More Than a School

Academy Prep Center for Education was formed ten years ago with its first school in south St. Petersburg. The Ybor Center, opened in 2003, replicates the success of our sister campus and will celebrate its first graduating class in the spring of 2007.

In the Ybor neighborhood of our Center, less than fifty percent of the adults have graduated from high school. Too many young people live in conditions that expose them to crime, poor health, and strained family situations. They lack sufficient access to educational opportunities and to the life opportunities that will help them become successful adults.

At Academy Prep, we change these young people's lives by providing an education that is more than just traditional school. Each student receives four years of tuition-free, college-preparatory education in 5th through 8th grades. Students attend up to 11 hours a day, 6 days a week, 11 months each year. The school provides a demanding academic curriculum and a multitude of enrichment activities along with emotional support and social guidance. Students benefit from an additional eight years of graduate support that guides them continually through their high school and college careers.

In less than four years, the Center is seeing remarkable results. Students often leap from below grade level when entering 5th grade to academic abilities equivalent to 11th and 12th grade levels even before their 8th grade year! Our students win chess, karate, and debate competitions; speak confidently to business professionals; perform Shakespeare on stage; and attend school at the highest rate for middle schools in our county.

The Tampa community is extremely supportive of Academy Prep with over 20 corporate, educational, and non-profit partnerships. Over 7,000 hours of service time is given annually to Academy Prep from our families and community volunteers.

With our first graduating class in spring 2007, we intend to replicate our sister school's incredible success by keeping ninety-five percent of Academy Prep's graduates in high school, college, or careers.

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