Why the Student Leadership Academy? If you're seeking a vital, exciting yet intimate learning atmosphere for your child, consider Venice’s Student Leadership Academy — a public charter school open to ALL children in grades 6-8 who are residents of Sarasota County. Our mission at the Student Leadership Academy is clear: To provide an academic and social atmosphere that will promote SCHOLARSHIP in adolescents by encouraging them to discover and develop their individual talents and to recognize that reading is a requisite skill for scholarship in all areas; To create stimulating opportunities for students to develop LEADERSHIP skills, and; To install in students, the value of volunteerism through SERVICE learning. The Student Leadership Academy offers all of the advantages of Sarasota County’s traditional public schools and more. Our students enjoy smaller than average class sizes (averaging 20) in larger than average classrooms, all in an intimate school community. Our 27,000-square-foot, locked school campus is also exceptionally safe and secure. Our curriculum is rigorous and focused, and there is a strong emphasis placed on community involvement, volunteerism and leadership. The Student Leadership Academy supports extensive parental involvement in all aspects of school life. We have fostered an active and successful partnership between our parents and staff. Our board of directors, comprised primarily of community leaders and parents, helped establish our school and guide our current direction. Like all Sarasota County public schools, there is no charge to attend the Student Leadership Academy, and transportation is provided from Westfield Shoppingtown, Sarasota (formerly Sarasota Square Mall) through to North Port in South County. In addition to a strong curriculum, we offer many extracurricular activities, such as: Spanish Civil Air Patrol Program Computer Classes Peer Counseling Art Music Appreciation Physical Education Journalism Yearbook In addition, we have several unique partnership programs with area businesses and organizations that provide our students with hands-on learning opportunities and a chance to gain an in-depth understanding of specific career fields. Visit our campus and discover the SLA difference today. We invite you to tour our campus and meet our principal to learn more about the Student Leadership Academy. Please take the time to check out the rest of our site, and of course, you are always welcome to call to schedule a personal visit: 485-5551.