Florida Air Academy

This is the second year for both of my daughters. As a parent I appreciate all of the support given to my girls by the teachers and the staff. The communication with parents by the staff is excellent, the class size is kept small and the teachers care about the welfare of my girls. I would recommend Florida Air to anyone looking for a quality school with educators that lead children and care about their welfare.
—Submitted by a parent

Florida Air Academy is a fantastic school! My son began going there during his Freshman year and was actually already slated to attend a local public school, but after touring FAA, changed his mind. Small class sizes, caring and attentive faculty, and a challeging cirriculum make it the perfect fit for him. I would recommend Florida Air Academy to anyone!
—Submitted by a parent

I must admit that moving my daughter to Floridsa Air Academy in 7th grade was a gamble. She needed structure, but I'd been leaning more to a Christian Academy, she on the other hand thought Floridia Air was "the one" after spending a day there as a "shadow" student. That was a major step forward for us. After 2 years she still loves it, and so do I ... the classes remain small and we know all her classmates, and her teachers. Due to the school's small size, and mixed ages throughout the girls dorms, many of the older students are also involved in my daughters life and guide her on many personal issues .. things she thinks I'm too old to understand! She has a good moral compass as a result... Its difficult for us as a family to have her away from home, but I believe she is better off away from her former school where sexting and peer pressure to "act out" were the norm. Academically she's keeping up well, the study hall in the evening is a godsend as far as I'm concerned ... homework was always such an issue and now she justs accepts it as a given.. my only downside ... she just does not call me enough!
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended FAA for 7 years, graduating in 2011. I sent him there for many reasons. Dedicated male influence (staff and tactical officers), dedicated teachers, small classes and an environment that would help him cultivate both stateside and international contacts that would benefit him for the rest of his life. My son was not an easy, cooperative student. Just 2 points shy of brilliant he chose to fight the system rather than embrace it. The teachers & staff at FAA NEVER gave up on him. My deciding moment was after the graduation ceremony. We were back at school, collecting belongings and doing final paperwork. Someone pulled the fire alarm. Almost everyone ignored it, thinking it was a prank; From this tall, skinny frame covered in dress blues beside me came the deepest, strongest, most commanding voice I have ever heard. All eyes focused on him. He moved over 100 people a safe distance away from the building and held their attention until the alarm was cleared and then cleared the way for them to re-enter the Hall of Flags. I have never been more proud in my life and know that the environment, officers, staff and teachers at FAA cultivated his ability to do what he did.
—Submitted by a parent

I was in tears at the 8th grade graduation. There was such a great feeling of caring for the students...because it's a small school, they really get to know the kids, and staff and teachers REALLY care, not only about academic success but how the kid is doing overall. Kids who aren't "cool" are accepted and recognized here for their unique achievements in a way I've never seen at another school. Talking with other parents afterwards, their kids also are thiving in this atmosphere. This school brings out the best in a kid and the expectations are high. A girl gave a speech about the school and it was so touching and sincere. She has been motivated here to go from an okay student to a really good one. Of course no school is going to be successful with every single kid, but from what I've seen, the vast majority of kids here thrive. They are doing a lot of renovation to the dorms, and the campus is really beautiful. No metal roofs and cinderblock buildings.
—Submitted by a parent

our son just finished 6th grade at Florida Air Academy. Teachers are caring, professional and go out of there way to help all kids and communicate with parents. Sports, activities such as their recent trip to St. Augustine all made his experience and ours extraordinary. We are thrilled. He will be back for 7th grade. Thank you FAA!
—Submitted by a parent

We enrolled our daughter at FLAIR for the 2011 summer program after her seventh grade in public school. After five weeks at FLAIR, her interests were expanded and her youthful behavior was noticeably improved. She asked to return for her eighth grade year. Although we were concerned about her being away from home, after careful consideration, we agreed. Now, after completing her eighth grade at FLAIR, she has gained self-esteem and self-discipline that she was unable to acquire while living at home and attending public school. Her academic performance and overall attitude are dramatically improving. She flourishes in the small classes and individual attention. We are pleased that FLAIR keeps us well informed about her progress via online grade information. If she fails to turn-in homework, we are alerted. She is given mandatory teacher help, and she is also required to attend supervised study hall to complete her missing assignment. Needless to say, she has become consistent in turning her homework in. We believe that FLAIR provides the much needed structure and camaraderie that a teenager needs while providing high quality educational experiences.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended FAA from 8th-12th grade; graduating as Valedictorian with full Bright Futures. Due to small classes, dedicated staff my son has become a successful, self-motivated young man. He had the opportunity of making lasting relationships with students from around the world and is still in contact with his friends from Korea, Russia and Puerto Rico. My daughter currently attends Florida Air Academy. She wanted to attend FAA from the time her brother attended. She had to wait until FAA went co-ed (2005) and until she was old enough. She currently is in 8th grade and has the opportunity to also take some high school honor classes. She also enjoys having friends literally from around the world. As you can see FAA is not a "BAD KID" school. In fact both my kids "wanted to attend" FAA and are true success stories. I couldn't imagine them going anywhere else. We have many students here that are true success stories...the students at FAA want to be at FAA.
—Submitted by a parent

Dedicated staff. Supportive college/guidance for seniors. Very helpful in complicated college process. Muti-cultural environment makes this school unique. Responsive administration, caring environmment.
—Submitted by a parent

As a 10 year employee of this school, I am shocked by the negative, untrue comments posted here. I challenge anyone to find a more dedicated and supportive staff than we have here at FAA. Every child here is known by name by a multitude of people who speak to them each and every day to inquire about their day, schoolwork, important events in their lives, etc. Compare that to public school where a single student is but one of many. Along with receiving top quality education, our students are taught to be good citizens of our school, community and the world. This year our students have donated hundreds of hours volunteering in our community feeding the homeless, raising money for breast cancer awareness, autism awareness, epilepsy research, and countless other altruistic endeavors. And yes, we do prepare students for college success with our AP classes, dual enrollment opportunities, and highly motivated staff.
—Submitted by a teacher

The last review is simply not true. The school would have no students if it were like that. Hazing is not tolerated and the students are not allowed to discipline other students....adults do that. The level of student has never been higher and they just got ANOTHER kid into Harvard. There are many high achievers here but they are good with kids who need some extra help too. It's really irresponsible to trash a school anonymously, so they can't respond. I have been a parent for years and the kids are much nicer than I found at other schools in the area.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended this school, I was very unhappy with things I discovered after enrollment. Many children are there to avoid court discipline, there are too many troubled teens in attendance. I found this school to be a place for rich undesireable children who can not make it in a traditional school setting. Secrets are kept by administration who allow older students to HAZE younger students and apply discipline as they see fit. Please research this school extensively before considering it for your child, I was glad to get mine out with only minor physical and mental damage after only a few months.
—Submitted by a parent

My son's a boarding student and he is doing great. His dorm supervisor (tac officer) is wonderful. The conditions have improved and his room was recently renovated. He is happy here. He loves the food....new food service company, run by a chef. His grades have really come up....campus is really pretty.....
—Submitted by a parent

I have worked at Florida Air Academy for 4 years now and feel that I have to chime in. FAA is an ever evolving school with a singular goal of getting students into decent colleges. It is all college prep combined with the best elements of it's military tradition. This is not a school for "bad boys". This is not boot camp. We have a very active JROTC program but we do not make little soliders. We are dedicated to providing a solid education to each and everyone of our day and boarding students. I invite anyone to visit our campus and take a look at the faces of the kids as the move from class to class. These are not unhappy children. Here's what we do best: We take a student who isn't achieving their potential and we strive to keep them focused on what really counts. I give us a 4 star rating only beacuase, as an ever evolving school....we can always do better.
—Submitted by a teacher

I'm very surprised at the last review. My son attends the school and I can say for sure that they take a very firm stance on anything approaching bullying. The school has indeed lessened its military emphasis, but not at the expense of discipline and the code of honor. You will no longer see the mis-fits and "bad-boys" that ended up at a military school as a last resort. Instead you'll see self-motivated kids looking to get into great colleges, many on full scholarships. I love the atmosphere of school events, from 6th through 12th grade everyone attends and participates, that includes staff. As to their qualifications they may be young but they are enthusiastic and go way further than any "experienced" staff member I met in the district Public Schools. I'd recommend FAA without hesitation, and do so on a regular basis!
—Submitted by a parent

Just recently, there began a power struggle between the staff. The school can't figure out whether to be military or just a private school. There is hardly anything military about the school now. Boarding conditions are attrocious, but don't blame the maintenance crew (all 6 of them). Blame the powers above them. There are SERIOUS issues with bullying, and the adults rarely do anyhting to help. The cuts from the staff has also made it more difficult for the students to be supervised on a regular basis. Drugs and alcohol aren't as rampant as they used to be, and they're not as bad as local public schools. Sex and intimate relationships are the same. The rules on PDA have been relaxed. The school also began to struggle financially, and let go of most of the decent teachers. They started to hire young teachers who had no idea what they were getting themselves into. So academics has taken a tumble. A cadet even had to teach a Calculas class for part of the year in 2010. Food has improved greatly. FAA has tried to bring more of a community feel to the school recently, and I would say it has paid off. Sadly, FAA isn't the school it used to be, but it's not going back anytime soon.

Do not make the same mistake as I did; don't send your kids here. This school claims to accept kids with ADHD however they have no idea how to teach these type of children. They would not comply with suggestions from her psychologist. If your child is the "standard " student they may do well here. My daughter was constantly coming home saying people had been expelled for smoking pot, running away, lighting squirrels on fire. The kids are not supervised well enough. They have study hall every night. Which means they sit in their dorm rooms and facebook and text oops I mean study all by themselves. This school is a joke for 40K don't waste your money. The biggest waste of money!
—Submitted by a parent

I challenge a public school student/parent to spend an afternoon with us. Just eating lunch in the dining hall amongst teachers, administrators, and students is a wholly different experience than public school. If you are looking for a safe, friendly, and rigorous education than this the place to be.
—Submitted by a teacher

Florida Air has cut costs but in favor of better teachers in my opinion. I get weekly reports from my son's teachers and the college admissions counselor has already taken the time to work with my son on his admissions material even though he's a junior. I don't think the previous reviewer way very fair. Most of the parents that have left did so because they couldn't get financial aid and were mad at the school. It's private school so don't expect a handout
—Submitted by a parent

FAA was a great school several years ago when my daughter attended, but am taking steps now to pull my nephew out. They are undergoing tremendous financial turmoil and it is very evident. Most of the quality staff has been replaced with new teachers, fresh out of college (cheaper pay?), weekend supervision has been taken over by teachers already overextended....could go on and on!
—Submitted by a parent