Who We Are

Ocala Preparatory Academy is a K-12 private school located in SW Ocala, FL, founded in 2016. We provide holistic education: development & engagement of all aspects of the learner, including mind, body, and spirit. Our students enjoy hands on learning and learning with their peers. We are a faith based (Christian) private school.

We believe that physical activity, during the instructional day, assists with the learning process. Consequently, all K-12 students go outside, either to enjoy learning in a different environment or to participate in various intramural sports, activities, and games. As a result, our students are inspired to learn and excel! 

Our students thrive in our small classes, offering hands on, project based and holistic options whenever possible. Students are offered opportunities to work independently, in peer groups, or on team-based projects.  Student-centered learning is a focal point of our education model. Furthermore, we believe in teaching students to be self-directed, enthusiastic and invested in the learning process. 

 

What is Holistic Faith Based Education?

Holistic Faith Based Education means that we educate children to become well-rounded and confident adults. Our caring staff focuses on the development of the emotional, social, spiritual, and cognitive wellbeing of each student. Educating the whole child means that our focus is not just on students passing tests or getting smarter (though that does occur in an environment where student's social and emotional development is key).

Our focus is on creating well-rounded, happy, and spiritually uplifted students. We educate and develop the whole student. Educating our students is important, but it is equally important to focus on overall good health (eating healthy foods, drinking water, getting lots of outside time/sunshine, positive affirmations, and more), spiritual development and positive relationships (friends, family, our caring staff).

 

We embrace a caring classroom culture and engage our students with experiential learning. See below for information on our curriculum.

 

Lab School/Lab Classroom

From our inception, we have always considered ourselves a “Lab School”. What is a Lab School?

“A Lab School is designed to test and develop new educational models and  incubate new ideas. The concept is that we are creating new schools that themselves are laboratories of innovation,” says Brian Greenberg, chief executive officer of the Silicon Schools Fund, a nonprofit that funds lab schools. These schools “pilot new approaches to teaching, create new curriculum and work on increasing students’ autonomy and agency of their own education,” he says.

Our continued commitment is to offer our enrolled students the opportunity to learn and grow in the least restrictive environment (whenever possible). Moving into the 24-25 Instructional Year, we have created a “lab classroom” to start this process. Once we have perfected this method in our lab classroom, our goal is to offer this opportunity to more classrooms in the 25-26 Instructional Year and moving forward. Our goal for our lab classroom is that students needing additional academic supports will be included with peers working on the same grade level. A paraprofessional will be in the classroom to provide these supports alongside the classroom teacher. Our long-range goal is that students of all academic abilities will have the opportunity to participate in the least restrictive classroom, and be included in meaningful activities, and social events. Research has shown that inclusion enhances the overall learning experience for all students by promoting empathy, understanding, and collaboration. By embracing students that need additional academic supports,(alongside those that are working on grade level or are working above grade level), we are opening the door to endless possibilities, where your child can thrive and reach his/her full potential in a supportive environment.

That being said, we have found our method of holistic, faith-based learning truly works for our enrolled students! We provide brain breaks for kids, hands on activities, reliance on God through prayer and thoughtful introspection, science experiments and more. Our version of a lab school or lab classroom means that we are constantly seeking the best way to connect with our students to create the best learning environment possible. Learning should be enjoyable but reading, writing and arithmetic must be mastered along the way too.

 

Curriculum

Engaging curriculum and discussion are a part of our holistic approach to education. We use an infusion of different types of curricula to meet the diverse needs of our student population. At the inception of Ocala Preparatory Academy (2016-2018), we asked parents on our admissions application if they would be comfortable with using faith based (Christian) curriculum when this was the best option for our students. In 2023, we became a faith based school officially to reflect our relationship with our God, Johovah.

Choices in curriculum are made based on the diverse needs of our students. There is not one curriculum that works for all our students, so we will always use the curriculum that best suits each classroom, which is geared toward holistic and hands on approaches to learning whenever possible.

If we find curriculum that we feel is a good fit for students that is faith based, we will select the faith-based option.

Some of curriculum choices offered in our classrooms for the 24-25 instructional year are as follows: Abeka, Treasures, Open Court, & Wonders, alongside our hands on, project-based assignments. Please see pictures of the fun learning opportunities we provide our students through our website.

Limited enrollment is offered to allow for this holistic approach to education. 

 

 

Our History 

In December 2015, after lots of prayer and mindfulness, our parent company, OASN started the process to open Ocala Preparatory Academy. After being in two smaller offices, we were excited to move to our current building in March 2016. This move was done as a huge leap of our faith by our board members that our executive director would be able to raise the funds to be able to stay in our current building long term. We have since outgrown this building and need a larger space. We appreciate your prayers and donations to find our build a larger building. 

We didn’t have much but we were able to start year one (2016-2017 instructional year) of Ocala Preparatory Academy with books that were purchased (and some donated-we are so grateful!) from a Catholic school in Gainesville that was moving their curriculum to iPads.

 

Non Denominational Statement of Purpose

Ocala Preparatory Academy (OPA) is a non denominational private school that abides by Christian principles in all that we do:

Believe

OPA students are taught to live out Christian principles at school, home, and in the world.

Learn

We look at our students holistically and ask for God's direction in all that we do. Our small class sizes and holistic approach help us to achieve this daily goal of supporting each student's success.

Lead

OPA students are taught the importance of their character, morality and integrity. We are mindful of this in our daily prayers with our students and in our morning staff meetings.

Serve

OPA students are taught that they have a greater purpose in life. Through mindful prayer and instruction, our staff helps guide our students to learn what their true purpose is.

 

Student Testimonials

We asked our students what they love about our school and why we need to expand. Here are a few of our student testimonials starting with elementary students and ending with our high school students (grades levels noted are for the 2022-2023 instructional year):

"This school made me realize how much I needed relationships. There is so much support from the teachers and staff. I love them so very much. They have done so much and they need to franchise this school for kids everywhere! Thank you so much, good bye. L.M. (initials) elementary school student that has moved.

"This school helps me learn without my ADHD stopping me!" J.L. (initials) elementary school student

"The teachers are nice and amazing. The teachers make it easier to get better grades. You get help when you need it. The people (students) are really nice". S.J. (initials) elementary school student

"This school has done a lot for me and in my opinion, I feel like they have done more for me than other schools. I could definitely tell that the teachers care about students' mentality and recognize the balance for what is "too much" and what is "just right". My knowledge certainly went up and I'm shocked to find myself at a point where I have almost straight A's! This is something I have never received before. I understand we need a larger building and I want to expand this place to have more classrooms and educate more students" L.E. (initials)-middle school student 

"What I like about being a student here is that I love how the teachers help you with the subjects until you understand. The staff is nice and polite. In other schools, I never got treated with respect or kindness but when I came to this school., I felt safe and treated with respect and kindness. The students here are chill, funny and nice. The staff are always looking after you and asking if you need anything. The teachers and staff are calm and treat you with respect. This is why this is my favorite school. One thing that would be a blessing is that we could get a larger building with more space for a lunch room, activities and a gym." N.C. (initials)-middle school student

"What I like about this school is having a great teacher and people (staff) that like to help us. I like going outside and playing with friends and doing fun things with other people (students). That is why I love this school! " L.M.G. (initials)- middle school student 

"What I like about this school is that they have made me feel like you are home, it is like family here. They have the best teachers and staff. I like that it is small, more calm and you feel safe but I do think the school needs to expand. I would really appreciate it if people could donate so that my school can get bigger and provide more academics for more kids. I am so happy I found this school. O.C. (initials) middle school student 

"For the past two years I have been here, I have met many great friends along the way and many teachers have taught me a lot of things for my life's future. Without this school. I never would have gotten to where I am now. Thank you so much, Mrs. Karen!"  T.J. (initials) middle school student 

"The reason I like being here is because it is nothing like my other school. For example: The hours are shorter, the teachers are nice, and when I am not feeling well, Mrs. Karen is here for me and helps me with my homework. I do not know where I would be right now if I was not here." C.D. (initials) high school student

"I like being at this school because my old school did not pay attention to me when I needed help with my work." B.N. (initials)-high school student 

 

Florida Department of Education Requirements

 

In compliance with Florida statue, our teachers meet one (or more) of the following requirements:

 

-Three or more years of public and/or private school teaching. 

-Special skills, knowledge, or expertise that qualifies them to provide instruction in subjects taught.

-Baccalaureate Degree (BA or BS) or higher.

 

 

 

Ocala Preparatory Academy meets all Florida Department of Education requirements to participate in state scholarship programs. Click here for these requirements. Additionally, Ocala Preparatory Academy meets the requirements set forth by the Department of Education to be listed in their directory of private schools. Click here for these requirements. Below are the graduation requirements for Florida-24-Credit Standard Diploma (subject to legislative changes)

Expansion Plans

We are searching for a larger building with a minimum of 7500 square feet and 2 acres land, zoned B2 or PUD preferably (we would also consider land donation or shared use with a church or faith-based organization). Contact our executive or associate director if you are able to donate land or a building in SW Ocala.