When you walk through the halls of Marco Island Academy now, it’s hard to believe how far our school has actually come. The bright blue classrooms, huge gym, science labs, and wide open study areas feel like a world apart from what MIA used to be. The journey to this building wasn’t easy but it took years of hard work, dedication, and belief from teachers and the community of Marco Island to make it happen.
Marco Island Academy had a very humble start. When it first opened, there wasn’t a blue fancy building or high tech classrooms. For the first year and a half, MIA held their classes at the Baptist Family Church, which was leased before the school was able to move to 2255 San Marco Road, where we stand today. After leaving the church, students were learning in portable classrooms, and there weren’t many places to gather or hang out. Sports teams practiced wherever they could find space and clubs often met in random areas. But even though the campus looked simple, the spirit of the students and teachers made the school feel very alive. Everyone knew they were part of something bigger even if the school was still growing.
Those first couple years were all about discipline, perseverance, and community. Students had to be flexible and understanding and teachers went the extra mile to make learning more fun. It was tough but it did build a strong sense of pride. Every challenge the school faced only made the community more determined to see this school succeed.
Fast forward to today, MIA looks completely different. The opening of this new building changed everything. Walking into it for the first time felt like stepping into the future for students. For the first time, we had modern classrooms with new technology, actual science labs. The new gym gave athletes a true home court, and the arts finally had room to dedicate spaces for art.
The opportunities that come with this new building are endless. Students can take advanced classes and participate in a wider variety of clubs. Sports teams are able to grow and compete with pride and school spirit is stronger than ever. The arts have also taken off with bigger shows and performances than ever before. It’s like the building opened the door to everything students had been waiting for.
Still, MIA isn’t just about the facilities, it’s about the people and the values that built the school from the beginning. One MIA alumnus, Luke Mclain, explained it best when he said:
“Discipline is climbing until you get there. That same spirit is what built Marco Island Academy, a vision that started small, but through faith, discipline, and perseverance, has grown into something far greater than anyone could have imagined. It’s proof that with belief and relentless work, even the smallest beginnings can rise to inspire generations.”
His words really sum up what MIA stands for. This school has always been about more than just a building. It’s about showing what can happen when people believe in something and are willing to work hard to make it real. The students who came before us laid the foundation, and now it’s up to us to carry it forward.
Other alumni also recognize how far MIA has come. Ellie Ball, who graduated before getting the chance to learn inside the new campus, said “From someone who never got to study in the new building, it’s amazing to see how far it has come. I can see the culture of MIA growing bigger and bigger, and it makes me proud to know I was part of the journey.”
Hearing from alumni like Luke and Ellie reminds us that the new building isn’t just about today, it represents the dreams of all the students who attended here before us. They pushed through the early days so that current and future students could have the opportunities we enjoy now.
When you think about how MIA started and what it is today, it’s inspiring. The growth proves that even when things seem impossible, small steps eventually lead to big changes. The academy went from church classrooms, portable buildings, and borrowed fields to a place filled with opportunities for every type of student athletes, artists, and leaders.
Rylee Howard, a current senior who has spent her entire high school experience in the new building, shared what it feels like to learn here now:
“As someone who never had to study in the old portables, I feel incredibly lucky. This building feels like a second home, and every hallway and classroom shows how much our school has grown. You can feel the culture of MIA getting stronger every day, and it makes being a senior here something really special.”
MIA’s story is proof that big things can come from small places. And as students we get to live that story every day walking the halls and adding to the legacy of a school that has already come so far.
