The Best Private Schools in Christmas, Florida
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Christmas. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Lake Highland Preparatory School
Lake Highland Preparatory School
Lake Highland Preparatory School is consistently ranked among the top private schools in Florida and serves students from across Central Florida, including the Christmas area. This independent, coeducational school offers a comprehensive college preparatory program from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The school features exceptional facilities including modern science laboratories, extensive athletic complexes, and dedicated arts spaces. Lake Highland boasts a 100% college acceptance rate with graduates attending top universities nationwide. The school emphasizes character education, leadership development, and academic excellence while offering over 70 athletic teams and numerous clubs. Parent reviews highlight the outstanding faculty, rigorous academics, and well-rounded student experience.
Programs:
The Master's Academy
The Master's Academy
The Master's Academy is a highly-regarded Christian private school serving the greater Orlando area, including Christmas. Founded with a mission to provide exceptional college preparatory education within a Christian worldview, the school offers comprehensive academic programs from preschool through 12th grade. The campus features state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, performing arts centers, and athletic complexes. The school maintains small class sizes with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio and offers extensive extracurricular opportunities including competitive sports, fine arts programs, and community service initiatives. Parents consistently praise the school's rigorous academic standards, dedicated faculty, and strong community atmosphere.
Programs:
The First Academy
First Baptist Church of Orlando
The First Academy is a prominent Christian college preparatory school serving families throughout Central Florida, including the Christmas community. The school offers a comprehensive educational experience from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade with a strong emphasis on academic excellence integrated with Christian values. Facilities include modern classrooms, science and technology labs, performing arts centers, and athletic facilities. The curriculum includes Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment options, and specialized programs in STEM and fine arts. The school maintains a strong college counseling program with graduates consistently accepted to selective universities. Parents appreciate the school's commitment to character development, academic rigor, and supportive community environment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Christmas, Florida
What are the primary private school options for families residing in Christmas, Florida, and are they located within the town itself?
While Christmas itself is a small, rural community, families here typically look to private schools in the broader eastern Orlando/metro area. The most prominent options, as noted, are Lake Highland Preparatory School, The First Academy, and The Master's Academy, all located in Orlando. There are no major private school campuses within the Christmas town limits. The commute to these schools, which can be 30-45 minutes depending on exact location in Christmas, is a significant consideration for local families. Some may also consider smaller parochial schools in nearby towns like Oviedo or Titusville.
How does Florida's school choice programs, like the Family Empowerment Scholarship, impact tuition affordability for Christmas families considering private schools?
Florida's state-funded scholarship programs are a crucial factor for many Christmas families. The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) and the Unique Abilities Scholarship can provide significant tuition assistance for eligible students attending participating private schools like those in Orlando. Eligibility is often based on household income or a student's special needs. It's essential to check each school's participation status and application process for these funds, as they can make prestigious schools like Lake Highland or The Master's Academy more accessible. The Florida Department of Education website is the primary resource for application details and income guidelines.
Given Christmas's semi-rural environment, do any private schools in the area offer specialized programs in environmental science, agriculture, or outdoor education?
This is a unique consideration for Christmas families. While the top academic schools in Orlando offer robust college-prep STEM programs, their urban campuses don't typically focus on agricultural science. However, The Master's Academy incorporates a biblical worldview that may include stewardship of creation. For a direct link to Christmas's environment, families might explore smaller private or charter options with farm-based learning in adjacent counties. More commonly, parents leverage Christmas's natural setting for extracurricular enrichment, while the Orlando private schools provide strong science foundations, advanced placement courses, and competitive robotics or engineering teams.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive Orlando private schools for a student applying from the Christmas area?
The process is highly structured and begins early. For schools like Lake Highland Prep and The First Academy, applications for the following academic year often open in August or September, with deadlines between January and February. The process includes standardized testing (like the ISEE or SSAT), school records, teacher recommendations, interviews, and sometimes student essays or visits. Given the commute from Christmas, arranging visits and interviews requires advanced planning. Many schools have limited spaces in certain grades, so applying as early as possible is advised. Notification of acceptance is typically made in March.
How do the transportation logistics work for a Christmas family whose child attends a private school in Orlando, and do any schools offer bus service to this area?
Transportation is a key practical challenge. Most major Orlando private schools do not provide standard bus service to the Christmas area due to its distance and low population density. The primary responsibility for transportation falls on the family. This often means a substantial daily commute via carpool or private vehicle. Some families coordinate with others in eastern Orange or Seminole County to form carpools. A few schools may offer fee-based, limited private bus routes that extend to broader areas, but service to Christmas specifically is unlikely. Factoring in commute time (and fuel costs) is an essential part of the decision-making process for Christmas residents.