ABOUT S.E.A.

Sweetwater Episcopal Academy is a small independent Episcopal school located in Longwood, Florida (20 minutes north of Orlando). Our school offers a strong academic curriculum, motivating enrichment programs, small class sizes and over 25 years of academic excellence for grades PreK-5th.

OUR MISSION

The mission of Sweetwater Episcopal Academy is to provide the community with a source of quality education, set in a nurturing and safe environment, surrounded by Christian love, with a strong concern for each student as an individual.

Our school's goal is to fully prepare each child for his or her future educational, social, and spiritual life.

Accreditations

Sweetwater Episcopal Academy is accredited by:

• Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS)

• Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC)

Educational Philosophy

• We strive to make Sweetwater Episcopal Academy -“ a kind zone” - A learning and loving environment where along with the 3R’s, we teach respect and responsibility. 

• Sweetwater Episcopal Academy is a Christian school, which teaches respect and acceptance of religious and cultural diversity in our community. 

• We encourage our students to achieve excellence in both scholarship and character. 

• Sweetwater Episcopal Academy seeks to build a caring community of responsible citizens. 

• We encourage all students to develop self-discipline, integrity, compassion, good manners, and friendship in their work and activities. 

• It is our objective to fulfill the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional potential of every child by instilling a sense of worth that comes with purpose, direction, commitment, and success. 

• We believe it our responsibility to provide a positive learning environment in which all feel physically and emotionally secure. 

• We provide a challenging school environment that allows students to meet their potential.

• We strive to teach children to think and solve problems, to write and speak effectively, to learn and to work cooperatively with others. 

• We believe that an effective and excellent education for youth is the best investment in the future. 

• It is our common goal to use a positive approach to educate the whole child. 

• Our teachers accept responsibility as role models and give, as well as receive, respect.  We believe in encouraging respect for self, teachers, and others.  We seek to lead by example. 

• We are positive in our attitudes and behaviors in order to encourage all children and staff members to reach for high levels of accomplishment. 

• We believe that hands-on, inquiry -based instruction is a successful teaching strategy, and that explorations, dialogue, and discussion promote understanding of concepts. 

• We believe in setting high standards of appropriate behaviors, which guarantee students an education free of infringement by others. 

• We encourage viewing mistakes as learning opportunities and recognize improvements and growth as a process while continuing to maintain high expectations. 

• Parents are our partners in this mission, and it is our goal to cooperate and communicate with them, welcoming their involvement in their child’s education. 

• If a student seriously interferes with the school’s accomplishment of its educational mission and philosophy, Sweetwater Episcopal Academy reserves the right to terminate or not to renew a student’s contract.

Our History

Sweetwater Episcopal Academy evolved from a pre-school and day care center called Small World of Learning which began in 1974 by Paul and Jean Leffler.  Classes were added each year, and by 1976 the present property on East Lake Brantley Drive was purchased.  That fall, rooms were rented at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, however by the following summer, construction began on what is now the C Building and the pool. 

In the fall of 1977, classes were held for the first time on the beautiful Lake Brantley campus.  The name “Sweetwater Academy” was then adopted, and by the fall of 1978, classes had expanded through eighth grade.  In 1984, The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection assumed the responsibility for the school, and the church was built on the campus.  Continuing a long tradition of Episcopal education, the school became an extension of the educational, pastoral, and missionary work of the parish.  Reflecting that relationship, the name was changed to “Sweetwater Episcopal Academy”. 

The SEA campus has experienced several building expansions as the enrollment of SEA has grown.  The Huskey Kindergarten Wing was added in 1985, the Emerson Building was completed in 1989, and the Anderson Pavilion was expanded and opened in 1994.  The Fowler Building opened in 1997, the Enrichment Center opened in 2002, and our newest building, Gray Hall opened in 2008.  S.E.A. servers 250 students from Pre-Kindergarten through Fifth grade.