Science classes are a mix of hands-on labs and lectures that cover the fundamentals as well as more advanced Advanced Placement (AP) prep in Biology, Physical Science, Botany, and Chemistry.

Subjects covered include Life Science, including Biology and the impact of nutrition and lifestyle choices on present and long-term health, human anatomy, genetics, including extraction of DNA, Forensics Lab, Earth Science to include rocketry, volcanoes, earthquakes, ecology, weather, botany (including a hands-on school garden to include the structure and function of plants), astronomy, the constellations, planets, theories of the universe, etc. Physical Science includes simple machines and Newton’s Laws of Motion. Chemistry, the Periodic Table, types of chemical reactions through hands-on experiments.

Many of our students have taken AP Biology in 9th grade alongside their Junior and Senior students and have excelled.

Every year, our students form a student government and student congress and every four years, a mock presidential and vice presidential debate is held to coincide with national presidential elections. Simulated courtroom experiences may also take place, complete with lawyers, judge and jury, while presenting and arguing various Supreme Court cases.

All students participate in researching and writing arguments as well as debating different points of view. All students from Grades 6 to 8 are also eligible to join the National Forensics League, a nationally recognized debate club. Our Social Studies curriculum incorporates hands-on projects, dioramas, dramatic presentations and more, culminating with a Social Studies Fair where each student in Grades 4 through 8 participates in presenting their heritage – complete with costumes, research board, and food of their family’s ancestors.

Our Middle School Thespian troupe (Grades 6-8) is the largest in Southeast Volusia County and our students are District and State Champions, including multiple Critic’s Choice awards (Best in Competition).

Plays performed include classic and contemporary works, from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in Kindergarten to “Les Miserables” and “Annie” in our Middle School. English classes also include PSAT vocabulary and spelling lists and the use of classic and contemporary literature. Correct grammar, spelling and Latin roots are the foundation.

Math basics are instilled early to inspire students to easily and earlier grasp advanced Math concepts. Discovery Academy is only one of six schools in the state of Florida to place on the AMC 8 Honor Roll, and has been the number one school the last two years in a row. In addition to our strong core curriculum, we offer extracurricular courses for AMC 8 and Math CLEP prep as well as our Math FUNdamentals course.

We offer an exclusive Apple Computer Lab for our students to complete assignments and gain greater knowledge through using typing programs and other educational software to reinforce concepts taught in the classroom. To Discovery Academy staff and administration, it is vital that our students are not only in touch with our past and traditional learning styles, but also insightful enough to teach in the language of the 21st century. All assignments are provided in digital format and parents are included in every part of the process, as we endeavor to be more green and responsible to our environment.

Spanish as a second language follows the same eclectic principles, including basic vocabulary, spoken and written language that evolves into total Spanish immersion during the class period. Spanish texts and worksheets, as well as skits reinforce the fundamentals. The Spanish Pimsleur Approach software is also used for vocabulary and conversational reinforcement.