Pulaski Academy Explained

Pulaski Academy
Headmaster:Brock Dunn
Enrollment:1221
Enrollment As Of:2016–2016
Grades:2 year old–12 grade
Affiliations:Nonsectarian
Status:Open
Coordinates:34.7717°N -92.4147°W
Pushpin Map:Arkansas
Streetaddress:12701 Hinson Road
Country:United States
Ceeb:041444
Campus:Suburban
Campus Size:32acres
Colors:Navy blue, Vegas gold, white
Nickname:PA
Team Name:Pulaski Academy Bruins

Pulaski Academy (PA) is a private, independent college preparatory preschool, elementary, and junior/senior high school headed by Brock Dunn in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. PA was established in 1971 as a segregation academy and remains as the only independent, non-sectarian, college preparatory school in Arkansas.

History

When busing was introduced in the early 1970s to counteract the effects of racially defined residential patterns, whites built private schools in the suburbs or fled the county altogether. In 1971, the segregationist businessman William F. Rector announced the construction of the private Pulaski Academy in the western suburbs of the city for those, he said, who "don't like busing."[1] [2] [3] Pulaski was the first school established after the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education decision (1971). Rector said, "I even hope we'll be allowed to play Dixie if we want to without having a riot about it."[4]

In 2003, one of 102 graduating seniors was black.[5]

In the 2015–2016 school year, 955 of 1,221 students in grades 1-12 were white (78%).[6] In 2016, Little Rock was 48% white.

In 2006, Pulaski Academy purchased the campus of Fellowship Bible Church, on the corner of Hinson and Napa Valley, increasing the campus to 32acres.[7]

Academics

PA is accredited by ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States),[8] and ANSAA (Arkansas Non-public School Accrediting Association). PA is a member of the Cum Laude Society, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), College Board and NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools).[9]

Pulaski Academy was named 2003 "Best of the Best" Private High School by the readers of an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette contest.

During the 2008–09 academic year, fifteen members of the Class of 2009 were named as National Merit Scholars, three as Commended Scholars and twelve as Finalists. Enrollment for 2009-10 is approximately 1,210 K-12 students, with a student/teacher ratio of 8.9:1.

Extracurricular activities

The school's mascot is the Bruin and school colors are Navy blue and Vegas gold. For 2024-2026 the Pulaski Academy Bruins play in the 7A Central Conference administered by the Arkansas Activities Association. The school participates in baseball, basketball (boys/girls), cheer, cross country, Pom, football, soccer (boys/girls), softball, swimming and diving (boys/girls), tennis (boys/girls), golf (boys/girls) volleyball(girls), lacrosse (boys/girls), and wrestling.[10]

The school's football team has won nine state championships since 2003. The team was coached by Kevin Kelley until 2021, who gained notoriety for his strategies, which include the total rejection of punting and returning punts, as well as a reliance on the onside kick.The team is now coached by Anthony Lucas.[11] [12] [13] [14]

Athletic state championships

The Pulaski Academy Bruins have won 68 state championships:[15]

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Civil Rights Movement (Twentieth Century) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
  2. Cope. Graeme. 2019. "A mockery for education"? Little Rock's Thomas J. Raney High School during the Lost Year, 1958-1959. The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 78. 3. 248–273. 26856263. 0004-1823.
  3. Kirk. John A.. 2005. "A Study in Second Class Citizenship": Race, Urban Development, and Little Rock's Gillam Park, 1934-2004. The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 64. 3. 262–286. 10.2307/40028048. 40028048. 0004-1823 . In 1971, when legal action threatened to circumvent the purpose of residential segregation by forcing cross-city busing of students to ensure integrated schools, Rector announced the construction of the private Pulaski Academy for those who "don't like bussing".
  4. Book: Whayne. Jeannie M.. Arkansas: A Narrative History. June 1, 2013. University of Arkansas Press. 9781557289933. 427.
  5. Book: Guerrero. Perla M.. Nuevo South: Latinas/os, Asians, and the Remaking of Place. 2017. University of Texas Press Austin. 9781477314449. 42. 12 December 2017.
  6. Web site: Private School Universe Survey. National Center for Education Statistics. 19 November 2017.
  7. Web site: PA to Buy Fellowship Bible's Nearby Campus .
  8. Web site: ISACS School Profile, Pulaski Academy . ISACS . Aug 24, 2012.
  9. Web site: Accreditation and Memberships. Discover PA. 17 August 2012.
  10. Web site: School Profile, Pulaski Academy . Arkansas Activities Association . Aug 24, 2012.
  11. Wertheim, Jon. Down 29-0 before touching the ball. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  12. Web site: At last, San Diego State may be shirking the punt . Matt Hinton, CBS sports blogger . Aug 24, 2012.
  13. Web site: The High School Football Coach Who Never Punts. FiveThirtyEight. 16 December 2015.
  14. Web site: Tennessee high school to draw national attention during football game against Arkansas foe . Adrian . Mojica . . . September 12, 2019 . November 3, 2019.
  15. Web site: 2012-13 Arkansas State Sports Record Book . Arkansas Activities Association . Aug 24, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130531080716/http://members.ahsaa.org/public/userfiles/Media/recordbook12.pdf . 2013-05-31 .

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