Out of Door Academy
Encyclopedia
Out-of-Door Academy is a college preparatory school in Sarasota, Florida
. It serves students in prekindergarten through grade 12 on two campuses in the Sarasota area, one on Siesta Key and one in Lakewood Ranch.
In 2006, Out-of-Door Academy was recognized as a Cum Laude Society School, a distinction reserved for the top 1% of all secondary schools in the United States. Out-of-Door Academy is regularly voted "Best Private School" by Sarasota magazine.
. Classes and free time were spent outside on the school's 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) campus on Siesta Key
, with wooden cabins serving as classrooms during inclement weather and dormitories. Over time, the classes were held indoors. In 1977, the school was purchased by 120 school families and transformed into a nonprofit organization, at which point the school became known as Out-of-Door Academy.
The Lakewood Ranch
campus was established in 1996. Seventh and 8th grades were moved to the new campus in 2000, and in 2008 the campus became known as the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch.
The Out-of-Door Academy is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Florida Kindergarten Council. The school is a member of the Cum Laude Society
, the National Association of Independent Schools
, the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education
.
Construction began in 2008 for a performing arts center at the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch, and the center opened in 2009. Renovation of the Siesta Key campus and construction of new athletic facilities also began in 2008.
, Habitat for Humanity, National Honor Society
, newspaper, Relay for Life
, SADD, science/environmental club, student council, Tri-M Music Honors Society
, stargazing and yearbook. Community service
is required for upper school students.
The Out-of-Door Academy athletic teams, known as the Thunder, compete in interscholastic competition in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, sailing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
. It serves students in prekindergarten through grade 12 on two campuses in the Sarasota area, one on Siesta Key and one in Lakewood Ranch.
In 2006, Out-of-Door Academy was recognized as a Cum Laude Society School, a distinction reserved for the top 1% of all secondary schools in the United States. Out-of-Door Academy is regularly voted "Best Private School" by Sarasota magazine.
History
The Out-of-Door School was established in 1924 by Fanneal Harrison and Catherine Gavin, followers of Belgian progressive education pioneer Ovide DecrolyOvide Decroly
Jean-Ovide Decroly was a Belgian teacher and psychologist.He studied medicine at the University of Ghent, with half a year at the University of Berlin where he studied the action of toxins and antitoxins on general nutrition in 1898...
. Classes and free time were spent outside on the school's 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) campus on Siesta Key
Siesta Key, Florida
Siesta Key is a barrier island off the central western coast of Florida in the United States of America. It is situated between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. A portion of it lies within the city boundary of Sarasota, but the majority of the key is a census-designated place in Sarasota County...
, with wooden cabins serving as classrooms during inclement weather and dormitories. Over time, the classes were held indoors. In 1977, the school was purchased by 120 school families and transformed into a nonprofit organization, at which point the school became known as Out-of-Door Academy.
The Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Lakewood Ranch is an unincorporated master planned community in southeastern Manatee County, Florida, United States, built on part of what was once a timber ranch owned by members of Milwaukee's Uihlein family. It is part of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area...
campus was established in 1996. Seventh and 8th grades were moved to the new campus in 2000, and in 2008 the campus became known as the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch.
The Out-of-Door Academy is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Florida Kindergarten Council. The school is a member of the Cum Laude Society
Cum Laude Society
The Cum Laude Society is an organization that honors scholastic achievement at secondary institutions, similar to the Phi Beta Kappa Society, which honors scholastic achievements at the university level. It was founded in 1906 as the Alpha Delta Tau fraternity and changed its name in the 1950s...
, the National Association of Independent Schools
National Association of Independent Schools
The National Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1963, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boarding, and day/boarding schools; elementary and secondary...
, the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education
Council for Advancement and Support of Education
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a nonprofit association of educational institutions. It serves professionals in the field of educational advancement...
.
Campus
The Siesta Key lower school campus is on the National Register of Historic Places as Out-of-Door School. The 85 acres (343,983.1 m²) Upper School campus is located at Lakewood Ranch.Construction began in 2008 for a performing arts center at the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch, and the center opened in 2009. Renovation of the Siesta Key campus and construction of new athletic facilities also began in 2008.
Curriculum
The academy's curriculum is a balanced liberal arts program that includes math, English, science, social studies, French, Spanish, Latin, music, and arts. Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses are available.Extracurricular activities
Student groups and activities include art club, community service club, drama club, filmmaking, forensicsNational Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
, Habitat for Humanity, National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
, newspaper, Relay for Life
Relay For Life
Relay For Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Originating in the United States, the Relay For Life event has spread to 21 countries. Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and in cyberspace...
, SADD, science/environmental club, student council, Tri-M Music Honors Society
Tri-M
Tri-M Music Honor Society, formerly known as Modern Music Masters, is a high school and middle school music honor society. Each school has its own chapter, which is run by the students but supervised by an advisor or sponsor, usually a school teacher...
, stargazing and yearbook. Community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
is required for upper school students.
The Out-of-Door Academy athletic teams, known as the Thunder, compete in interscholastic competition in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, sailing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.