Interlachen Elementary School is a well-maintained 81,000-square-foot red brick facility located at the southern boundary of the town of Interlachen, Florida. The partially wooded 21-acre site gives the school a rural appearance. Visitors are constantly surprised to discover that the 42 modern classrooms joined to nearly silent hallways house almost 900 students.
To understand the role that Interlachen Elementary has played in the community, it is necessary to go back over 100 years to when the town of Interlachen was a bustling tourist stop complete with hotels, lakes, orange groves, and its own railroad station. In the late 1880s a group of influential citizens under the leadership of Captain Henry C. Anderson set about the task of establishing the town’s first school. In 1890 the group opened Interlachen Academy, which in their words was to “afford the best opportunities of education at a reasonable cost so that all may avail themselves of the privileges of the institution.” For the next 96 years, Interlachen Elementary remained at that site, and its growth centered on the original structure, which is considered a state landmark as the oldest wooden school building still in use. In 1989, the facility was turned over to the area high school and Interlachen Elementary was moved to its present site.
Due to innovative programs, student success rate, and high standards imposed by the instructional staff, the school received the “National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence” award in 1994 and 2001. Very few schools are honored with that distinction, and even fewer are two-time winners. The longstanding commitment to excellence is the trademark of Interlachen Elementary School.
With laser-like focus on student growth and achievement, there has been a greater emphasis placed on reading, writing, math, and science. Even with the strong concentration on the academics, time is still reserved for the arts and the development of social skills. Music, physical education, and a recess program are integral parts of every child’s schedule. In an era of declining financial support for non-academic programs at the elementary level, the staff at IES understands the need to develop the whole child and realizes the importance of the link between the arts and academic achievement. In 2001-02, the Florida Department of Education identified Interlachen Elementary School as a Music Demonstration School for the state.
Maintaining excellence in an ever-changing environment is never an easy task. However, at IES excellence is by design, not by accident. A carefully defined in-service program relating to exemplary teacher performance is a top priority. The staff continues to seek out new research-proven alternatives to the traditional instructional delivery methods. Most importantly, the caring and nurturing of the students is considered the major component in the learning process. Interlachen Elementary continues to afford the best opportunities of education . . . so that all may avail themselves the privileges of the institution.