Athens Academy (school) explained

Athens Academy
Motto:Excellentia Cum Honore (Excellence With Honor)
Established:1967
City:Athens
State:Georgia
Country:United States
Campus:152acres
Type:Private
Gender:Coeducational
Affiliation:Independent
Headmaster:John Thorsen
Founders:John Wilkins, John E. Griffin, Harold E. Beasley, Harvey Cabaniss, Tommy Tillman, Mary T. Erwin
Students:945
Grades:K3–12
Address:1281 Spartan Lane
Mascot:Spartan
Colors:Green, white and silver
Newspaper:Spartan Review
Yearbook:Academia
Pushpin Map:USA Georgia

Athens Academy is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school in Athens, Georgia. As of 2017, the school enrollment is approximately 945 students.[1]

History

Athens Academy was founded on September 6, 1967 in Athens, Georgia.[2] [3] According to the school's website, the vision of Athens Academy's founders, as articulated in their original charter, was to establish a school for students from "diverse social, economic, religious, and racial backgrounds who can benefit from a rigorous academic program led by a highly qualified and enthusiastic faculty."[4] At the time, however, the school's students were all white.[5] [6]

The college-preparatory school opened on a property that formerly belonged to Harvey W. Cabaniss Sr. It consisted of a Colonial Revival home and a red barn located on Prince and Hawthorne Avenues. The school then moved to a property donated by J. Swanton Ivy.[7]

Athens Academy was headed by Ronald Griffeth and D. Alvin Cash before J. Robert Chambers became headmaster in 1983, followed by John Thorsen in 2014.[8] The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in September 2017.[9]

Academics and administration

The Athens Academy curriculum provides general college-preparatory and honors programs. The College Board's Advanced Placement program is offered as an outgrowth of the Academy's honors program. Art, music, physical education, and drama classes are offered in addition to traditional academic disciplines. The school also offers several studio art classes along with digital art and animation, drawing and painting courses.[10] As of 2008, 21% of graduating seniors were National Merit Scholarship winners.[11]

Athens Academy is made up of four divisions: Preschool, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. It is led by a headmaster who reports to the Athens Academy Board of Trustees. Until his retirement following the 2012–2013 school year, Chambers served as headmaster of the school for more than 30 years.[12] He was succeeded by John Thorsen who became Athens Academy's fifth headmaster on July 1, 2014.[13] Beth Sanders is chair of the board of trustees; Susan Zalac is director of the Upper School;[14] Jeff Stachura serves as director of the Middle School;[15] Mark Cunningham is the director of the Lower School;[16] Colleen Burwell is the director of the Preschool.[17]

Campus

The Athens Academy campus is located in Athens, Georgia.[18] J. Swanton Ivy originally donated to the school 105acres of land just inside Oconee County. As the school continued to grow, it expanded to the surrounding area.

The campus has 24 buildings over 152acres located off U.S. Route 441. The Chambers Center, a new administration building named after the former headmaster, was the latest building to be inaugurated in September 2017.

Athletics

Athens Academy competes in region 8-AA of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA).[19] They field teams in cross country, football, competitive swimming and diving, golf, track and field, basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, cheerleading, wrestling, and baseball. The team name is the Spartans. In grades 7–12, 78% of students participate in athletics.[20]

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Athens Academy observes 50th anniversary. Ford. Wayne. September 4, 2017. Athens Banner-Herald. en. April 12, 2019.
  2. Web site: Carter. Kate. Athens Academy Celebrates 35 Years. March 8, 2002. Athens Banner-Herald. January 30, 2013.
  3. Web site: Athens Academy dedicates Chambers Center. Prochaska. Michael. September 6, 2017. Oconee Enterprise. en. 2019-06-28.
  4. Web site: 50 Years of Excellence. Athens Academy. April 12, 2019.
  5. Seeking Education for Liberation: The Development of Black Schools in Athens, Georgia From Emancipation Through Desegregation. Monica. Knight. University Of Georgia. 2007.
  6. Book: Barker, Horace. The South and her Children:School Desegregation 1970-1971. Department of Health, Education and Welfare . 1971. 58.
  7. Book: Thomas, Frances Taliaferro. A Portrait of Historic Athens & Clarke County. 2009. University of Georgia Press. 9780820330440. 206. en.
  8. Web site: Athens Academy names new headmaster. 2013-11-01. Athens Banner-Herald. en. 2019-06-28.
  9. Web site: Chambers Center dedicated on 50th anniversary for Athens Academy. Ford. Wayne. 2017-09-17. Athens Banner-Herald. en. 2019-06-28.
  10. Web site: Athens Academy offers digital animation course. Tiller. Katie. August 8, 2018. Oconee Enterprise. en. 2019-06-28.
  11. News: Private School Guide 08. DiLonardo. Mary. January 2008. Atlanta Magazine. June 28, 2019.
  12. Web site: Athens Academy headmaster announces retirement. France. Erin. Online Athens. Athens-Banner Herald. September 14, 2013.
  13. Web site: New Athens Academy head hopes to put down roots. Giles. Blake. November 13, 2013. Oconee Enterprise. en. June 28, 2019.
  14. Web site: Athens Academy hires Susan Zalac as Upper School director. March 14, 2017. Athens Banner-Herald. en. June 28, 2019.
  15. Web site: Gov. Kemp attends state robotics competition at Athens Academy. Ford. Wayne. February 2, 2019. Athens Banner-Herald. en. June 28, 2019.
  16. Web site: Athens Academy hires new lower school director. Prochaska. Michael. May 4, 2016. Oconee Enterprise. en. June 28, 2019.
  17. Web site: Faculty & Staff. Athens Academy. June 28, 2019.
  18. Web site: Athens Academy observes 50th anniversary. Ford. Wayne. September 4, 2017. Athens Banner-Herald. en. June 28, 2019.
  19. Web site: The GHSA has realigned Classes A through 3A. Here's what it means for Athens-area schools . 2023-08-16 . Online Athens . en-US. Ryne . Dennis . December 8, 2021.
  20. Web site: Welcome to Spartan Athletics!. Athens Academy . January 30, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20141030005811/http://www.athensacademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=141794 . October 30, 2014 . dead.
  21. Web site: Athens Academy Press Releases. Athens Academy. January 30, 2013.
  22. Web site: Deion Colzie - Notre Dame roster . FightingIrish.com . 18 April 2024.
  23. Web site: 2016-04-06. Houston Gaines '13 Elected President of UGA Student Government Association. 2021-07-18. Athens Academy. en.
  24. Web site: Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Hall of Fame biography. Georgia State Golf Association. October 3, 2019.
  25. http://www.athensacademy.net/sports/soccer/girls/history.htm Soccer History
  26. https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/why-brian-kemp-may-need-some-time-find-the-right-words/zBwebaGOwbMucRyKdponxI/ Why Brian Kemp may need some time to find the right words
  27. News: The Eternally Vivid Life of Mallory Moye (and her animals) . 18 April 2024 . AthensUncharted . 1 February 2021.
  28. News: Wiggans headed for nets at Charleston. Hannon. Shane. April 15, 2000. Athens Banner-Herald. June 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929001639/https://www.onlineathens.com/stories/041500/spo_0415000052.shtml. September 29, 2011. dead.
  29. News: Even his dad says Georgia QB must 'perform'. Paschall. David. August 31, 2006. Chattanooga Time Free Press. June 28, 2019. https://archive.today/20130204141655/http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2006/aug/31/Even-his-dad-says-Georgia-QB-must-perform/?print. February 4, 2013. dead.

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