Families in Windermere FL have strong options when it comes to private education, and The Crenshaw Academy is one of them. Our campus sits at 2342 Hempel Avenue in Gotha, just minutes from downtown Windermere. We are a K-12 secular college preparatory school with a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio in the Lower School and 15:1 in the Middle and Upper School. Those numbers are not marketing language. They are the reason our teachers can tell you in detail how your child thinks.
Why Windermere Families Look for Small Class Sizes
The interest in small class sizes is not a trend. It is grounded in decades of research on how children actually learn.
Tennessee's Project STAR remains the most rigorous study ever conducted on the subject. Researchers randomly assigned more than 11,000 students to small classes of 13 to 17 students or to regular classes of 22 to 25, then followed them from kindergarten through third grade. Students placed in the small classes showed statistically significant advantages on every achievement measure used in the study (Project STAR, Tennessee State Department of Education). Later analysis found those benefits held up well past the primary grades, with poor, minority, and male students gaining the most (NCPEA Policy Brief on Class-Size Policy, 2012).
What the research confirms is what parents already sense on a campus tour. In a smaller room, a teacher notices the student who has stopped raising a hand. In a larger one, that student can go quiet for weeks.
What a 12:1 Ratio Changes Day to Day
Individual attention in Windermere-area schools is often described in brochures. Here is what it looks like in practice at The Crenshaw Academy:
- Learning styles are identified early. Teachers spot how a child processes information within the first weeks, not at the first parent conference.
- Instruction adapts to the student. Our classrooms are discussion-based by design, which means students read, question, debate, and defend ideas rather than sit and absorb.
- Gaps get caught quickly. A struggling reader or a student who has outpaced the material is addressed in real time, not after a report card confirms it.
- Students find their voice. Speaking up in a room of twelve is far less intimidating than speaking up in a room of thirty, and that confidence carries into college seminars and job interviews.
- Parents stay informed. Communication between home and school is direct and frequent because our faculty are not managing hundreds of names.
Our Lower School holds that 12:1 ratio through fifth grade, with Spanish instruction beginning in Kindergarten. Our 2025 Kindergarten class scored in the 96th percentile in Sentence Reading on the SAT10.
How The Crenshaw Academy Compares
Windermere Preparatory School is the best-known private school in this immediate area, and it is a strong school. It is also a large one. U.S. News reports a student population of 1,606 and a student-teacher ratio of 13:1 (U.S. News Education).
The difference between 13:1 and our 12:1 in the Lower School is worth noting on paper. The more meaningful difference is scale. A school of more than 1,600 students operates by systems and departments. A school our size operates by relationships. Neither model is wrong, but they produce very different daily experiences for a child.
Families choosing The Crenshaw Academy are usually choosing the second model deliberately. They want a school where the principal knows their child's name, where a scheduling question gets answered the same day, and where personalized education in Windermere is a structural fact rather than an aspiration.
A Full K-12 College Preparatory Path
Small does not mean limited. The Crenshaw Academy offers a complete college preparatory program from Kindergarten through twelfth grade, and our graduates have been accepted to Stanford, Princeton, the University of Florida, and more than 30 universities worldwide. Several have earned full academic and athletic scholarships.
Dual Enrollment Starting in Sixth Grade
Eligible students can begin earning real college credit as early as sixth grade. Juniors and seniors with a B average or above are encouraged to take courses at Valencia Community College or the University of South Florida, and Upper School students may take up to a full college course load each semester. Students arrive at university with credits already earned and with the independence that college coursework demands.
Secular Education Without a Religious Lens
The Crenshaw Academy is non-religious. Families from every background and belief are equally welcome, and our curriculum is driven entirely by academic standards. For Windermere families seeking rigorous private education without a faith affiliation, we are one of a small number of options in the area.
Five Active Accreditations
We hold five active accreditations: SACS/CASI/COGNIA, the Association of Independent Schools of Florida, the Middle States Association, Accreditation International, and the National Council for Private School Accreditation. These require ongoing, independent verification, and they ensure your child's transcript is recognized by colleges and universities. You can review the details on our accreditation page.
Individual Attention Beyond the Classroom
The personalized approach does not stop at dismissal.
- Principal involvement: Principal Tanya Williams personally tracks student progress and is the first point of contact when a student needs additional support.
- After-school tutoring: One-on-one sessions with our own teachers are available Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays until 4:00 PM. Sessions are scheduled through the school office at $60 per hour, paid directly to the teacher.
- The Professional Program: For competitive athletes, performers, and students with demanding outside commitments, this flexible enrollment path keeps academic standards intact while adapting the schedule. Students remain fully enrolled, earn full credit, and stay eligible for graduation. Tuition is the same as traditional enrollment.
Because our teachers already know each student's strengths and challenges, tutoring sessions start where the student actually is instead of spending the first month diagnosing the problem.
Making a Crenshaw Education Work for Your Family
Many families assume a private school education is further out of reach than it is. Florida's school choice landscape has expanded considerably, and we accept several scholarship programs that meaningfully reduce tuition, including Step Up for Students FES-EO, FES-UA, FTC, and PEP, along with AAA Scholarship Foundation funds.
Our annual enrollment fee covers curriculum, a school-issued laptop, and parent and student portal access. Families may choose a single payment plan or a 10-month plan. We also offer discounts for active military members, first responders, alumni families, and younger siblings.
Details are available on our tuition and fees page and our scholarship resources page.
Visiting Us
Our campus is a short drive from anywhere in Windermere, which makes a weekday visit easy to fit into a normal schedule. Enrollment follows four straightforward steps:
- Schedule a tour. Come see the classrooms and meet faculty. Virtual appointments are available if that is easier.
- Schedule a shadow day. Prospective students spend a full day in class alongside current students before any commitment is made.
- Submit documents. Birth certificate, immunization records, Florida Health Exam record, most recent report card or transcript, previous school records, and teacher recommendations.
- Complete enrollment. Enrollment is confirmed once documents are received and registration and first tuition fees are paid.
The shadow day matters more than most families expect. It is the clearest way to find out whether a 12-student classroom fits your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the student-to-teacher ratio at The Crenshaw Academy?
The Lower School maintains a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The Middle and Upper School maintain 15:1. These ratios are intentional and central to how the school operates.
How far is the campus from Windermere?
Our campus is located at 2342 Hempel Avenue in Gotha, directly adjacent to the Windermere area and a short drive from most Windermere neighborhoods.
Is The Crenshaw Academy a religious school?
No. We are a secular, non-religious school. Our curriculum is academically driven, and families of all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome.
What grades does the school serve?
The Crenshaw Academy serves Kindergarten through twelfth grade. You can explore our Upper School program and our full range of educational programs online.
Do you accept Florida school choice scholarships?
Yes. We accept Step Up for Students scholarships, including FES-EO, FES-UA, FTC, and PEP, as well as AAA Scholarship Foundation funds.
Can my child try the school before we enroll?
Yes. After your tour, we invite prospective students to spend a shadow day in the classroom with current students.
Schedule Your Visit
If you have been looking for a smaller, more personal alternative to the large private schools in the Windermere area, we would like to meet your family. Come walk the halls, sit in on a class, and ask us anything.
Call 407-757-2241 or reach out through our contact page to schedule a tour. You can also start the process directly on our how to apply page.
