SCPS to launch new fire academy at Winter Springs HS

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County Public Schools announced it will welcome a unique new career-learning opportunity for the 2025-26 school year, thanks to some sizeable grant money.

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District officials said the “Bear Brigade Fire Academy” at Winter Springs High School will be made possible by a $2.7 million gift from The Florida Department of Education.

SCPS said the cutting-edge program will help prepare students train for careers in the fields of Fire and Emergency Services.

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“This program is a game-changer for our students and community,” Superintendent Serita Beamon said.

“The Bear Brigade Fire Academy will offer unparalleled opportunities for our students to gain hands-on experience, work with state-of-the-art equipment, and enter a career field that is in high demand both locally and nationally. We are grateful for the investment in our students and their futures.”

We are SO excited to share that SCPS received a $2.7 million grant to create the Bear Brigade Fire Academy at Winter Springs High School. Classes for this academy will begin in Fall of 2025.

This is another example of how SCPS is leading the way in #SchoolChoice pic.twitter.com/m1BiLtSvJa
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) January 13, 2025

SCPS added that students can enter the program starting in the ninth grade. By senior year, they will be able to transition to dual enrollment courses through a partnership with Seminole State College.

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Officials said graduates of the program will have a “distinct advantage when applying to the Seminole State’s Fire Academy, providing a direct pathway to certification and career readiness in the fire and emergency services field.”

The district said this marks the largest single-program grant in SCPS history.

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