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Out-of-Door Academy

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Coordinates: 27°17′9″N 82°33′38″W / 27.28583°N 82.56056°W / 27.28583; -82.56056
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The Out-of-Door Academy
Location
Map
Sarasota
,
Florida

United States
Information
School typeIndependent, Preparatory
Established1924
CEEB code101579
Head of schoolDebra Otey[1]
Teaching staff75.4 (on an FTE basis)A0301145[2]
GradesPre-K–12
GenderCoed
Enrollment718[2] (2015-2016)
Student to teacher ratio9.3[2]
Color(s)Navy, white   
AthleticsFHSAA 1A (SSAC for football)
MascotThor
Team nameThunder
NewspaperThe Bolt
YearbookThe Sandpiper
Websitehttp://www.oda.edu/

The Out-of-Door Academy is a college preparatory school in Sarasota, Florida. It serves students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 on two campuses in the Sarasota area, one on Siesta Key and one in Lakewood Ranch, the Upper School Uihlein Campus.

History

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The Out-of-Door School was established in 1924 by Fanneal Harrison and Catherine Gavin, followers of Belgian progressive education pioneer Ovide Decroly. Classes and free time were spent outside on the school's 20-acre (81,000 m2) campus on Siesta Key. Wooden cabins were used as classrooms during inclement weather and as dormitories.[3] Over time, the classes were held indoors. In 1977, the school was purchased by 120 school families and transformed into a nonprofit organization, renaming it Out-of-Door Academy.

The Lakewood Ranch campus was established in 1996.[4] The Uihlein family donated the land that would later become the Upper School campus. Seventh and 8th grades were moved to the new campus in 2000, and in 2008 the campus became known as the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch. The 6th grade was later moved to the Uihlein Campus in 2012.[5]

The Out-of-Door Academy is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools[6] and the Florida Kindergarten Council. The school is a member of the Cum Laude Society, the National Association of Independent Schools, the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Campus

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Out of Door School
Out-of-Door Academy is located in Florida
Out-of-Door Academy
LocationSarasota, Florida
Coordinates27°17′9″N 82°33′38″W / 27.28583°N 82.56056°W / 27.28583; -82.56056
Built1924
ArchitectRalph Twitchell
NRHP reference No.94001276
Added to NRHPOctober 28, 1994

The 5-acre Siesta Key Lower School Campus is on the National Register of Historic Places as Out-of-Door School. Located on Siesta Key in Sarasota County, FL, the Lower Campus is located on a barrier island. The 90-acre (360,000 m2) Uihlein Campus, home to the Middle and Upper Schools is located in Lakewood Ranch.[7] In 2017, the School partnered with Mote Marine Laboratory to create a Marine Biology classroom equipped with six oversized aquariums and an interactive touch tank for students. ODA has installed more than 550 solar panels throughout the Historic Siesta Key Campus, one of the biggest solar projects in the region.[8]

Siesta Key Campus was renovated between 2008 and 2021, which included construction of a three-story academic building and covered athletic pavilion.

The 90-acre (360,000 m2) Uihlein Campus is located at Lakewood Ranch.[7] The Uihlein Campus is home to the Middle and Upper Schools, serving grades 6-12.

The Uihlein Campus consists of 12 main buildings which include a performing arts center which houses The Black Box Theater, the Savidge/Bowers Library, two Dart STEM labs, an augmented reality lab, makerspace labs, the Dick Vitale Family Student Center, Petrik Family Commons, in addition to classrooms. Athletics facilities include the Petrik Thunderdome, Gelbman Family Wellness Center, Uihlein Sports Complex, the Dietrich Family Sports Complex and Taylor Emmons Memorial Baseball Field, Malisoff Tennis Center, Thunder Athletic Complex, and Fox Field House.

Construction began in 2008 for a performing arts center at the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch, and the center opened in 2009. Renovation of the Siesta Key campus and construction of new athletic facilities also began in 2008.[9]

Construction of a Middle School Campus (Dart STEM Center, Summer Breeze Center) was completed in 2020 adding more than 13,500 square feet of instructional space. The new building includes a STEM lab, augmented reality/AV lab, makerspace, art studio, and student commons in addition to flexible classrooms and learning spaces for core coursework.[10][11][12] ODA installed 705 solar panels at the Uihlein campus in 2020 reducing energy consumption 65%;[13] an additional 905 panels in 2021 further reduced commercial energy reliance.

Curriculum

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The academy's curriculum is a balanced liberal arts program that includes mathematics, English, science, social studies, Foreign Language including Spanish, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese, and music and visual and performing arts. Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses are available.

STEM science

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On September 2, 2014, ODA school leaders and lead donors broke ground on two new facilities: the Dick Vitale Family Student Center and Dart Foundation STEM Center. The Dick Vitale Family Student Center was modeled after college-like campus centers where students could congregate study, collaborate, and socialize. The Dart Foundation STEM Center was designed to provide project-based learning lessons that integrated sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics.[14]

Athletics

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The Out-of-Door Academy’s 2021 Baseball Team won the FHSAA Class 2A state title 2018 Boys Tennis Team earned the FHSAA Class 1A state title. ODA's Football team won the 2023 SSAA 4A State Championship as well. ODA holds 12 state champion titles in individual sports, including tennis, golf, and track & field.[15][16]

Extracurricular activities

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Student groups and activities include art club, community service club, drama club, National Honor Society, newspaper, Relay for Life, science/environmental club, student council, Tri-M Music Honors Society, Key Club, Invisible Children, and yearbook. Upper school students require 100 hours of community service in to graduate.[citation needed]

The Out-of-Door Academy athletic teams, known as the Thunder, compete in interscholastic competition in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, sailing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.[citation needed]

Accolades

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In 2006, Out-of-Door Academy was recognized as a Cum Laude Society School.[17] Out-of-Door Academy was voted "Best Private School" in 2003, 2004, and 2005 by Sarasota magazine.[18][19][20]

References

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  1. ^ "ODA appoints new head of school. Sarasota Magazine". 13 Oct 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Search for Public Schools - The Out-of-Door Academy (A0301145)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  3. ^ Shank, Ann A. "Out of Door School". Sarasota History Alive!.
  4. ^ "Thunder rolls at new high school". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 1996-10-19. About two miles out, on a campus coated with fresh paint and fresh faces, Sarasota's newest high school blazes...
  5. ^ "Out-of-Door Academy to announce gift, unveil plan". Tampa Bay Business Journal. 2008-03-31. A major gift of land and subsequent renaming of the Lakewood Ranch Campus of Out-of-Door Academy will be revealed April 4 when the school's master plan is presented.
  6. ^ "Florida Council of Independent Schools: Out-of-Door Academy". [permanent dead link]
  7. ^ a b Walter, Nick (2009-04-30). "Still growing at ODA in LWR". Bradenton Herald. Archived from the original on 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2009-07-06. A decade ago, a group of investors envisioned a growing area and potential for a thriving private school in this area owned by Schroeder-Manatee Ranch. The Uihlein family, which was behind SMR, donated the 85-acre plot...
  8. ^ "Out-of-Door Academy unveils marine science lab, solar panels".
  9. ^ Sword, Doug (2008-07-09). "2-campus upgrades start at Out-of-Door Academy". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
  10. ^ "ODA celebrates opening of new middle school facility | East County". 8 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Out-of-Door Academy expands middle school with new facility and quad | East County". 19 February 2020.
  12. ^ "The Out-of-Door Academy Reimagines Middle School with Programmatic Enhancements, Facility Expansion - SRQ Daily Mar 5, 2020".
  13. ^ "ODA explores the solar system | East County". 21 August 2020.
  14. ^ "The Out-of-Door Academy Breaks Ground on Dick Vitale Family Student Center and Dart Foundation STEM Center". Archived from the original on 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  15. ^ "ODA baseball captures Class 2A state championship | East County". 20 May 2021.
  16. ^ "ODA boys sweep to 1A state title".
  17. ^ MILFORD, FRANCINE. "Teen goes 'Into the Woods' for performances at VLT". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  18. ^ "Best of the Best". Sarasota Magazine. May 2003. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  19. ^ "The Best of the Best". Sarasota Magazine. May 2004. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  20. ^ "The Best of the Best". Sarasota Magazine. May 2005.
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