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  • 1971 establishments in Florida
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    Westminster Academy (Florida)

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 9 min

    Westminster Academy
    Location
    Map
    Fort Lauderdale
    ,
    Florida

    United States
    Coordinates26°11′50″N 80°06′46″W / 26.1973056°N 80.112822°W / 26.1973056; -80.112822
    Information
    TypePrivate
    MottoLatin: Soli Deo Gloria
    (Glory to God alone)
    Religious affiliation(s)Presbyterian Church in America[2]
    Established1971 (1971)
    FounderD. James Kennedy[1]
    PrincipalDr. Ron Farrar (Upper School)
    Mrs. Sarah Maba (PREP)
    Mrs. Tracey Wood (Lower School)
    HeadmasterDr. Joel Satterly
    Faculty95
    GradesPK2–12
    Enrollment1040[3]
    Color(s)      Navy blue, white, and red
    NicknameLions
    AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools
    Christian Schools of Florida,
    National Council for Private School Accreditation
    YearbookOptimé
    AffiliationCoral Ridge Presbyterian Church[2]
    Websitewww.wa.edu

    Westminster Academy is a private Christian school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, serving students in grades PK2 through 12.[1] It is an educational ministry of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and is related denominationally to the Presbyterian Church in America.[2] The main campus is located at 5601 North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale,[4] with a "west campus" Athletic Complex located at 3701 NW 44th Street in Lauderdale Lakes.[5]

    During the 2023–24 academic year, the school has a total enrollment of 1040 students: 341 in lower school (preprimary–3rd grade), 194 in PREP (grades 4–6), and 505 in Upper School (grades 7–12).[3] The current headmaster is Dr. Joel Satterly.[6]

    Athletics

    [edit]

    Westminster Academy has won many state championships in various sports.[7] Selected highlights include:

    • State championship in football in 1990
    • Boys' state basketball championship in 2002
    • Boys' state basketball championship in 2017, 2018, and 2019.[8]
    • Boys' state track championship in 2008, 2014, 2015, and 2017
    • Boys' state track championship in 1979 (the school's first boys state championship team)
    • Boys' state baseball in 1999 and 2000
    • Boys' Cross Country state championships: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 2016. Head Coach Ken Key was coach for the 1983 and 2016 state titles.
    • Boys' basketball has received national recognition including a top 25 national ranking by maxpreps in the 2016–17 season.

    Awards and recognition

    [edit]

    On Tuesday, September 30, 2014, the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, recognized the Westminster Academy Lower School as a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School in the category of Exemplary High Performing Schools.[9][citation needed] The Westminster Academy Lower School will be honored alongside 287 public and 50 private schools across the nation at a recognition ceremony held November 10–11, 2014, in Washington, D.C. In its 32-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on just under 7,900 of America's schools.[10]

    These great schools are fulfilling the promise of American education—that all students, can flourish when schools provide safe, creative, and challenging learning environments. National Blue Ribbon Schools are models of consistent excellence and a resource for other schools and districts. We celebrate them for their tireless effort and boundless creativity in reaching and teaching every student.

    — Secretary Duncan[10]

    The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content.

    History

    [edit]

    The school was founded in 1971 by the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, the founding pastor of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church.[1]

    In October 2000, Westminster Academy announced that it received an $8.35 million donation from 1978 graduate Jean Case and her husband Steve Case, the former chairman of America Online.[11]

    Notable alumni

    [edit]
    • Guma Aguiar, Class of 1995[12][13]
    • Kevin Chapman, Class of 2006, former professional baseball player
    • Matt den Dekker, Class of 2006, coach in the New York Mets organization, former professional baseball player
    • Rob Hoskins, Class of 1983, president of OneHope, an international Christian ministry[14]
    • Danny Kanell, Class of 1992, NFL Quarterback[15]
    • Jason Kennedy, Class of 2000, TV personality[16]
    • Michael Taylor, Class of 2009, Kansas City Royals baseball outfielder[17]
    • Elih Villanueva, Class of 2004, professional baseball pitcher for the West Virginia Power of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ a b c "Home Page". Westminster Academy. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
    2. ^ a b c "About Us". Westminster Academy. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
    3. ^ a b "High School Profile" (PDF). Westminster Academy. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
    4. ^ "Main Campus Location". Westminster Academy. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
    5. ^ "West Campus Location". Westminster Academy. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
    6. ^ "A Word From The Headmaster". Westminster Academy. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
    7. ^ "Home Page for Varsity Track « Westminster Academy Christian School « Fort Lauderdale, Florida". Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
    8. ^ "Westminster Academy holds on for three-peat, led by mix of underclassmen, seniors - South Florida Sun Sentinel - South Florida Sun-Sentinel".
    9. ^ "Westminster Academy Lower School selected as a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School". PRWeb website. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
    10. ^ a b "U.S. Department of Education Announces 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools". U.S. Department of Education website. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
    11. ^ Lona O'Connor and Bill Hirschman (October 17, 2000). "Gift Of Learning: School Gets $8 Million". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
    12. ^ "Wife of missing millionaire Guma Aguiar copes in his absence". Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
    13. ^ "Prodigal Son". January 15, 2010.
    14. ^ "Commencement: Cultivating the Seeds". May 30, 2017.
    15. ^ "Danny Kanell, former quarterback". Retrieved May 26, 2023.
    16. ^ Miami Herald
    17. ^ "Nats add three, including two arms, to 40-man roster". Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
    [edit]
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