CFK Academy Earns “A” Grade from State
Florida Department of Education bestows top grade on CFK’s new public charter high school in its inaugural year

Pictured: CFK Academy’s first classes of students sit in the stairwell of the new building in August 2023.

KEY WEST, FL, July 29, 2024— The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) is proud to announce that the CFK Academy, its newly established tuition-free public charter high school, has earned an “A” grade by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) for the 2023-24 school year. School grades provide an easily understandable metric to measure the performance of a school, according to the FDOE. The school grading system pulls from various student success metrics, including student achievement, learning gains, graduation rates, acceleration success, and focus on students who need the most support.

CFK President Dr. Jonathan Gueverra expressed his pride in the Academy’s accomplishments: “Just a few years ago, we set a vision to establish new educational opportunities to further serve the families of our community. Today, we have an “A” grade high school that demonstrates our commitment to academic excellence and innovation. CFK employees and especially Dr. McPherson and her staff have put an incredible amount of time, energy and creativity to get the Academy functioning at peak.”
The CFK Academy, which opened in August 2023, offers a robust curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as well as Career Technical Education (CTE). With a project-based learning approach, the school provides students with hands-on engagement and real-world problem-solving experiences. Students also have the unique opportunity to enroll in college-level courses through CFK’s Dual Enrollment program, allowing them to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously.
“I am incredibly proud of our students, teachers, and staff. Our ‘A’ grade is a testament to their hard work and the challenging and nurturing environment we have created where students can thrive academically and personally,” said Dr. Wendy McPherson, CFK Vice President of Secondary Education and Principal of the CFK Academy.
The CFK Academy will expand through the twelfth grade in the 2024-25 school year after starting grades nine through 11. An enrollment lottery was held in March for new students starting in the upcoming school year. Students may still apply online via a waitlist for the few remaining seats. Interested students and parents can learn more on the CFK Academy website at www.CFK.edu/CFKAcademy.
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