Imagine, for a moment, a place where students can get real-world, hands on learning inside and outside of the classroom. A place where STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) lessons and student driven problem solving, critical thinking, entrepreneurship and leadership, moves from practice and theory to implementation. A place where education provides not only these vital competencies, but the soft skills of teamwork, collaboration and community involvement. That place is St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy.
The Academy’s culture is driven by rigorous academics, socio-emotional learning, and leadership. Our standards and expectations are high. We propel our students toward their individual potential and harness the strengths within each student to prepare them for a modern-day world.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy offers a world-class, transformative education, paving the path to success for generations of students. We prepare, inspire and empower students from PreK-2 through 12th grade.
Located in historic, downtown Fort Pierce, Florida, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy has a spectacular riverfront campus on the Indian River Lagoon. The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is a unique, highly diverse, shallow-water estuary of national significance stretching along forty percent of Florida’s east coast. The IRL is home to a rich array of plants and animals whose existence depends on the quality of water within the Lagoon. More than 2,000 species of plants, 600 species of fish, 300 species of birds, and 53 threatened or endangered species inhabit the IRL for at least some portion of their lives, and scientists have shown the IRL to be one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America, St. Andrew’s uses its unique location to provide students an accelerated education in marine science and other vital STEAM disciplines.
Our students are connected to local environmental and scientific organizations, along with innovators in the area’s private sector. Our downtown area offers a thriving boating and marine industry, the Sunrise Musical Theatre and flourishing arts & culture scene. Our corporate partners support the Academy in a variety of ways and offer our students insights into entrepreneurship, civics and leadership.
At St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy, our instructors take experiential learning seriously and understand we must prepare students for a global economy. Experiential learning takes various shapes and occurs in multiple settings. St. Andrew’s experiential learning includes reflection, critical analysis and synthesis, opportunities for students to take initiative, make decisions and be accountable for the results. It provides opportunities for students to engage intellectually, creatively, emotionally, socially, and physically. This learning model is infused throughout the Academy, from PreK-2 through 12th grade.
As part of a St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy education, we are deeply committed to making our community a better place. We passionately believe that leadership involves making the lives of others better. We rise by lifting others. It is part our goal that our students have a profound understanding of volunteerism, not just for the required community service hours, but how they truly make a difference to those in need. We have formed enduring partnerships with a host of diverse, local nonprofits, such as Habitat for Humanity, Friends in Pink, Mustard Seed, Voices for Children of the Treasure Coast, The Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County, the Dolphin Research Center and St. Lucie County’s Oxbow Eco Center.
Our students and families stand ready to support communities that have suffered a hardship. When Hurricane Dorian swept through the Bahamas, St. Andrew’s students, families, faculty and staff raised over $6,000.00 for disaster relief in one single day. It was a shining example of our culture of giving back.
The Academy educates the whole child in mind, body and spirit. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy, like other Episcopal schools, was founded in 1970, not solely as communities for other Christians, like a parish church, but as inclusive and diverse ministries of educational and human formation for people of all faiths and backgrounds. Episcopal schools are populated by a rich variety of human beings, from increasingly diverse religious, cultural, and economic backgrounds as described by the National Association of Episcopal Schools. Our weekly chapel services are performed at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, located next to our Lower School. We invite our parents and families to attend our Academy services with our students.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy instructs students in the Episcopal Tradition. Like other Episcopal Schools, we are populated by a rich variety of human beings, from increasingly diverse religious, cultural, and economic backgrounds. We are intentional in our purpose of reflecting the remarkable diversity we have in our community. We seek to integrate religious and spiritual formation into the overall curriculum and life of St. Andrew’s.
As a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools, we include a weekly chapel service that is creative, inclusive, draws fully upon the liturgical resources of The Episcopal Church, and is a regular part of school life for all faculty and students. Community Life, in which reflection, prayer, and matters of the spirit are honored and cultivated and the physical, mental, and emotional health of all are supported and nurtured. Religious Formation and Study that is meaningful, academically substantive, and age-appropriate; and in teaching the Christian tradition, fosters dialogue with other faith traditions. Social Justice, which is the integration of the ideals and concepts of equity, justice, and a just society throughout the life of the school; the embracing and honoring of diversity; and the inclusion of community service and service-learning as an integral part of the life of the school.
The Episcopal Tradition draws upon our foundational principles to help students navigate today’s world. Purpose, ethics and empathy are character traits that will always be valued now and in the future. Today, as an independent school, we balance our instruction. Academy students are provided competitive academics, along with the skills of intellectual curiosity, tenacity, open-mindedness, thoroughness and the confidence to be good thinkers and learners.
Our Physical Education and Sports programs are both traditional and unique. Our students participate in basketball, volleyball, soccer, swimming and a host of other opportunities. Our Middle School athletic teams participate in the Mid-Coast Athletic Conference, consisting of six local private schools. Our High School athletic teams compete as members of the Florida High School Athletic Association, where we participate in District, Regional, and State competitions. We ensure that all our students get plenty of physical activity every day, whether it’s through our partnership with Ignite Sports, on our Lower School playground or the ability for our Upper School students to kayak off our distinct and beautiful shoreline.
We are honored to be accredited by the Florida Council for Independent Schools (FCIS), Advanced Ed and the Florida Kindergarten Council. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy is a proud member affiliate of the National Association of Independent Schools, National Association of Episcopal Schools, National Elementary Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Honor Society, and the National Association of Student Councils. By implementing the high standards and best practices required to earn the distinction of our accreditations, we ask nothing less of our administration, faculty and staff.
We ask our students to reach higher, work harder and be their very best. To attract and keep the kind of team that helps our students achieve, we have worked hard to create an engaging work environment and the capacity for true success. This has been recognized for the last two years in a row as St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy has been awarded as a Best Place to Work in St. Lucie County, the only private, independent school to achieve such a distinction. The continuing education and professional development of our faculty and staff ensures that your child receives the kind of innovative instruction they need to achieve.
As a private, independent school, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy has a Board of Trustees that oversee the strategic and financial goals for the academy. The school’s governance is led by this deliberative group with clearly defined roles and responsibilities that are key to the sustainability of the academy. The governing body attends to new policy and changes in existing policy, all within the spirit of the mission of the school, and consistently exercises its fiduciary responsibility while delegating the operational and educational functions of the school to the Head of Schools. This vital oversight ensures St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy remains true to our mission. None of our Board of Trustees are compensated and they fulfill their roles on a volunteer basis.
We invite you to learn more about St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy. Our Admissions Department is resolute with ensuring new families a transparent and informative experience. We understand that each child and family have unique requirements and strengths. We provide a customized tour to each new family and a comprehensive explanation of our enrollment process. We can include a shadow day for your child to fully experience a day with our teachers and other students. This is all designed to ensure a great fit for you and for the academy.
Contact us for more information at 772-461-7689 or continue to navigate our website to learn more about us and how you can become part of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy family.
Contact us today at 772-461-7689 to learn more about the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy difference!
early childhood education
PreK-2 to PreK-4
Research shows that Early Childhood Education lays the foundation for remarkable and accelerated learning. Indeed, studies agree that brain development from birth to age five is more aggressive than at any other point in a person’s life, even though our brains continue to grow through adulthood. At St. Andrew’s, we make the most of this developmental phase in a highly nurturing and caring environment. Children in our PreK program make incredible strides as each day presents a new learning opportunity and discovery. Our quality programs set our youngest students up for a life-long enthusiasm for learning.
elementary school
Kindergarten to 5th Grade
At St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy, our Elementary division knows that, in these formative years, students will acquire important literacy, numeracy, creativity and communication skills. They thrive in an environment where they enjoy learning and develop desire to continue learning. Our Elementary education provides a climate where students develop an ability for critical thinking and logical judgment. Our highly qualified classroom instructors incorporate a variety of multi sensory activities aligned to the weekly target skills in Language Arts, Science, Math and Social Studies to ensure students are actively engaged in the entire learning process. We remain committed to building confidence, social-emotional skills and the leadership traits that will serve them throughout their lives.
middle school
Grades 6th-8th
Bio-Neurological research shows that middle school is where the brain starts to specialize. As students increase their learning in our STEAM focused areas, our instructors are implementing advanced reasoning concepts, building upon their educational foundations. Our middle school students receive engaging and project based instruction, that keeps them excited about learning. At St. Andrew’s, we understand the incredible growth our middle school students will achieve during this time and we strive to meet the specific needs of students who are found at all points along the developmental continuum at St. Andrew’s. Our program is peer-driven and provides this unique age group multiple opportunities to learn about cooperation, tolerance, competition and empathy.
high school
Grades 9th-12th
The St. Andrew’s high school experience is unique and expansive, designed to accelerate college and career readiness. As our students move into young adulthood, the doors open to a variety of challenging academic courses, clubs, activities, sports, performances, internships, student leadership and service to others, extra-curricular travel, social activities, and dual enrollment opportunities through Indian River State College. Here, students move into the advanced courses in Math, Science, English, Theology, Leadership, History, Civics, Social Studies and Foreign Language. Our high school students are immersed in music, art and theater.
Testimonials
“We tried a magnet school for my first son and it was a nightmare. I really appreciate SAEA for keeping my children safe, educated and nurtured. I truly enjoy this school because it is very intimate. The class sizes are small, the teachers are AMAZING, all of the staff there is wonderful. The teachers are always available if needed. SAEA is very organized and supportive to the students.”
“I want to keep it simple and say that St. Andrews is just a great school but it’s more than that. You need to take a tour of the campus and see how beautiful and safe it is. The staff is wonderful. You need to attend a parent/staff meeting and hear about the different events going on during the year. They keep you up to date on your child’s progress during the entire school year. St Andrews is more like family where you and your kids will make friendships that will last a lifetime.”
“We like the small class sizes. The entire staff is wonderful everyone makes you feel welcome it is like having an extended family here. My son loves the view of the river. Thank you!!”
“I started my journey at St. Andrews in the year 2000 in early childhood and left in 2012 upon finishing the 8th grade. I am 22 years old now and without a doubt in my mind St. Andrews was a catalyst in my growth. The family like atmosphere within the school really made going to school pleasurable. As I am finishing my senior year of university at FIU with a B.A in International Relations and hopeful in my future endeavors I still reminisce on my time at St. Andrews. The faculty really pushes you to excel and achieve your true potential. These are some notable teachers that really pushed me throughout my time at St. Andrews: Mrs. Mays, Mrs. Mancheck, and Mrs. Kaufman just to name a few. Thank you!”
“St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy is like a family. I have never encountered such an outstanding group of people who are all equally passionate about the education and well-being of children. We love the STEM program and we feel very fortunate to be a part of a unique little school. I encourage prospective families to reach out to the school for a tour. I am confident that you will love what you see!”
“We have children in both the lower and upper schools. The teachers and administrators maintain open communication with me, and any concerns are always addressed immediately. The academics are appropriate and challenging, and I especially value the experiential learning opportunities that the kids have both on campus and on trips. I appreciate that my children’s learning styles are considered as well. Our family’s overall experience with St. Andrew’s has been a positive one over the last two years.”
“I truly enjoy this school because it is very intimate. The class sizes are small, the teachers are amazing, all of the staff there is wonderful. The teachers are always available if needed. SAEA is very organized and supportive to the students.”
SAEA Graduates have been accepted to these colleges and universities:
