The King's Academy is a National Blue Ribbon, college-preparatory, Christian preschool, elementary, and secondary school located in West Palm Beach, Florida. The school serves families with students from age one to twelfth grade on campuses located in Palm Beach County. Established in 1970, it is run by an independent board of governors.
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History
The King's Academy was founded by a group of Christian business leaders in August 1970 and opened on the campus of Belvedere Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. In 1971, the school purchased a 20-acre campus on Cherry Road where it remained until the 2004 school year. In August 2005, The King's Academy moved to its current 60 acre location at Belvedere Road and Sansbury's Way in Palm Beach County, Florida. In 2010, the school opened a second high school location on Caribbean Avenue in Clewiston, Florida. In 2017, this high school was sold to Clewiston Christian School.
Since 1970, four presidents have overseen the day-to-day operations of the school: Kye Harris (1970-74), M. Nelson Loveland (1974-99), Jeffrey M. Loveland (1999-2016), and Randal L. Martin (2016-present). Since the school's inception, six chairs of the board of governors have served: M. Nelson Loveland (1970-74), Lloyd Prouty (1974-75), Stanley F. Frederick (1975-87), Gene Martin (1987-93), David Fiebig (1993-2006), and Clyde S. Meckstroth (2006-present).
National awards and recognition
The King's Academy has received a number of national honors, including:
1986: The school received national recognition for excellence in education from President Ronald Reagan and U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett as one of the top 60 private schools in the country.
1988: The band performed at the White House during President Ronald Reagan's term.
1989: On January 20th, the school's band students were selected to play for President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle at their inaugural parade.
2000: The school's fine arts students performed the world amateur premiere of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
2007: Christian school researcher Dr. Gene Frost cited the school as one of the seven best Christian schools in America in his book, Learning from the Best: Growing Greatness in the Christian School.
2013: The school's fine arts students performed the world premiere of Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (an English adaptation of the German-language musical Der Glöckner von Notre Dame).
2014: Dr. Frost reiterated the school's top seven national ranking.
2014: Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education for President Barack Obama, named the school a National Blue Ribbon School as an Exemplary High Performing School; one of 50 private schools to receive the honor.
2015: The National Football League named the school to its Super Bowl High School Honor Roll.
2016: The school's musical theatre program was named one of the nation's five best by the American High School Theatre Festival, winning the award for its performance of "Jekyll & Hyde."
2016: The school's boys golf team won a national championship at the Antigua National High School Golf Invitational in Scottsdale, Arizona; defeating the Utah state champion team by 11 strokes, the Arizona champion by 15 strokes, and the Illinois winner by 25 strokes.
2017: The school's choir and dance students were selected to perform for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at their inaugural concert.
2017: The school's competitive cheerleading team earned National Grand Champion honors, defeating all teams, at the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders ("FCC") National Championships in Orlando, Florida.
2017: For a second time, the school's musical theatre program was named one of the nation's five best by the American High School Theatre Festival, winning the award for its performance of "Les Miserables."
2018: The school's competitive cheerleading team earned National Grand Champion honors for a second time, defeating all teams, at the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders ("FCC") National Championships in Orlando, Florida.
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Academic profile
The King's Academy offers a college preparatory program for students from preschool to 12th grade. The King's Academy is fully accredited by four accrediting bodies: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, AdvancED, the Association of Christian Schools International and the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. The school's most recent re-accreditation study was completed in 2013 and resulted in an extension of the school's accreditation through 2018.
Secondary School
The King's Academy's secondary school educates students from 7th to 12th grade. On average, 99% of The King's Academy's graduates enter college, with 96% of graduates matriculating into a four-year university or college. Other graduates commit to service in the United States military branches. The King's Academy offers 22 Advanced Placement courses and 21 hours of dual enrollment credits in partnership with Palm Beach Atlantic University. In 2017, the school's senior class (121 graduates) received college scholarships worth $7.3 million. Recent graduates of the school have been accepted by selective universities including Harvard University, Yale University, Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Air Force Academy, Duke University, Florida State University, Georgetown University, University of North Carolina, New York University, University of Florida, and Vanderbilt University.
Business Magnet Program
In 2013, the school established a business track for high school students. Business-minded students can earn a certificate of completion by taking electives in American entrepreneurship, economics, ethics, foreign language, marketing and statistics; while being a member of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA-PBL).
STEM Magnet Program
In 2015, the school established a STEM magnet program for high school and elementary students, offering an academically-rigorous science, technology, engineering and math curriculum. Students that complete the STEM track receive a certificate of completion.
Pre-Law Magnet Program
In 2016, the school established a pre-law track for high school students. Students interested in the field of law can earn a certificate of completion by taking six electives in law-related classes including Introduction to Law, Constitutional Law, Business Law I and II, Criminal Law, and Oral & Written Advocacy.
Sports Medicine Magnet Program
In 2017, the school established a sports medicine track for high school students. Students interested in the field of athletic training can earn a certificate of completion by taking five electives in sports medicine-related classes including First Aid & Safety, Care & Prevention of Athletic Injuries, Health Explorations I Honors, Health Explorations II Honors, and Anatomy and Physiology Honors.
Christian Ministry Magnet Program
In 2017, the school established a christian ministry track for high school students. Students interested in a future career in ministry can earn a certificate of completion by enrolling and successfully completing three advanced biblical electives including Interpreting the Bible, Introduction to Christian Ministry, and Evangelism and Apologetics.
Elementary school
The King's Academy's elementary school educates students from pre-Kindergarten to 6th grade. The school's elementary students' average scores ranked in the top 15 percent of private schools nationally for 2013 and 2014 academic standardized testing; qualifying the school as a Blue Ribbon Elementary School according to the U.S. Department of Education. As a result, the school was named a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School. In addition to academic subjects, the School's elementary program provides instruction in art, band, cognitive development, Latin, music appreciation, physical education, Spanish, science laboratory, technology and vocal music. Optional after-school extracurricular activities are offered for athletic and fine arts development.
Athletics
The King's Academy's Lions athletics program competes in the following sports: Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Swimming, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
As a full member of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), the school fields approximately 50 boys and girls teams in 23 FHSAA-sanctioned varsity sports. In 2014, The King's Academy joined the independent Southeastern Football Conference for football only.
Team championships
In 1992, The King's Academy's baseball team defeated Tallahassee Maclay for the school's first Florida state championship, and won another state title in 2001. The King's Academy volleyball team won the Florida state title in 1993, in 1994, and again in 2006. The King's Academy competitive cheerleading team won five consecutive FHSAA state championships from 2010 to 2014.
In 2016, The King's Academy's boys' golf team won the school's first national championship at the Antigua National High School Golf Invitational in Scottsdale, Arizona. The school's competitive cheerleading team earned National Grand Champion and FHSAA Public School Champion honors at the 2017 and 2018 FCC National Championships in Orlando, Florida.
In all, varsity teams competing for The King's Academy have won 118 FHSAA district championships, 37 FHSAA regional titles, 10 FHSAA state championships, and 3 national championships:
(*) National title. (**) State runner-up. (^) FCC Division championship. (^^) Southeastern Football Conference championship.
Individual Championships
While competing for The King's Academy, student-athletes have won 26 individual state and national athletic titles in track, swimming, and golf:
(*) National champion.
Athletic facilities
The King's Academy's football, soccer and lacrosse teams play home games on campus at Kahlert Stadium, a lighted, natural turf facility with seating for 1,500 fans. Lion and Lady Lion volleyball and basketball teams compete in the M. Nelson Loveland Athletic Center's gymnasium, which houses a game court and two practice courts and has seating for 800 spectators. The School's property also contains lighted baseball and softball fields, a track and field facility with seating for 300, six competition tennis courts and a USATF certified 5-K cross-country course. In 2015, the school built the Full-Page Aquatic Center, comprising a 25-meter competition swimming pool and pool house, for use by its swimming teams.
On-campus athletic training facilities include a field house with weight and athletic training rooms, a covered basketball and volleyball pavilion, a golf practice facility, and three prescription athletic turf practice fields (football, multi-purpose and lacrosse). In all, The King's Academy maintains 15 acres of natural turf fields for its athletic program.
Conservatory of the Arts
The King's Academy offers a comprehensive arts education to its preschool through high school students. Students perform in Broadway-style musicals, His People and His Voice choirs, jazz, concert and marching bands, percussion, strings and dance ensembles, visual arts, broadcasting, film and digital arts, and stagecraft. They can also earn diploma distinctions in theatre arts, instrumental arts, vocal arts, dance arts, visual arts, and digital arts. In 2016 and 2017, the school's conservatory program was ranked in the top five schools nationally by the American High School Theatre Festival.
Kidservatory
Pre-kindergarten through third grade students are taught music theory and receive beginning vocal training. They also participate in basic visual art classes.
Junior Conservatory
Students in fourth through eighth grade are given the opportunity to enroll and perform in theatre arts, instrumental arts including piano laboratory, vocal arts and dance arts classes and shows.
Theatre Arts
In April 2013, the school's students performed the world premiere of Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (an English adaptation of the German-language musical Der Glöckner von Notre Dame). This performance was made in collaboration with Walt Disney Executive Studios. After viewing the performance, Disney executive Brian Turwilliger commented, "The story was so beautifully crafted and displayed in new and fresh ways." He explained that Disney will now offer The Hunchback of Notre Dame to be performed at other schools and amateur theaters, as it did with Beauty and the Beast after another Disney-The King's Academy collaboration in 2000 resulted in the world amateur stage premiere of the musical.
In 2015, the school's production of The Sound of Music was featured on an episode of ABC News' 20/20. The school's production of Jekyll & Hyde earned a 2016 top high school musical theatre program award from the American High School Theatre Festival and an invitation to perform Les Miserables at the 2017 Fringe Festival in London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland. In 2017, the school earned a second top theatre program award for its productions of "Les Miserables" and "Funny Girl."
Other recent stage productions have included:
Instrumental Arts
The King's Academy offers instrumental classes for elementary students starting with beginning band in 5th grade and intermediate band in 6th grade. Secondary students may choose to continue their studies in the school's concert and symphonic bands. The King's Academy also offers classes in woodwinds, percussion and strings.
The King's Regiment
The school's marching and parade band, The King's Regiment (formerly known as the Marching Lions) is a 3-time state runner-up (2008, 2010 and 2012) in Class A at the Florida Marching Band Championships. In 2013, the Marching Lions finished 10th in the nation (Class A) at the Bands of America's Grand National Championships, held at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium.
Recent performances by The King's Regiment have included:
Prior performances by the Marching Lions included:
Notable alumni
- Heath Evans, NFL player and NFL Network host
- Lauren Jelencovich, singer
- Emmanuel Lamur, NFL player
- Sammuel Lamur, AFL player
- Colt Morton, MLB catcher
- Rachel Rossin, artist
- Emin Toro, U.S. Tax Court Judge
Notable faculty
- Keith Allen, STEM faculty chair and head football coach
- Brad Wilkerson, head baseball coach
Campus
The King's Academy is located on approximately 60 acres at the northeast corner of Belvedere Road and Sansbury's Way in Palm Beach County, Florida. Most of the campus was constructed in 2005 and consists of 15 buildings (Lower Elementary, Administration, Upper Elementary, High School Administration, High School Science, High School Education, M. Nelson Loveland Athletic Center, Elementary Music, Cafeteria, Rosemary Beaumont Library, Field House, Bus Garage/Maintenance, Events Center (completed in 2012), Full-Page Aquatic Center (completed in 2015), and Page Family Center for Performing Arts (completed in 2017)) encompassing approximately 215,000 square feet.
In 2015, the school added Studio 70, a television broadcasting facility.
Remote locations
The school also operates The King's Academy Preschool at remote locations in Boynton Beach, Greenacres, Loxahatchee, Palm Beach Gardens, and Royal Palm Beach, Florida; at the Boynton Beach Community Church, Church in the Palms' Community Center, Trinity West Church, Cross Community Church, and Connect Church of Royal Palm, respectively.
Online learning
In 2010, The King's Academy established an internet-based school for middle and high school students called The King's Academy Online. The online program offers approximately 140 courses, with advanced placement courses and dual enrollment credits from Christian institutions including Indiana Wesleyan University and Taylor University.
During the 2012-13 school year, two of The King's Academy Online's students, in 6th and 8th grades respectively, completed a 67,000 mile trip to all 50 American states and five of 10 Canadian provinces while enrolled. Their accomplishment was featured on the Today show.
Publications
The King's Academy publishes student-produced elementary (EL) and high school (HS) yearbooks (both named The Sceptre) annually, monthly student-written newspapers (Roar, formerly The Lion Ledger and The Scroll) and semi-annual magazines (The Chronicle). During the school year, the school also issues a weekly online edition of TKA E-News.
From 2014 to 2016, the school's yearbook program was named a Jostens National Yearbook Program of Excellence.
References
External links
- Official Website: The King's Academy - West Palm Beach
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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