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About Focus Academy

 

Our History & Mission

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Established in 2012, Focus Academy is the dream of a small group of parents of children with special needs. The parents envisioned a school where their child would have the same high school experience as their typical peers., a place where they would feel completely valued and supported. The parents desired a school environment where their student was prepared for academic, social and workplace success. Partnering with professionals in the special needs community, the dream became a reality. 

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Our mission:

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  • To provide our students with an educational community where they feel valued, supported and successful
     

  • To create a learning environment where academic success is expected
     

  • To provide our students with rich and varied opportunities for individual development; social interaction and connection; relationship building and social emotional growth
     

  • To provide our students with the necessary tools to move beyond the classroom and to become active members of the community
     

  • To prepare our students to live the most independent and meaningful lives possible.

 

Tuition-free specialized program

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Focus Academy is a State of Florida public charter school. and does not charge tuition for attendance. Charter schools are held to stringent education standards and teacher certification requirements. 

 

In the most recent School Improvement Ratings released by the state for the 2018-19 school year, Focus Academy was rated as "Commendable," the highest achievable rating for special education charter schools. This means that a majority of Focus Academy students made gains of one achievement level or more on their Florida State Alternate Assessment (FSAA) or End of Course (EOC) exams in math and English.

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These gains do not include the number of students who increased in points but did not make enough growth to be included in the overall percentages. Even more impressive: Focus Academy is the only charter ESE school in Hillsborough County to receive this high rating for the 2018-19 school year.

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Focus Academy student playing drums
Focus Academy student playing drums
Focus Academy student playing drums
Apply now or call 813.443.5558 for more information.
Focus Academy student playing drums

Mission Statement

Focus Academy is a charter Middle School, High School, and Transition Program for students ages 11 - 22 who are entitled to services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and have, or are eligible for, a Transitional Individualized Education Plan (T/IEP). Our mission is to provide a proactive, relationship-based, environmental approach to learning. Focus Academy considers each student’s social, emotional and educational needs. Focus Academy offers our students rich and varied opportunities for individual development, social interaction and connection, relationship building and social-emotional growth, providing them with the necessary tools to move beyond the classroom and to become active members of the community.

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Vision Statement

Focus Academy’s vision is to provide students ages 11 - 22, with cognitive, developmental and social skill challenges, with a unique educational community where they feel valued, supported, connected and successful, to enable them to grow beyond their perceived limits in order to live the most independent and meaningful lives possible.

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