Western Academy Charter School has achieved an “A” school rating for 19 consecutive years and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the top one percent of all middle schools in Florida. These were just a few of the facts shared Monday, Feb. 10 when Principal Tsiri Miller briefed the Royal Palm Beach Education Advisory Board and shared her school’s secret to success.
“I’m here to explain how Western Academy Charter School is special and different,” Miller said. “We have the unique opportunity to offer students and faculty a nurturing and collaborative environment with an exceptionally strong focus on academic excellence.”
Joining Miller for the presentation were a large contingent from the Stallion community, with parents packing the room and the fourth/fifth-grade choir providing some high-quality entertainment under the direction of music teacher Yeannli Martinez.
Western Academy has enjoyed 20 years of excellence in Royal Palm Beach. It opened with only 150 students and now boasts 705 students in kindergarten through grade eight. In 2022, the school moved to a new, much larger location at the northwest corner of Southern and Crestwood boulevards in a building that once housed an Albertsons supermarket.
Even though 42 percent of the student body is financially disadvantaged, and 58 percent are members of minority groups, academic test scores are off the charts. For example, Western Academy students scored 100 percent on standardized algebra and geometry exams, while Palm Beach County students overall scored 54 percent, a little better than the state average of 51 percent. Similarly, Western Academy students scored 90 percent on civics and 88 percent on third grade reading against county averages of 70 percent and 52 percent. Tests scores consistently place Western Academy as the top school in Royal Palm Beach when it comes to academic achievement.
Parents and students in attendance spoke highly of the school
Jason Thomas, father of student and choir singer Evie, said, “This school is so great. We love the staff, and Evie loves going to school.”
When asked what she wanted to be when she grows up, Evie replied, “I want to be an engineer. I’m good at math, think bridges are cool, and I hope to be a structural engineer someday.”
Alex Ziomek, who works at a local Publix store, loves the school. “The academy is excellent, and I’m so pleased. Just the other day, I visited the school, where the first thing you see is all the awards on the wall. We’re impressed,” he said.
His daughter Eve is most impressed by the school’s robust music program. “I’m a member of choir, and am so inspired by our music teacher, Ms. Martinez, that I want to become a professional singer,” she said.
For her part, Martinez called music “the universal language” and described the joy of playing the piano at a high international level, in perfect union with other musicians who might not even speak English. “Teaching music is the love of my life,” she said.
Cassidy Valery, another chorus member, also loves learning from Martinez.
“She is a great teacher, and her love of music is contagious. I’m thinking of a career as a performer thanks to her,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy’s mother, Bailey, teaches K-2 science and writing at Western Academy. She is very proud that the school is consistently ranked at the top.
“I think there are three main reasons,” she said. “We get our students to commit to excellence. Commitment is key. That creates high expectations. When you get a like-minded community of committed students with high expectations, good things happen.”
Miller described her comprehensive approach to student success that includes recruiting dedicated teachers and staff, innovative curriculum choices, positive behavior, academic support, and parent and family involvement.
In addition to a traditional middle school program, Western Academy offers an advanced STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) program, an engineering track and an information technology track.
The school is expanding and opening new tracks next year, which means they will have more new student openings than usual. Prospective students must apply by March.
School Board Member Marcia Andrews congratulated Miller and the Western Academy community. In her remarks to the board, Andrews reminded folks that it’s legislative season. Beginning in 2026, every school district in Florida must follow a new state law that’s going to switch up start times for students. Middle schools won’t be able to start earlier than 8 a.m., and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m., which presents expensive and unpopular logistical challenges for the school district.
“We support proposed legislation that would roll back the state law and allow school districts to do what’s best for our community, for our children,” Andrews said.
For more information about Western Academy, visit www.westernacademycharter.com.
