About The Crenshaw Academy
Some schools are built around a building. The Crenshaw Academy was built around a belief: that every student deserves to be known, challenged, and prepared for a life beyond the classroom. Since 1997, The Crenshaw Academy has offered families in the Orlando area a K–12 college preparatory education grounded in small class sizes, personal relationships, and a genuine commitment to each child's growth. We are a secular, non-religious school, welcoming students from all backgrounds.
Where It All Began
The story of The Crenshaw Academy begins not in a traditional school building, but in the world of professional performance. Founder Brenda Crenshaw worked as a private instructor to entertainment industry icons Justin Timberlake and Lance Bass, developing innovative teaching techniques and an out-of-the-box approach to education along the way. She also privately tutored students from some of Orlando's most respected schools, exposing her to curricula from across the country and sharpening her instinct for what truly works in the classroom.
From that experience, a vision took shape. She recognized that students with demanding, non-traditional lives needed a school that could meet them where they were, without sacrificing academic rigor or personal connection. The Crenshaw Academy opened with just five students, and word spread quickly. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) took notice, accrediting the program through their international division.
Over the years, our classrooms have been located in different buildings and on different campuses, but our mission has remained the same: to provide a supportive, personalized education where every student is known, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential.
What We Believe
We believe a strong foundation in academics and a well rounded student are essential to the development in forming creative, thinking individuals. Challenging academics walking hand in hand with the community, help to create an outstanding citizen.
Every child is a capable, curious learner. Our approach centers on four principles:
Intellectual Curiosity
Students are encouraged to question, debate, experiment, and think independently from an early age.
Mastery Over Memorization
We prepare students to think, analyze, synthesize, and apply knowledge, not simply recall it for a test.
The Whole Student
Academic excellence and personal development go hand in hand. Our goal is strong citizens, not just strong test-takers.
Community
Respectful, collaborative relationships between students, families, and faculty are central to how we operate.
What Makes The Crenshaw Academy Different
Families choose The Crenshaw Academy for many reasons. Here are the ones that come up most consistently:
Our student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1 in the Lower School and 15:1 in the Middle and Upper School. That means your child will be known by name, not by a seating chart number. Teachers can identify each student's learning style, adapt instruction accordingly, and build the kind of relationships that actually move the needle academically.
The Crenshaw Academy is a non-religious school. Families from all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome here. Our curriculum is academically driven, not faith-based, creating an inclusive environment where every student belongs.
Some students have lives that don't fit a traditional school schedule: competitive athletes, performers, and travelers among them. The Crenshaw Academy's Professional Program was built for exactly these students, offering a flexible enrollment path that keeps academic standards high while accommodating real-world demands. It is an approach Brenda pioneered decades ago, and one that sets The Crenshaw Academy apart from virtually every other private school in the Orlando area.
Eligible students can begin dual enrollment as early as 6th grade, with 11th and 12th graders encouraged to take classes at Valencia Community College or the University of South Florida. This gives students a meaningful head start on college coursework and the confidence to succeed when they get there.
The Crenshaw Academy is accredited by:
- SACS/CASI/COGNIA
- Association of Independent Schools of Florida (AISF)
- Middle States Association
- Accreditation International
- National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA)
These are not just logos on a page. They represent an ongoing commitment to educational standards that families and universities can trust. Learn more on our Accreditation page.
Every grade level at The Crenshaw Academy is designed with the long view in mind. By the time students reach Upper School, they are taking honors courses, pursuing electives, and building the academic record and critical thinking skills that top universities expect.
Our Students Go On to Do Great Things
A Crenshaw education opens doors. Graduates have gone on to universities across Florida, the country, and the world, from Stanford and Princeton to the University of Florida and beyond. Alumni have built careers in professional athletics, film and entertainment, medicine, and more.
See the full list of universities and distinguished graduates on our After Crenshaw page.
A Community Built to Last
What families often say they notice first about The Crenshaw Academy is how it feels. There is a warmth here that is hard to manufacture and easy to recognize. Students are celebrated for birthdays, milestones, and the small victories that larger schools simply don't have time to notice.
That spirit traces back to Brenda Crenshaw herself, who set in motion a school built on a cohesive sense of community, pervasive friendliness, and a commitment to knowing every student as an individual. As one Crenshaw student put it:
"Because I have been in classes with a small number of students, I have developed the courage to speak to the teacher, and ask and answer questions during class, which has greatly benefited my learning experience."
This is what education looks like when the school is small enough to care and strong enough to challenge.
Come See It for Yourself
The best way to understand The Crenshaw Academy is to walk through the door. We invite you to schedule a tour and meet our faculty, see our classrooms, and ask every question you have. We are glad you are here.
Schedule a Tour