The Wekiva High School Academy of Culinary Arts opened its doors nine years ago with the goal of providing our students the opportunity to explore the rapidly growing Hospitality field while preparing them for graduation, college, and the workforce with career-ready skills.
Since that time, Wekiva Culinary has grown exponentially, expanding the facility, adding a second culinary instructor, tripling program enrollment, and earning the support of many community and business leaders.
Program Overview: Today, Wekiva Culinary is a progressive, four year Career and Technical Education program that provides students the interpersonal, professional, and practical skills our industry friends have identified as necessary for success in the rapidly expanding Hospitality Sector. Senior-level courses in development include Restaurant & Hospitality Management, Baking, and a one-of-a-kind paid internship running a school Food Truck.
Facility: We have four rooms on campus: a traditional classroom for underclassmen and for text-dependent learning, a teaching kitchen with 50% commercial equipment, a teaching bakery with 75% commercial equipment, and a dining room just beginning a comprehensive remodel thanks to a $10,000 grant from the CFHLA. Additional support for this project is needed. Donors are encouraged to visit the Wekiva Culinary Fund page for more information.
Our two year goal is completing the installation of 100% commercial equipment and safety ventilation in our current kitchen and bakery.
Our five year goal is the addition of a Food Truck/ mobile classroom to expand opportunities for our senior Hospitality/Management students and as a source of program revenue.
Our ten year goal is a complete commercial installation on the ground floor of the 500 building or a separate, dedicated Culinary Arts building. The proposed 3 million dollar facility will extend opportunities for real-world learning, expand student capacity through two teaching kitchens, one teaching bakery, a traditional classroom, expanded dining facility, dedicated food and chemical storage, laundry service room, and greatly improved student safety through the use of commercial flooring with built in drains, effective gas and electrical installation, and a hood system with fire suppression.
We’re growing fast!
