Athens Academy (school)
{{Short description|Private prep school in Athens, Georgia, US}}
{{about|the secondary school in the United States|the ancient academy in Athens, Greece|Platonic Academy|the modern national academy of Greece|Academy of Athens (modern)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Athens Academy
| native_name =
| logo = Athens Academy crest.png
| motto = Excellentia Cum Honore (Excellence With Honor)
| established = 1967
| city = Athens
| state = Georgia
| province =
| country = United States
| campus = {{convert|152|acres|hectare|1}}
| type = Private
| gender = Coeducational
| affiliation = Independent
| affiliations =
| president =
| headmaster = John Thorsen
| principal = {{unbulleted list|Colleen Burwell (Preschool)|{{nowrap|Mark Cunningham (Lower School)}}|Jeff Stachura (Middle School)|Susan Zalac (Upper School)}}
| dean=
| founders = John Wilkins, John E. Griffin, Harold E. Beasley, Harvey Cabaniss, Tommy Tillman, Mary T. Erwin
| head_label =
| head =
| students = 945
| enrollment =
| enrolment =
| grades = K3–12
| address = 1281 Spartan Lane
| district =
| oversight =
| accreditation =
| mascot = Spartan
| colors = Green, white and silver {{color box|green}}{{color box|white}}{{color box|silver}}
| colours =
| newspaper = Spartan Review
| yearbook = Academia
| free_label_1 =
| free_1 =
| free_label_2 =
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| free_3 =
| website = {{URL|http://www.athensacademy.org}}
| footnotes =
| picture =
| coordinates = {{Coord|33.900328|-83.402371|display=title,inline|format=dms|type:edu}}
| 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/local-news/2017-09-04/athens-academy-observes-50th-anniversary|title=Athens Academy observes 50th anniversary|last=Ford|first=Wayne|date=September 4, 2017|website=Athens Banner-Herald|language=en|access-date=April 12, 2019}}
History
Athens Academy was founded on September 6, 1967 in Athens, Georgia.{{cite web|last=Carter|first=Kate|title=Athens Academy Celebrates 35 Years|url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/030802/ath_0308020021.shtml|date=March 8, 2002|publisher=Athens Banner-Herald|access-date=January 30, 2013}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.oconeeenterprise.com/lifestyles/article_3898ae84-9113-11e7-8526-e3da54431053.html|title=Athens Academy dedicates Chambers Center|last=Prochaska|first=Michael|date=September 6, 2017|website=Oconee Enterprise|language=en|access-date=2019-06-28}} 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."{{Cite web|url=https://www.athensacademy.org/about-us/50-years-of-excellence|title=50 Years of Excellence|website=Athens Academy|access-date=April 12, 2019}} At the time, however, the school's students were all white.{{Cite thesis|title=Seeking Education for Liberation: The Development of Black Schools in Athens, Georgia From Emancipation Through Desegregation|last=Monica|first=Knight|publisher=University Of Georgia|year=2007|url=https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/knight_monica_d_200708_phd.pdf}}{{Cite book|title=The South and her Children:School Desegregation 1970-1971|last=Barker|first=Horace|publisher=Department of Health, Education and Welfare |year=1971|page=58|url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED049327.pdf}}
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.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o-8jFTZDrIwC&pg=PA206|title=A Portrait of Historic Athens & Clarke County|last=Thomas|first=Frances Taliaferro|date=2009|publisher=University of Georgia Press|isbn=9780820330440|pages=206|language=en}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/article/20131101/NEWS/311019942|title=Athens Academy names new headmaster|date=2013-11-01|website=Athens Banner-Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-06-28}} The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in September 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/oconee/features/2017-09-17/chambers-center-dedicated-50th-anniversary-athens-academy|title=Chambers Center dedicated on 50th anniversary for Athens Academy|last=Ford|first=Wayne|date=2017-09-17|website=Athens Banner-Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-06-28}}
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.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} The school also offers several studio art classes along with digital art and animation, drawing and painting courses.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oconeeenterprise.com/lifestyles/article_e9d8c508-9b21-11e8-8877-f328c0b8c47a.html|title=Athens Academy offers digital animation course|last=Tiller|first=Katie|date=August 8, 2018|website=Oconee Enterprise|language=en|access-date=2019-06-28}} As of 2008, 21% of graduating seniors were National Merit Scholarship winners.{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fA8AAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63|title=Private School Guide 08|last=DiLonardo|first=Mary|date=January 2008|work=Atlanta Magazine|access-date=June 28, 2019}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2012-07-18/athens-academy-headmaster-announces-retirement|title=Athens Academy headmaster announces retirement|last=France|first=Erin|work=Online Athens|publisher=Athens-Banner Herald|access-date=September 14, 2013}} He was succeeded by John Thorsen who became Athens Academy's fifth headmaster on July 1, 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oconeeenterprise.com/archives/article_f95f4109-6d76-579d-8458-cf1e3ccc245b.html|title=New Athens Academy head hopes to put down roots|last=Giles|first=Blake|date=November 13, 2013|website=Oconee Enterprise|language=en|access-date=June 28, 2019}} Beth Sanders is chair of the board of trustees; Susan Zalac is director of the Upper School;{{Cite web|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/oconee/2017-03-14/athens-academy-hires-susan-zalac-upper-school-director|title=Athens Academy hires Susan Zalac as Upper School director|date=March 14, 2017|website=Athens Banner-Herald|language=en|access-date=June 28, 2019}} Jeff Stachura serves as director of the Middle School;{{Cite web|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/news/20190202/gov-kemp-attends-state-robotics-competition-at-athens-academy|title=Gov. Kemp attends state robotics competition at Athens Academy|last=Ford|first=Wayne|date=February 2, 2019|website=Athens Banner-Herald|language=en|access-date=June 28, 2019}} Mark Cunningham is the director of the Lower School;{{Cite web|url=http://www.oconeeenterprise.com/lifestyles/article_708d6378-0d09-11e6-a1ab-db6fcb2fa7b9.html|title=Athens Academy hires new lower school director|last=Prochaska|first=Michael|date=May 4, 2016|website=Oconee Enterprise|language=en|access-date=June 28, 2019}} Colleen Burwell is the director of the Preschool.{{Cite web|url=https://www.athensacademy.org/about-us/faculty--staff|title=Faculty & Staff|website=Athens Academy|access-date=June 28, 2019}}
Campus
The Athens Academy campus is located in Athens, Georgia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/local-news/2017-09-04/athens-academy-observes-50th-anniversary|title=Athens Academy observes 50th anniversary|last=Ford|first=Wayne|date=September 4, 2017|website=Athens Banner-Herald|language=en|access-date=June 28, 2019}} J. Swanton Ivy originally donated to the school {{convert|105|acres|hectare|1}} of land just inside Oconee County. As the school continued to grow, it expanded to the surrounding area.
The campus has 24 buildings over {{convert|152|acres|hectare|1}} 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).{{Cite web |title=The GHSA has realigned Classes A through 3A. Here's what it means for Athens-area schools |url=https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2021/12/08/athens-area-schools-affected-class-ghsa-realignment/6436376001/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Online Athens |language=en-US| first = Ryne | last = Dennis | date = December 8, 2021}} 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.{{cite web| title=Welcome to Spartan Athletics!
|url=http://www.athensacademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=141794| publisher=Athens Academy |access-date=January 30, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030005811/http://www.athensacademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=141794 |archive-date=October 30, 2014 |url-status=dead}}
Notable alumni
- Graham Blanks, 2024 Olympian (5000m) and 2x NCAA Cross Country champion at Harvard{{Cite web |last=Tidwell |first=Sara |title=Athens-area alum, Ivy League standout defends NCAA men's cross-country individual title |url=https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/high-school/cross-country/2024/11/23/athens-academy-alumni-graham-blanks-is-a-two-time-mens-ncaa-xc-champ-harvard/76525830007/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Online Athens |language=en-US}}
- Amy Bruckner, actress{{cite web|title=Athens Academy Press Releases|url=http://www.athensacademy.net/announcements/press/2009/03/|publisher=Athens Academy|access-date=January 30, 2013}}
- Deion Colzie, football player at Notre Dame{{cite web |title=Deion Colzie - Notre Dame roster |url=https://fightingirish.com/roster/deion-colzie/ |website=FightingIrish.com |access-date=18 April 2024}}
- Houston Gaines, Georgia State Representative (2019–present){{Cite web|date=2016-04-06|title=Houston Gaines '13 Elected President of UGA Student Government Association|url=https://www.athensacademy.org/news-detail?pk=844262|access-date=2021-07-18|website=Athens Academy|language=en}}
- Jake Garcia, (Class of 2023), NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver
- Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, LPGA Tour golfer{{Cite web|title=Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Hall of Fame biography|publisher=Georgia State Golf Association|url=https://www.gsga.org/hall-of-fame/members/vicki_goetze_ackerman|access-date=October 3, 2019}}
- Elizabeth Guess, soccer player[http://www.athensacademy.net/sports/soccer/girls/history.htm Soccer History] Athens Academy Girls Soccer webpage, Retrieved March 13, 2008
- Brian Kemp, attended through ninth grade[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]
- Mallory Moye, actress and artist{{cite news |title=The Eternally Vivid Life of Mallory Moye (and her animals) |url=https://athensuncharted.com/2021/02/01/the-eternally-vivid-life-of-mallory-moye-and-her-animals/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |publisher=AthensUncharted |date=1 February 2021}}
- Lauren Schacher, actress
- Keith Wiggans, soccer player{{Cite news|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/stories/041500/spo_0415000052.shtml|title=Wiggans headed for nets at Charleston|last=Hannon|first=Shane|date=April 15, 2000|work=Athens Banner-Herald|access-date=June 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929001639/https://www.onlineathens.com/stories/041500/spo_0415000052.shtml|archive-date=September 29, 2011|url-status=dead}}
- Joe Tereshinski III, American football quarterback and college football coach{{Cite news|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2006/aug/31/Even-his-dad-says-Georgia-QB-must-perform/?print|title=Even his dad says Georgia QB must 'perform'|last=Paschall|first=David|date=August 31, 2006|work=Chattanooga Time Free Press|access-date=June 28, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204141655/http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2006/aug/31/Even-his-dad-says-Georgia-QB-must-perform/?print|archive-date=February 4, 2013|url-status=dead}}
References
{{reflist}}{{GHSA Class AA Region 8}}
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Category:Private high schools in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Private middle schools in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Private elementary schools in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Schools in Oconee County, Georgia
Category:Preparatory schools in Georgia (U.S. state)