The First Academy

Does The First Academy accept the Florida scholarship in Orange County?

Yes. On October 28, 2026, the Florida Department of Education directory carries The First Academy as a participant in the Florida Tax Credit / Family Empowerment Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) program, so an Orange County household can direct the state award to this school: $8,420 per student in grades K-3; $7,831 per student in grades 4-8; $7,639 per student in grades 9-12 for 2026-27, delivered to the school each quarter by way of EMA.

The First Academy carries the state's Unique Abilities (FES-UA) participant flag. Under FES-UA's base tier, an Orange County student with a qualifying diagnosis or IEP gets $10,584 in K-3, $9,995 in 4-8 or $9,803 in 9-12, and it can fund therapy and tutoring too. It also holds the state's PEP flag, which means a household with a Personalized Education Program account can pay for a part-week schedule here.

The school enrolls pre-K, so ask if it is an approved VPK provider and takes School Readiness child care help; the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County keeps that list.

Christian schools tied to a congregation frequently discount tuition for members and siblings or line up sponsors, and some church-run campuses also take part in the Edu Fund Partner Scholarship.

In the 2025 state survey the school counted 1,181 students; that ranks The First Academy 1st by size among the 26 schools in Parramore, Holden Heights & MetroWest that gave an enrollment figure. Accreditation on file with the state (1): COGNIA.

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How many students are in each grade at The First Academy?

The 2025 state survey reports 1,181 students across 14 grade levels.

What should I ask The First Academy before enrolling?

1. Does the school take the Florida Private School Scholarship, and is it set up with Step Up For Students, AAA or both?
2. After the scholarship is applied to my child's grade, what balance remains, and which registration, book or uniform charges does it not cover?
3. What discounts or aid exist beyond the scholarship: need-based aid, sibling rates, church-member or parishioner pricing?
4. Which quarterly EMA deadline will the school use to submit my child's enrollment?
5. Is the school a VPK provider, and does it take School Readiness?
6. For high school: does the school have a dual enrollment agreement with Valencia College, and what do course fees come to against the 9-12 award?

What does the state record show about The First Academy, and what does it leave out?

A state directory record is useful for eligibility and limited for everything else.

Which deadlines apply to a family considering The First Academy?

Four dates drive most 2026-27 decisions.

• Nov 15, 2026New-family application deadline for the 2026-27 Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) and Unique Abilities (FES-UA)
• Dec 15, 2026Deadline for new 2026-27 students to accept the award in EMA, for the school to enter Quarter 3 enrollment and for the parent to approve it
• Jan 1, 2027Federal scholarship tax credit begins; Florida opted in and Step Up For Students is setting up the administering fund
• Jan 15, 2027Final enrollment date to be considered for any 2026-27 funding for a student not enrolled by the Quarter 3 deadline

Which other private schools are near The First Academy?

The state registry lists 28 private schools in Parramore, Holden Heights & MetroWest; 24 take the Private School Scholarship. See all of them →