Local Learning Academy

Join us this fall for supported college prep and college-level learning.

Whether it’s your teen’s first step into college-level work or their fifth, they’ll find a place where learning actually comes alive at Local.

We don’t just teach content. We build experiences around it. Real-world, problem-based learning that gets teens thinking, collaborating, and applying what they learn in meaningful ways.

Learners work together every week. They talk through ideas, challenge each other, support one another, and move toward goals as a team.

It’s structured, supported, and designed to feel like learning should feel: active, connected, and purposeful.

Will your teen be joining us this fall? Classes begin August 24th.

Who REALLY runs America?
This fall, our teens are diving into the power behind the headlines — Congress, representation, gerrymandering, and the hidden forces that shape every law.

From the Great Compromise to McCulloch v. Maryland, they’ll uncover how decisions made centuries ago still spark today’s biggest debates.

It’s not just history — it’s the blueprint of power, influence, and the fight over who gets to decide. Real‑world learning. Real controversy. Real impact

Join our intentionally small learning community as we learn how the Constitution, Congress, and landmark cases actually influence the issues we see in the news every day. Together, we will learn who really holds power in America.

🚑 Coming This Fall! Medical Science: First Responder Academy for Teens! 🔥

What would your teen do if a friend suddenly collapsed, someone started choking, or an emergency happened right in front of them?

We’re kicking off our Medical Sciences course with an exciting First Responder unit where teens will step into the role of emergency responders, tackle realistic scenarios, learn how to stay calm under pressure, and discover what happens inside the body during a medical emergency.

As we explore the cardiovascular system, learners will investigate how the heart, blood vessels, and circulatory system work together to keep us alive and why those systems become so important during an emergency.

We’re also exploring opportunities for learners to earn:
❤️ CPR Certification
🩸 Stop the Bleed® Training

This hands-on unit is designed to build confidence, critical thinking, teamwork, and real-world skills while giving teens a glimpse into careers in healthcare, EMS, firefighting, and emergency management.

Would your teen be interested in becoming CPR certified and learning life-saving skills this fall? Let us know in the comments or send us a message!❤️

Do you have a teen ready for college prep or supported dual enrollment options?

Local Learning Academy is a teen learning community where real-world learning builds future readiness. Our students engage in hands-on, project-based learning designed to connect academics to authentic experiences, community engagement, and future goals.

We offer:

• College prep and supported dual enrollment pathways
• Project-based, real-world learning experiences
• Weekly service projects to earn Bright Futures hours
• A small community of motivated teen learners
• Half-day and full-day membership options

We meet Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Clearwater Historical Society.
(No affiliation with downtown or any religious organizations)

Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open.

Fall is right around the corner and registration is open for Local Learning Academy!

Local is where teens grow academically, socially, and personally. A place built on real‑world learning, strong academics, and meaningful friendships. We’re excited to welcome back returning families and invite new learners to join our community.

We Are So Proud of What We Accomplished Last Year!

* Urban Farm and Early Learner Mentorship — Teens partnered with Packet Line Urban Farms to build an urban farm and lead nature‑based mentorship with early learners, helping create a community garden at a local preschool.

* Historical Society Homeschool Day — Teens planned and led the Clearwater Historical Society’s first Homeschool Day, bringing local history to life for families.

* Marine Science Inquiry Project — Our teens completed a powerful, inquiry based Marine Science project exploring local biodiversity, testing water quality, studying algae growth, and investigating how storms and human activity shape our coastal ecosystems. This was just one of our hands‑on, academically rich projects last year.

What’s Coming This Year

Packet Line Collaboration — Teens will take on more responsibility at the farm and help design new nature‑based programming. They were awarded a native plants grant, and we can’t wait to dive in.

Historical Society Partnership — Planning another Homeschool Day to bring history to light within our community.

Community Hero Project — A new partnership honoring local heroes.

College‑Credit Expansion — Teens will have opportunities to earn dual enrollment credit as they build their future.

Academic Focus Areas — Medical Science, Government, Psychology, Sociology, SAT Prep, Entrepreneurship, and more.

Our learning community is intentionally small — a maximum of 10 high‑school learners per session — so every teen is known, supported, and challenged.

Space is limited for fall. Reach out to learn more. Will your teen be joining us this year?

“What’s one of your favorite breakfast foods?”

The answer was immediate: French toast!

Since most of the girls had already mastered the art of making French toast, they decided it was the boys’ turn to step up to the griddle. There may have been a few jokes about hoping nobody got poisoned along the way!

As it turns out, the boys had nothing to worry about. They quickly got the hang of it and turned out some seriously delicious French toast.

It’s always fun watching the teens teach each other new skills, share what they know, and cheer each other on in the process. And the best part? French toast is officially making an appearance on our upcoming Moms’ Brunch menu!

After weeks of research, testing, brainstorming, and plenty of debate, the teams have officially selected their algae products, algae strains, and production plans!

Now comes the challenge of convincing others that their idea is worth investing in.

The teams are hard at work developing their Shark Tank pitches, and it has been fun to watch their different approaches take shape. Some chose a traditional presentation format, while others went all-in on commercials, infomercials, and creative marketing campaigns.

What I love most is seeing how seriously they are taking the process. They’re thinking about their audience, refining their messaging, anticipating questions, and learning that a great idea is only part of the equation. Being able to communicate that idea effectively is just as important.

The creativity, ingenuity, and problem-solving behind these products have been impressive. We can’t wait to see them bring their ideas to life on presentation day!

Working with Packet Line Farms this year was such an incredible collaboration!

It brought together so many things we value deeply at Local: community, local history, hands-on learning, mentorship, sustainability, and meaningful experiences for teens.

Mrs. Jennifer and Owen are truly remarkable people and such a positive example for our teens. Together, they created an urban farm at the Clearwater Historical Society and welcomed our teens into the process from the very beginning. The teens weren’t just observing. They were helping build, create, problem-solve, plan, and launch alongside them.

They also helped create a nature-based learning program and community garden at a local preschool, giving our teens opportunities to step into leadership and mentorship roles in such natural and rewarding ways.

Every week seemed to bring a new adventure, new responsibilities, and new opportunities to grow. The teens looked forward to every moment of it.

We are so thankful for this partnership and cannot wait to continue growing alongside Packet Line Farms next year. Thank you both for the energy, heart, and vision you bring into this community. You truly are something special!!

What a year this has been.

From your very first presentations, when many of you were so nervous to stand up and share your life plans with our little group, to boldly creating sustainable businesses, it has been incredible to witness your growth.

What stands out most isn’t only what you accomplished, but the way you showed up for yourselves and for each other. You have grown through every challenge and opportunity, becoming confident, supportive, and sure of who you are. Every conversation, setback, and success helped shape this experience into something truly meaningful.

It has been such a privilege to watch you each grow this past year, and I feel so grateful to have shared this incredible journey with you. Thank you for your honesty, your courage, and your creativity. Thank you for being uniquely you!

I am proud of each one of you and genuinely excited to see where life takes you next. Keep up the amazing work, you are going to make such a difference in this world. I am so proud of you and the amazing human beings you are becoming!!!

Hi, I’m Mrs. Stephanie. The one usually hiding behind the camera lens documenting our incredible teens!

We set out to create learning experiences that combined strong academics with real-world life skills while exploring meaningful local community issues. We wanted learning to feel alive. Hands-on. Challenging. Connected to the real world.

But just as importantly, we wanted to build a community. A place where teens could form genuine friendships, take risks, laugh until they can’t breathe, make core memories, and truly enjoy these high school years together.

And somehow… we actually did it!

This year we explored marine science, local community issues, America 250, entrepreneurship, world geography, cooking and culture, and even helped launch an urban farm at the Clearwater Historical Society. The teens tackled big ideas, solved problems, built friendships, and created memories I know they’ll carry with them long after high school.

Next year, we’re continuing to grow with project-based Medical Biology, solving medical mysteries, exploring government through real federal court cases, and diving into the psychology shaping society today. All of our classes can also be paired with ASU Universal Learner courses and CLEP for flexible high school pathways.

We’re incredibly excited for what’s ahead and for the new learners who will become part of this amazing community.

So… will you be learning with us next year?