The Winter Park School

The Winter Park School is a private early learning and elementary institution located at 225 South Interlachen Avenue in Winter Park, Florida. It serves children from infancy through the early elementary years using the Innovation Advantage™ curriculum and the CAPE Method™. The school focuses on hands-on learning and real-world projects to develop curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity.

The CAPE Method™ is a four-step process that guides children through problem-solving. It consists of Challenge, Analyze, Produce, and Evaluate, allowing students to approach real problems like building a bird feeder or fixing a broken item. This method is central to the school's teaching philosophy.

Children primarily learn through interaction with people, materials, books, and their environment rather than screens. Technology is used only when it meaningfully supports a specific learning purpose, ensuring that digital tools do not overshadow direct engagement with the world.

The school operates Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Doors open at 7:00 AM, and children are signed into their rooms at the door rather than using a curbside handover. Circle time begins at 9:00 AM, so early arrival is encouraged for participation.

Students must remain home if they have a fever of 100.4°F or higher, or if they experience two or more episodes of vomiting or diarrhea. The school also maintains a hurricane plan and tracks illness status to ensure safety during inclement weather.

The school hires for judgment and requires every candidate to spend a working morning with children before an offer is made. Teachers must hold current CPR and first-aid certification, be background-screened under Florida DCF requirements, and be trained in the CAPE Method™.

Marnie Forestieri serves as the Founder, CEO, and Head of School. She co-created the Innovation Advantage™ curriculum and the CAPE Method™, drawing on her experience with previous schools like Amazing Explorers Academy and Young Innovators Academy.

The school believes machines will always know more facts than a child, but they will never know which question to ask next. The curriculum focuses on teaching children to wonder, investigate, and build responses, preparing them for a future shaped by rapid change and AI.

In addition to the core curriculum, the school offers enrichment activities such as music, foreign languages, and atelier programs. The day also includes lunch and two or three snacks to support the learning environment.

Daily notes, photos, and messages are sent directly from the classroom to parents, often before a question is even asked. The school encourages direct communication, noting that nine emails is not a process and that parents can text regarding inquiries.

Tuition is a single figure per classroom, and the school provides a full breakdown on its Tuition & Funding page. It accepts Step Up For Students and VPK, walking families through the award ID, EMA enrollment, and quarterly invoicing steps.

The school is situated one block east of Park Avenue at 225 S Interlachen Avenue, between Morse Boulevard and Lyman Avenue. Visitors can take Fairbanks Avenue east from I-4 and turn left onto Interlachen to find the historic building set back behind oaks.

Short-term parking is available alongside the building for drop-off and pickup, while longer visits use side-street spaces on Lyman. Because the building is historic, entrances and interior routes vary by classroom, so visitors should specify their needs when booking a tour.

The school asserts that a child is ready for kindergarten if they can pose a question, test it, build a response, and revise it. Readiness also includes language, early literacy, math, self-regulation, and independence, all developed through the hands-on work.

You can reach The Winter Park School by phone at +1 407-495-2780.