A Foundation Built on a Parent's Perspective
It was the birth of his son that inspired National Heritage Academies' founder, J.C. Huizenga, to begin thinking about education from a parent’s perspective. A successful entrepreneur, Huizenga had a vision to provide a quality education to all children by applying basic business principles to establish a system of schools focused on accountability and results.
Fortis Academy is a member of National Heritage Academies. We believe in a structured academic environment. Our program not only supports state standards, but provides a unique college-bound approach that delivers the specific knowledge and skills students are expected to master in each subject area and at each grade level.
We are a "World School"
The world is a smaller place in the 21st century. Telecommunications, the Internet, and Social Media have joined together to form an elegant trinity. We have advanced our ability as a community of peoples to engage with other in ways that were not even imagined even a few decades ago. Multi-national, multi-lingual is now the norm.
And so it has been in a very personal way at Fortis Academy since opening in 2004. With over twenty-three countries, six continents, and a variety of amazing cultural heritages represented, the students have always benefitted from a worldly educational environment. Morning assembly at Fortis is like being in a meeting of the United Nations general assembly – just a lot younger.
Diversity is the strength of school – a strength that has helped to forge a very real sense of academic excellence. 89% of students demonstrated proficiency on last year’s MEAP and 74% of students in grades 2 through 8 met or exceeded Fall to Spring growth measures in the Northwest Evaluation Association’s Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment – the 10th best performance out of 67 National Heritage Academies schools.
A belief that all children can achieve is the currency we trade in. Demonstrating love and caring for each and every student and their individual needs is the Fortis way. It’s not uncommon for students to enter in any grade with little or no English language skills. But difficulties with language and understanding can be overcome with kindness, compassion, and a smile. Even when you’re only five years old, in a strange country for less than a week, scared, and missing your father who is half a world away, our staff and students will make you feel like part of our world family.