Sea of Strengths Academy

Ivybrook Academy on North Honore Avenue is a locally owned campus, opened by an owner who left a 20-year career in public accounting to bring this half-day preschool model to families around Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch. Our students range in age from 18 months to 6 years. Our day is a half day by design, with focused learning periods followed by play and rest. Classrooms combine Reggio Emilia group projects with Montessori hands-on materials, and teachers use ongoing assessment to adjust lessons to each child's skills. Children are placed by age and development in toddler (18 months to 2 years), 2-year-old, 3-year-old, and 4- and 5-year-old prekindergarten and transitional kindergarten classes. Lessons cover early literacy and phonics, math, science, social studies, creative arts and social-emotional learning, with music, movement, gardening and outdoor nature exploration. Rooms use soft natural colors and child-height materials to keep the space calm, and children wear their own clothes rather than uniforms. Tuition depends on the program and schedule, and families can join mid-year when space opens.

Seeds of Life Montessori Academy is an AMS-verified Montessori school at 5805 Whitfield Ave in Sarasota. Children attend from 18 months through sixth grade. The campus is bilingual, with English and Spanish immersion, and the programs are Nido (18 to 36 months), Casa (ages 3 to 6), junior elementary, and upper elementary. After-school activities and community theater are available for families in Sarasota, Bradenton, Fruitville, Lakewood Ranch, Bee Ridge, South Bradenton, Bayshore Gardens, and Gulf Gate Estates. The program is inclusive and research-driven. Teachers adapt the curriculum to each child's strengths, learning styles, and abilities. Families can schedule a tour and apply through the enrollment process.

Since 2000, St. Mary Academy has offered a Catholic education to children with learning differences, ages 5 to 15. We serve students of average to above-average intelligence who have dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, other specific learning disabilities, speech and language disorders, ADHD, anxiety, executive function challenges or mild to moderate autism. We are a Diocese of Venice school accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference and the National Council for Private School Accreditation. Classes have 13 students or fewer, taught by Florida-certified teachers. Specially trained teachers deliver Orton-Gillingham and Lindamood-Bell instruction, and each child works toward goals in an individual education plan. Occupational and speech therapy happen on site and are included in tuition. Students also take religion, art, music, Spanish and PE twice a week. Our classrooms sit in Florida's first monolithic dome school, on the 17-acre Bishop Nevins Academy campus we share with St. Martha. Children use the Zazarino Center gym and stage, play fields and a fenced playground, and every student has a Chromebook. We serve hot lunch, and after-care lasts until 5:30 p.m. We take Florida FES-UA and Step Up For Students scholarship payments and offer financial aid.