in which multimedia students learn the ins and outs of television production and journalism.

“The kids are learning from first-class instructors with first-class equipment,” Cioffi says. “Our studio was outfitted by people who are in the production industry. It has teleprompters, lighting, 4K cameras and two labs that are dedicated to pre- and post-production. It’s part of the innovation wing in the new educational building, and it’s really something to see.”

Most recently, the football stadium at FA’s East Park was outfitted with a renovated track, upgraded stands for both home and visiting fans, and West Park with a new concession area.

“Being that Tilden is the kids’ last stop before they head to their post-secondary education, we have made this the pinnacle of their educational experience,” Cioffi says. “We really have a campus with a culture, and that has been years in the making. The kids now have a specialized education space with all of the amenities they need to grow. We’ve always been and always will be Christ-centered, and now we have the facilities to get specialized in the various fields. Christ is still at the center, but their disciplines can be met in a different way thanks to the specialized education space, with everything from science labs to the studio.”

Athletics remain a key piece of the FA experience, as student-athletes are thriving across a wide range of sports. In fact, former Lions football star Danny Stutsman, who went on to become an All-American linebacker at Oklahoma, is now playing in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.

“Danny is our first-ever NFL player, and that’s indicative of how successful our athletic programs have been over the course of the past 10 years,” Cioffi says. “But we’ve been very deliberate about making sure our student-athletes are good, well-rounded people first. With our value system, the goals that we set, and committed coaches, we are truly doing that.”

At Plant Street, recent developments include refurbished classrooms and a new library, while Lakeside also has updated learning spaces.

It’s no wonder that FA has seen incredible growth, with enrollment increasing by 110% over the past 10 years. But that goes beyond just shiny new buildings, Cioffi believes.

“For the first time in many years, parents became very cognizant of what kids were learning and how they were being taught,” he says. “During the pandemic, we had cameras installed that allowed us to continue the kids’ education at home without ever missing a beat, and the parents not only were impressed with what was being taught, but also with our teachers. Thus our students and families became advocates for what we do, and that advocacy has become part of the public consciousness. In addition, due to our faith and belief system, there’s a certain set of standards in terms of our values, and I think those values in particular resonate with what families and students are hoping and looking for.”

Foundation Academy
Plant Street Campus—Winter Garden
(407) 656-3677
Lakeside Campus—Windermere
(407) 614-1780
Tilden Campus—Winter Garden
(407) 877-2744
FoundationAcademy.net