Private School

Ovations School for the Arts Community Private School is a unique school that utilizes an arts-integrated curriculum, university-model format to encourage a student focused learning environment through project-based and experiential learning.

What is a Community Private School?
Ovations strives to break the barriers of traditional schooling but we also work hard to provide affordable education and community involvement. We continue to stay completely private to allow our students to grow and learn in a safe environment, free of state testing or mandatory course requirements. We feel that student desired learning is of utmost importance. When students are involved in the decisions to learn they feel empowered and a responsibility, as well as, a desire to educate themselves. This in turn creates a life long learner.
​ We are open to the public and offer everything from free courses and clubs sponsored by local organizations to full time enrolled students through paid tuition.
We also contend to create a level of community consciousness by getting involved with other local non-profits to foster a growth in civics and community responsibility. By requiring and providing volunteer opportunities we teach our students what it means to be part of a community.
We are a private school, we adhere to the guidelines set forth by the State of Florida for Private Schools and our Board of Directors, under the direction and vision of our founder and Executive Director, Mrs. Cara Keelin. While Ovations does provide testing and portfolio reviews by Florida Board Certified Teachers, we do not require standardized testing.
Ovations School for the Arts is proud to offer many different ways for students to complete course credit. From Arts integrated face to face or blended classes where students meet 1-2x per week with a teacher and complete most coursework online, to a 100% online curriculum offered through Florida Virtual School and Dual Enrollment opportunities through our local community colleges, St. Petersburg College and USF.  We truly strive to offer alternative access to incredible education opportunities for all of our students.
​Please note: *We do not accept Step-Up or State Scholarships at this time.*
What is Arts-Integrated Curriculum?
Arts-Integrated curriculum is a curriculum that we have designed to thoroughly bring the arts and the core academics to life. We take real principles of Art, Music, Theatre, Design, etc. and utilize this as a means for learning and understanding core curricula i.e. Math, Science, Social Studies, and English. For example, by combining a drawing class with a Biology class students learn drawing technique together with cell description in an engaging and fun way. All of our courses have an art component integrated within our curriculum. 

What is a University Model Format?
At Ovations students choose their own classes based on availability and desired course content. Courses are offered with a maximum 10:1 teaching ratio. We believe small class sizes allow instructors to work more individually with students and to form a bond and trust that isn't truly possible in a larger class size.
A University Model Format gives students the ability to effectively choose classes based on their desired course material and time of day available to take the class. This better prepares students for a college or university course in that a lot of the work for the course follows a syllabus and homework strategy laid out by the instructor. Students work with parents and teachers to learn the desired material needed to reach their next level of learning on an individual basis and report back to the teacher of record. 

What is Project Based Learning?
Each course is designed to be an integrated thematic curriculum meeting the individual classroom and student needs and standards rather than comparative national standards. Every course has a project component that encompasses all of the out-of-classroom work to be done and varies in each course. It can range from a series of recorded science experiments done in a laboratory drawing notebook to writing a complete novel from beginning to end with the purpose of publication.

What is Experiential Learning?
Experiential learning is where we take our students out of the traditional classroom and introduce them to educational driven experiences that develop a real love for learning and create a knowledge you only get by experience. Through travel to different local establishments, ie. Restaurants, Coffee Shops, Museums, Nature Trails, Field Trips, Theatrical Productions, Orchestra concerts, and more, we can immerse the student in the experience as well as the curricula surrounding the experience. 

Individual

• Allows Flexibility
• Core Curricular Courses
• For Credit Classes
• Take as many as desired

Established

• Full Time Program
​• Core Curricular Courses
• For Credit Classes
• All inclusive
• Choose your own classes

Afterschool

• Social Clubs
• Activities
• Curricular & Fun Classes
• Tutoring
​• College Prep