Durham Academy

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Durham Academy
Location
3601 Academy Road
Durham, NC, 27705
USA
Coordinates 35°58′37″N 78°58′12″W / 35.97692°N 78.97006°W / 35.97692; -78.97006Coordinates: 35°58′37″N 78°58′12″W / 35.97692°N 78.97006°W / 35.97692; -78.97006
Information
Type Private
Religious affiliation(s) Non-sectarian
Founded 1933
Headmaster Ed Costello
Staff 197
Grades Pre-K to grade 12
Number of students 1,162
Campus Suburban, 40 acres (16 ha)
Color(s) Green and White
         
Mascot Cavalier
Accreditation(s) SACS
Tuition $20,780 (grades 9-12)
$19,160(grades 5-8)
$18,740 (grades 1–4)
$12,940 (pre-school)
Affiliations NAIS, NCAIS
Website www.da.org

Durham Academy (DA) is an independent, coeducational, day school in Durham, North Carolina. Character education is emphasized school-wide, and community service opportunities abound from preschool through upper school. An experiential education program begins in fifth grade and includes a trip to Washington, D.C. for seventh graders, a Civil Rights trip for eleventh graders and a wilderness adventure for twelfth graders. The school has an extensive financial aid program, providing over $1.5 million annually to promote socioeconomic diversity.

Contents

History [edit]

Durham Academy was founded in 1933 as Calvert Method School. In 1959, the school changed its name to Durham Academy and began an expansion which led to the first high school graduating class in 1975. Today, ranked 1st in the Southeast by the New York Times and 30th in the nation by Forbes, it offers classes from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade and serves over 1,100 students. A new preschool and lower school building opened in 2002 and has been recognized by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design for its unique style.[1] The Upper School Learning Commons opened in February 2012. The 7,000-square-foot building – includes a library, a student store, a faculty work room, and a computer lab with 20 iMac stations. The building also houses classroom and office space.[2]

Organizational structure [edit]

Durham Academy is organized into four divisions, each with its own director. The Preschool includes Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten, the Lower School grades one through four, the Middle School grades five through eight and the Upper School grades nine through twelve. Tuition for 2012-13 is as follows: Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten - $12,940; Grades One through Four - $18,740; Grade Five through Eight - $19,160; Grades Nine through 12 - $20,780.[3]

Academics [edit]

Durham Academy's academic standards are highly-regarded. The school offers a rigorous and challenging college preparatory curriculum, including 25 AP courses. The Class of 2009 matriculated to 54 different colleges and universities in 19 states and the District of Columbia, and had average best SAT scores of 664 on critical reading, 700 on math and 756 on writing, for a combined best of 2120 on a 2400 scale. Recent graduates have been awarded Morehead Scholarships to UNC-Chapel Hill, Angier B. Duke and B.N. Duke Scholarships to Duke University and Park Scholarships to N.C. State University, as well as merit scholarships to Santa Clara, University of Southern California, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Davidson, Dickinson, Mount Holyoke, Furman, Elon, and Guilford. Students at Durham Academy have won national titles in chess [4][5] and debate,[6] and a member of the Class of 2007 was awarded second place in the Intel Science Talent Search.[7] Over the last five years, Durham Academy has had 37 National Merit finalists.

Sixty-six percent of faculty members hold advanced degrees, and they average 20 years of teaching experience.[8] Lower School science teacher Lyn Streck was named the 2008 NC Conservation Education Teacher of the Year for involving students, faculty and parents in a variety of environmental efforts.[9] Meanwhile, Upper School history teacher Mike Spatola was recognized by the Stanford Teacher Tribute Initiative in 2011[10] and received a 2012 Outstanding Educator Award from the University of Chicago[11]

Athletics [edit]

Durham Academy's athletic offerings include field hockey, volleyball, cross-country, tennis, soccer, swimming, basketball, lacrosse, softball, track and field, baseball and golf. Durham Academy had the first high school boys lacrosse program in Durham County.[12] Eighty-two percent of the students in grades seven through twelve participate in athletics. The school has won 15 varsity state championships since 2000 and several teams have won multiple state championships. Most recently, the varsity girls field hockey team won the 2012 North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association championship.[13] In addition, several Durham Academy athletes have gone on to Division I programs, including Duke University, University of Vermont, U.S. Naval Academy, Wake Forest University, Harvard University and the University of North Carolina.[14] Among those athletes are Mollie Pathman, the 2009-2010 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player,[15] who played on the U.S. women's Under-20 national team at the 2012 World Cup,[16] and Evan Fjeld, a McDonald's All-American nominee who graduated from the University of Vermont and has played professionally in the NBA D-League as well as in Malta and Switzerland.[17]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "American Architecture Awards". Chicago Anthenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2006-12-05. 
  2. ^ "A new 'heart and soul' at Durham Academy". Durham Herald-Sun. Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
  3. ^ https://www.da.org/podium/default.aspx?t=105867&rc=1
  4. ^ "Chess Champ". The Herald-Sun. Retrieved 2011-02-17. 
  5. ^ "National Girls Chess Tournament Results". The United States Chess Federation. Retrieved 2010-04-22. 
  6. ^ "National Tournament Results". National Forensic League. Retrieved 2010-03-24. 
  7. ^ "Durham senior bags national honor". News & Observer. Retrieved 2010-03-24. 
  8. ^ "Admissions: Why DA?". Durham Academy. Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
  9. ^ "Durham Academy teacher wins state award". The Durham News. March 21, 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
  10. ^ "Stanford honors Spatola with teaching award". Durham Academy. Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
  11. ^ "US teacher Mike Spatola earns University of Chicago honor". Durham Academy. Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
  12. ^ Newton, David (March 17, 2007). "Burgeoning lacrosse makes a play for Durham adolescents". The Durham News. Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
  13. ^ Malenick, Dave. "Durham Academy wins field hockey; Broughton's Kane takes tennis". News & Observer. Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
  14. ^ "Durham native perseveres...". News & Observer. Retrieved 2010-03-24. 
  15. ^ "Durham Academy soccer players wins national honor". News & Observer. Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
  16. ^ "Pathman, Cobb lead U.S. women's under-20 roster". News & Observer. Retrieved 1 November 2012. 
  17. ^ "Evan Fjeld basketball profile". EuroBasket. Retrieved 1 November 2012. 

External links [edit]

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