Veritas Academy was the first "University-Model school" opened in Florida.[1] Founded in 2005 by Rick Hermanns and Kira Brown Wilson under the name Veritas Preparatory Academy, it began in Pinellas Park, Florida with 91 students. Serving students K-12th grade, Veritas moved to the campus of Indian Rocks Christian School (IRCS) in the fall of 2008 when it became Veritas Academy in Largo, Florida. As a ministry of First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, Veritas students joined IRCS for athletics and fine art classes.
Veritas Academy is no longer operating as a school within First Baptist Indian Rocks or Indian Rocks Christian School.
Veritas was run on the philosophy of the National Association of University-Model Schools (NAUMS), and focused on parents being involved in their child's education. It sought to accomplish this objective by having students K-6th grade receive classroom instruction at a central location two days a week and completing assignments directed by the teacher at home on the other days. Middle school students attended classes three days a week and complete assignments on the off days. High school students followed a collegiate schedule of classes, two, three or five days a week.