A preschool in South Tampa recently became the first standalone preschool in Florida to earn international baccalaureate (IB) accreditation.
Grove Academy was “designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning through play-based, hands-on experiences,” according to the school’s website.
It is the first and only preschool in Florida with an IB designation.
Owner and Director Kelli Cameron is beyond excited about the designation, which she says will ensure that Grove Academy provides a high-quality and student-centered learning experience.
“It’s an incredible honor and a very proud moment for our entire school community,” Cameron said.
To become an IB-accredited school, all of the teachers had to complete extensive professional development training. Grove Academy worked with an IB consultant and also hosted a multi-day verification visit from IB representatives. The representatives observed the classrooms, reviewed documentation, and met with the staff.
The process is rigorous and usually takes two or more years to accomplish, Cameron says.
Grove Academy earned the accreditation in only a year and a half.
The preschool, which specializes in teaching potty-trained 2-year-olds through 5-year-olds, has small student-to-teacher ratios, usually 6-to-1 during academic courses. Students learn in small, individualized groups that are “fluid and flexible,” and the school places a strong focus on social-emotional development and independence, the website says.
Grove Academy also offers hands-on and creative enrichments like painting, gardening, and interacting with animals.
Preschool programs provide foundational knowledge, skills, and characteristics that children will carry into elementary school and beyond. Research shows that preschool has a particularly significant impact on children from low-income households, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.
Cameron emphasizes this, saying Grove Academy’s students will become “community models for what is possible when we prioritize early childhood education.”
The school, located on MacDill Avenue in Tampa, requires online submission into the waitlist. Families are then invited to tour the campus and enrollment offers are sent out for the following school year, or mid-year if spots become available.
“This achievement isn’t just about earning a designation,” Cameron said, “it’s about creating meaningful learning experiences that inspire curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning in our community.”