Financial Aid 101: Finding the Right Value for You

Words by Deborah Pitcairn, Director of College Counseling Every student and family has its particular goals and priorities regarding the pursuit of higher education. Some are concerned more with career training goals and getting a job in their field as soon as they graduate. Others aspire to a broader, liberal arts experience and degree that […]
Writing Your Way In: How to Write a Memorable College Admissions Essay
Words by Kim Vreeland, Director of Marketing and Communications Ask high school juniors (and their parents) what’s on their minds, and they’ll likely share their concern about the college application process. Over nearly three decades of teaching high school students, I’ve witnessed dramatic changes— everything from the onset and popularity of electronic applications to the […]
Life at the Lakes: November 2024
Here is a glimpse at Life Academy at the Lakes in November: November 1: Founders’ Day How it all began! Happy Founders’ Day! Today, we’re celebrating our amazing school and the incredible people who have shaped Academy into what it is today. At our all-school assembly, we were treated to unforgettable performances by our talented […]
Life at the Lakes: October 2024
Life at the Lakes in October was exciting and full of Wildcat Pride and traditions! Here is a glimpse at what happened this month: October 21: Buddy Reading Day Another great day in the books! Buddy Reading Day is always a highlight as our Upper and Middle Division students visit the Lower Division to […]
Letting Go: A Conversation with Parents of Seniors on the Transition to College and Adulthood
Words by Debbie Pitcairn, Director of College Counseling & Registrar This time in the lives of our seniors and their families is exciting and scary. Expectations and relationships are changing and evolving fast, and new modes of interacting and communicating need to be negotiated. The process of becoming an adult begins before seniors graduate […]
High School Chemistry and Computer Science
Academy at the Lakes, a PreK3 through Grade 12 school located just north of Tampa, FL, seeks a Database and Donor Relations Specialist with an anticipated start date of July 1. Enrolling approximately 500 students on two campuses, Academy is one of the Tampa Bay area’s top college preparatory schools. Academy at the Lakes is […]
Academy at the Lakes Moves FORWARD! with Groundbreaking for New 18,000-Square Foot Building
[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Land O’ Lakes, Fla. (January 19, 2024) — In an exciting development aimed at advancing the educational excellence it’s been providing on the north side of Tampa for 31 years, Academy at the Lakes proudly announces the commencement of a brand-new building project that will transform the school and elevate the learning environment for […]
Welcome Letter from Eden ’24
Welcome to a new school year, Wildcats! It is with warmth and excitement that I welcome you to our school community. On behalf of the student body, we are so thrilled to have you here. Truthfully, each addition to our school community makes us stronger. We look forward to being your classmates, your teammates, and […]
We teach history.
Words by Mark Heller, Head of School At Academy at the Lakes, we teach history. We teach critical thinking. And we promote patriotism. History We teach history because history helps us understand ourselves and our world. Our past is always part of our present. Our history has shaped every element of today – who we […]
Influential Readings
Words by Brad Shellgren Books are an essential part of the learning process at Academy at the Lakes. Through our readings, students are introduced to new ideas and perspectives. They are transported to unfamiliar places and time periods. Books open our students’ minds to new possibilities. Because books are so powerful, it is with careful […]