The King's Academy is a three-time National Blue Ribbon, private Christian pre-K–12 college-preparatory school in West Palm Beach, Florida. Established in 1970, it is run by an independent board of governors.
History
The King's Academy was founded by a group of Christian business leaders and pastor and theologian C. Ernest Tatham in August 1970 and opened on the campus of Belvedere Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. In 1971, the school purchased a 20-acre campus on Cherry Road where it remained until the 2004 school year. In August 2005, The King's Academy moved to its current location, 65 acres at Belvedere Road and Sansbury's Way in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Since 1970, four presidents have overseen the daily operations of the school: Kye Harris (1970–1974) M. Nelson Loveland (1974–1999) Jeffrey M. Loveland (1999–2016) Randal L. Martin (2016–present).
Since the school's inception, seven chairs of the board of governors have served: M. Nelson Loveland (1970–1974) Lloyd Prouty (1974–1975) Stanley F. Frederick (1975–1987) Gene Martin (1987–1993) David Fiebig (1993–2006) Clyde S. Meckstroth (2006–2019) Steven T. Rasmussen (2019–present).
National awards and recognition
The King's Academy has received a number of national honors, including:
1986: The school received national recognition for excellence in education from President Ronald Reagan and U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett as one of the top 60 private schools in the country.
1988: The band performed at the White House during President Ronald Reagan's term.
1989: The school's band students were selected to play for President George H. W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle at their inaugural parade.
2000: The school's fine arts students performed the world amateur premiere of Disney's Beauty and the Beast musical.
2007: Christian school researcher Dr. Gene Frost cited the school as one of the seven best Christian schools in America in his book, Learning from the Best: Growing Greatness in the Christian School.
2013: The school's fine arts students performed the world premiere of Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (an English adaptation of the German-language musical Der Glöckner von Notre Dame).
2014: Dr. Frost reiterated the school's top seven national ranking.
2014: Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education for President Barack Obama, named the school a National Blue Ribbon School as an Exemplary High Performing School; one of 50 private schools to receive the honor.
2015: The National Football League named the school to its Super Bowl High School Honor Roll.
2016: The school's musical theatre program was named one of the nation's five best by the American High School Theatre Festival, winning the award for its performance of "Jekyll & Hyde."
2016: The school's boys golf team won a national championship at the Antigua National High School Golf Invitational in Scottsdale, Arizona; defeating the Utah state champion team by 11 strokes, the Arizona champion by 15 strokes, and the Illinois winner by 25 strokes.
2017: The school's choir and dance students were selected to perform for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at their inaugural concert.
2017: For a second time, the school's musical theatre program was named one of the nation's five best by the American High School Theatre Festival, winning the award for its performance of "Les Miserables."
2017-2020, 2022, 2026: The school's competitive cheerleading team earned six National Grand Champion honors, defeating all teams, at the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders ("FCC") National Championships in Orlando, Florida.
2018: The school's conservatory students performed the world high school premiere of "Newsies" the musical.
2022: The school hosted the Fox News Hannity Town Hall Special Live Event which included Governor Ron DeSantis, US Senator Marco Rubio, and US Senator Rick Scott.
2022: TKA became the first brick-and-mortar K-12 school to earn a YouTube silver play button for 100,000 subscribers. By 2025, the school's @TKAWPB channel had more than 300,000 subscribers.
2023-2024: The school's conservatory students performed the world school and world amateur premieres of Sight & Sound's "Ruth" and "Joseph" musicals, respectively.
2024: Broadway's Jeremy Jordan performed a Christmas concert with the school's jazz ensemble.
2025: The school earned Exemplary Accreditation from the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), one of approximately 25 Christian schools in the USA to earn ACSI's highest award.
2025: Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education for President Donald Trump, nominated the school for a third National Blue Ribbon School as an Exemplary High Performing School; one of 50 private schools to receive the honor.
2025: First Lady Melania Trump, invited the school's jazz ensemble to perform Christmas favorites in the White House's East Room; one of 25 musical groups to be selected.
2026: Best-selling jazz saxophonist Kenny G collaborated with the school's jazz ensemble on a recording of "You Raise Me Up."
Academic profile
The King's Academy offers a college preparatory program for students from early childhood to 12th grade. The King's Academy is fully accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International. The school's most recent re-accreditation study resulted in an extension of the school's exemplary accreditation through 2030.
Middle and high schools The King's Academy's secondary schools educate students from 6th to 12th grade. On average, 99% of The King's Academy's graduates enter college, with 96% of graduates matriculating into a four-year university or college. Other graduates commit to service in the United States military branches. Recent commencement speakers have included Vice President Mike Pence, Mac Powell, Bob Goff, Dr. Ben Carson, Tim Tebow, Benjamin Watson, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. Brian Mast, and TKA alumni Dr. Juli Slattery, US Tax Court Judge Emin Toro, and Gary Wallace.
The King's Academy offers 21 Advanced Placement courses and 39 hours of dual enrollment credits in partnership with Palm Beach Atlantic University and Southeastern University.
Business Program of Distinction
In 2013, the school established a business track for high school students. Business-minded students can earn a certificate of completion by taking electives in American entrepreneurship, economics, ethics, foreign language, marketing and statistics; along with becoming a member of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA-PBL). In 2023, the school's accounting program was endowed by an anonymous donor.
DiMino Engineering & Technology Program of Distinction
In 2015, the school established a STEM magnet program for high school and elementary students, offering an academically rigorous science, technology, engineering and math curriculum. Students that complete the STEM track receive a certificate of completion.
In 2018, Frank DiMino gifted $1 million to endow the school’s engineering track and to establish the DiMino Engineering Program.
O'Keeffe Pre-Law Studies Program of Distinction
In 2016, the school established a pre-law track for high school students. Students interested in the field of law can earn a certificate of completion by taking six electives in law-related classes. In 2018, the Esther B. O'Keeffe Foundation donated $1 million to the Pre-Law Program, and King's named the program after the foundation.
Pre-Medical Program of Distinction
In 2017, the school established a sports medicine track for high school students. Students interested in the field of athletic training can earn a certificate of completion by taking five electives in sports medicine-related classes. Subsequently, the school added medical science terminology, pathology, applied research, and anatomy and physiology classes to allow students to also pursue a pre-medical certificate.
Christian Leadership Program of Distinction
In 2017, the school established a Christian leadership track for high school students. Students interested in a future career in ministry can earn a certificate of completion by enrolling and successfully completing three advanced biblical electives including Interpreting the Bible, Introduction to Christian Ministry, and Evangelism and Apologetics. In 2025, this program was endowed by an anonymous donor.
Aviation Program of Distinction
The school has also established an aviation program by which juniors and seniors can pursue a private pilot's license. In 2023, the program was gifted an on-campus flight simulator. In 2025, an anonymous donor endowed the program's annual scholarships.
Elementary school The King's Academy's elementary school educates students from pre-Kindergarten to 6th grade. The school's elementary students' average scores ranked in the top 15 percent of private schools nationally for 2013 and 2014 academic standardized testing; qualifying the school as a Blue Ribbon Elementary School according to the U.S. Department of Education. As a result, the school was named a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School. In addition to academic subjects, the School's elementary program provides instruction in art, band, cognitive development, Latin, music appreciation, physical education, Spanish, science laboratory, technology and vocal music. Optional after-school extracurricular activities are offered for athletic and fine arts development.
Early childhood program
The King's Academy's early childhood program educates students from age 2 to pre-Kindergarten at its on-campus home, the Frank DiMino Early Childhood Center, which opened in 2024.
Athletics
The King's Academy's Lions athletics program competes in the following sports: Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Swimming and Diving, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball (Indoor, Boys, and Beach), Weightlifting and Wrestling.
As a full member of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), the school fields approximately 60 boys and girls teams in 30 FHSAA-sanctioned varsity sports.
Team championships In 1992, The King's Academy's baseball team defeated Tallahassee Maclay for the school's first Florida state championship, and won another state title in 2001. The King's Academy volleyball team won the Florida state title in 1993, in 1994, and again in 2006. The King's Academy competitive cheerleading team won five consecutive FHSAA state championships from 2010 to 2014 and a sixth in 2019. In 2025, the school's boys' volleyball program won its first state championship with a 3-0 sweep of SLAM (Tampa) in the finals. In 2026, the school's girls' soccer program won its first state championship with a 5-4 penalty kick victory over Palmer Trinity.
In 2016, The King's Academy's boys' golf team won the school's first national championship at the Antigua National High School Golf Invitational in Scottsdale, Arizona. The school's competitive cheerleading team earned National Grand Champion and FHSAA Public School Champion honors at the 2017 through 2020, 2022, and 2026 FCC National Championships in Orlando, Florida.
In all, varsity teams competing for The King's Academy have won 181 FHSAA district championships, 64 FHSAA regional titles, 3 football conference titles, 7 Palm Beach County championship, 13 FHSAA state championships, and 7 national championships: