Montverde, the Orlando suburb, is downright eclectic. With less than 2000 residents, the town sits at the perfect distance between the city and major highways so that nothing is far away while still maintaining that rural charm.
Overall, Montverde has fantastic schools, a phenomenal community, and harbors all the benefits of a small town without sacrificing the comfort that comes along with living and working in a major city like Orlando. At the heart of this town is the famous Montverde Academy – a private school spanning from kindergarten all the way through high school graduation. This school is renowned for creating an engaging and challenging academic environment that inspires students to achieve their best.
Founded in 1912, Montverde Academy is an esteemed college preparatory school, offering day students for grades Pre-K3 through 12, and boarding school in grades 7 to postgraduate studies – an exceptional academic journey on their path to higher learning. Montverde Academy’s beautiful 130-acre campus is just 25 minutes from Orlando. The school’s international character adds an exciting global perspective to its community and the educational experience it provides.
“The mission of Montverde Academy is to inspire students to become leaders with a passion for knowledge, global vision, and innovation while developing character in a nurturing and diverse community,” remarked the prominent Head of School, Dr Kasey C. Kesselring.
The Art of Engaging Minds
At the heart of an MVA experience is an engaging and challenging academic environment that inspires students to achieve at the highest level.
Students have the opportunity to work with teachers in an innovative, college preparatory setting. Fine arts, athletics, school clubs, and service organizations help students develop their talents and abilities both inside and outside of the classroom.
With an average of 17:1 student-faculty ratio, classes are focused on cultivating critical thinking skills, challenging students with new ideas, and encouraging them to do their best both inside and outside of the classroom.
The Scholarly Leader
In 1999, Dr Kesselring was appointed as the seventh Head of School to lead Montverde Academy in its more than 100-year history. This journey has been filled with changes, from the founding of lower and middle school programs to the explosive growth in enrolment from 103 to 1,350 students.
With an investment of more than $60 million, the transformation to the school’s campus and programs have yielded a demanding and challenging academic curriculum that includes more than 30 Advanced Placement® courses, stellar SAT/ACT scores, a 100 percent college matriculation rate to some of the nation’s most competitive colleges and universities, an awardwinning fine arts program featuring two conservatory programs, seven different Study Area Concentration (SAC) diploma programs, and state and nationally recognized athletic programs.
Holistic Development
AP Classes – Whether it is in science, mathematics, the humanities, or the arts, students of Montverde Academy excel in a wide range of college-level coursework. With a qualifying rate on advanced placement examinations that far exceeds state and national averages – 84 percent, compared to 54 percent in Florida and 60 percent globally – the students enter college well-prepared for continued academic excellence. The school has confirmed 34 AP classes for this upcoming academic year.
SAC Programs – Students can choose and participate in a complete plan of study that leads to a specialized diploma degree in one of seven areas once they have selected a particular area of interest. These students collaborate with professors in extra study and execute a capstone project during their senior year in the STEM (five focuses), business innovation, or global perspective areas.
Community Service – The school’s students know that one’s character is defined by his/her relationships with others. Giving back matters, and each Upper School student volunteers at least 25 hours every year in the community through the school’s partnerships with organizations such as Give Kids the World, the Johan Cruyff Foundation, and Night for the Cure.
46 Clubs and Societies – In addition to honor societies such as the National Honor Society and the Cum Laude Society, students are engaged in a diverse group of clubs and societies that reflect their wide-ranging interests – from Key Club to knitting, to computers, to recycling, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Athletics – The Montverde Academy Eagles have won 16 national championships and earn more than $5 million in athletic scholarships annually. With nearly 30 percent of the student-athletes committing to playing sports in college, the school is proud to have more than 50 alumni playing sports professionally. Montverde Academy has built an outstanding, championship-winning athletics program, with competitive teams led by experienced coaches, former athletes, and skilled trainers who work to ensure that student-athletes reach their highest potential.
Fine Arts – The Montverde Academy Fine Arts programs allow talented students to focus on their passion for music, theatre, and the arts. Media arts have earned four National Student Emmys and a Scholastic Gold Medal since 2019. The school’s theatre has produced 15 shows since 2018, earned 12 Critic’s Choice awards, and 93 Superior Ratings at District ITS contests, six Top Honors at State ITS and 20 Dr Phillips Center Applause Awards. The music
program has staged 17 all-state musicians, two all-national vocalists, and three musicians who earned the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall.
College Prep at Montverde
Montverde Academy maintains a 100 percent college acceptance rate with the help of its dedicated ‘College Guidance’ office. Students are accepted into over 75 colleges and universities every year including Ivy League institutions. The students go on to pursue careers in law, medicine, professional athletics, professional theatre and music, education, business, science, politics, technology, and more.
A Class Apart
As an international boarding school, Montverde Academy typically hosts approximately 90 nations as represented throughout the student body. Students speak Portuguese, French, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, English, Thai, Japanese, Swedish, Finnish, Arabic, and more. The Academy also has alumni that take their skills to the professional level on stage and in sports like baseball, basketball, soccer, golf.
A Household Name
Over 70 percent of the faculty and staff hold advanced degrees, reflecting their commitment to education and being part of a community of learners. The athletics teams have won several national championships while the Fine Arts department has earned countless ‘Applause’ awards throughout their tenure.
Pandemic Rush
Montverde Academy has risen to the challenge despite being an international boarding school with a less than one percent infection rate throughout the onset of the pandemic. Swivel technology, advanced cleaning systems, and temperature check technology were all integrated into the school management system.
Striving for Excellence
With the current creation of its ‘Educational Technology and Innovation Centre’ and newly build Middle School, Montverde Academy is constantly striving to provide exceptional educational experiences in state-of-the-art facilities. Its faculty and staff are constantly involving technology in the curriculum and finding additional ways to engage the minds of their students.
