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==History==
==History==
Founded in 1834 as the Worcester County Manual Labor High School, it did not change its name until 1847. The school moved to its current location on Union Hill in Worcester in 1869. Worcester Academy was all-male from its founding until 1856, and again from 1890 to 1974. It has been coeducational since.
Read about the progress and achievements of the last ten years in THE SEMINAL DECADE, published in the Academy's Spring 2007 Hilltopper magazine.

Read about alumni who are living the school motto in ACHIEVE THE HONORABLE, published in the Academy's Fall 2007 Hilltopper magazine.

-----------

175 YEARS

To truly appreciate the Worcester Academy legacy of hard work, determination and outstanding achievement that each student is expected to carry forth, one must first understand our humble beginnings ...

Established as the Worcester County Manual Labor High School in 1834, the Academy first opened its doors as "a school for the education of youth in languages, arts and sciences; for promoting habits of industry and economy; and for inculcating the principles of piety and virtue."

In 1846 the school officially became Worcester Academy; twenty-three years later it moved from downtown to our present location on the Union Hill campus. And in 1882, the Academy welcomed principal Dr. Daniel Webster Abercrombie, for whom the head of school's house is named today. Abercrombie served Worcester Academy for 36 years, during which time he pioneered a progressive curriculum parallel to the ones he experienced in Europe.

Over the years Worcester Academy continued to progress: In 1974 we resumed the admission of girls after a hiatus of many decades ... 1987 saw the opening of the middle school, followed by the addition of sixth grade in 1996 ... and it was also during 1996 that the school's buildings were connected to the Internet, signifying a remarkable boost to the educational opportunities afforded our students.

Our curriculum both reminds us of our past and keeps a watchful eye on our future. Times have changed since the Worcester County Manual Labor High School, and so have we -- but like our mantra of 1834, Worcester Academy remains committed to providing our students with a solid real-world education.


==Campus==
==Campus==

Revision as of 21:47, 30 December 2009

Worcester Academy
File:Crest1forwiki.png
Location
Map
Worcester
,
MA

United States
Information
TypeIndependent, day and boarding
MottoΈφικνού τών Καλών
(Achieve the Honorable)
Religious affiliation(s)None
Established1834
HeadmasterDexter P. Morse
Faculty80
Enrollment501 upper school
154 middle school
Average class size13
Student to teacher ratio8:1
CampusUrban, 67 acres (270,000 m2)
Color(s)Maroon
Athletics24 Interscholastic sports
54 Interscholastic teams
Athletics conferenceNEPSAC
MascotHilltoppers (rams)
Websiteworcesteracademy.org

Worcester Academy is an independent coeducational preparatory school spread over 67 acres (270,000 m2) in Worcester, Massachusetts in the United States. The school is divided into a middle school, serving approximately 150 students in grades six to eight, and an upper school, serving approximately 500 students in grades nine and above, including some postgraduates. Approximately one-third of students in the upper school participate in the school's five- and seven-day boarding programs. Currently there are approximately 80 international students enrolled from 10 different nations.

Worcester Academy is a member of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council.

Its motto is the Greek phrase "Έφικνού τών Καλών," which translates to "Achieve the Honorable."

History

Founded in 1834 as the Worcester County Manual Labor High School, it did not change its name until 1847. The school moved to its current location on Union Hill in Worcester in 1869. Worcester Academy was all-male from its founding until 1856, and again from 1890 to 1974. It has been coeducational since.

Campus

Warner Memorial Theater
Walker Hall, The Megaron, and Adams Hall
Dexter Hall
Kingsley Laboratories
Walker Hall
Rader Hall (library)
1898 advertisement for the school.

Worcester Academy's campus is currently spread over four main parcels: the main campus, which contains approximately 12 acres (49,000 m2); Francis A. Gaskill Field, a 12-acre (49,000 m2) parcel two blocks from the main campus; and the New Balance Fields on Stafford Street, comprising about 30 acres (120,000 m2). Worcester Academy also recently relocated some of its offices and alumni facilities to a renovated Victorian home two blocks from the main campus. In 2006, Worcester Academy signed a purchase and sale agreement to purchase an additional 13 acres (53,000 m2) between Gaskill Field and the main campus, with the intent of creating a new indoor athletic complex.

On the main campus, several brick buildings are listed on the national historic register, including Chester W. Kingsley Laboratories, Joseph H. Walker Hall, Reverend Robert J. Adams Hall, and William H. Dexter Hall. The headmaster lives in the Daniel W. Abercrombie House, named for the principal of Worcester Academy from 1882 to 1918[1]. A new addition to the Worcester Academy campus is Harold G. "Dutch" Rader Hall, which houses the school's library and is used for middle school classes and activities. Kingsley Lab was recently re-done to increase the learning of the students while revitalizing its historic appearance.

One of the most notable architectural buildings on the campus is the Lewis J. Warner Memorial Theater, a gift from Warner Brothers Studio President Harry Warner. He donated the building in memory of his son Lewis Warner '28, who died shortly after graduating from the academy. The Academy's formal student assemblies are held in Hervey S. Ross Auditorium, Warner Theater to this day, though the theater is no longer able to seat the entire middle and upper school student bodies at once.

Athletics

Worcester is a member of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council. Its main athletic rivals include Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, Deerfield Academy, Cushing Academy, Northfield Mt. Hermon School, Lawrence Academy, The Governor's Academy, Loomis Chaffee and Milton Academy.

In 2005-2006 the girls varsity basketball team had an undefeated season, winning the NEPSAC championship.[citation needed]

Since 2000, the year the hockey team was re-instated, it has grown into a powerhouse in the NEPSAC Division 2 ranks. Having sent students onto a variety of Division 1, 2, and 3 college teams. Notable Alumni include Pat Brosnihan(Yale), Adam Sinewitz (AIC and pro in Holland), Billy Kasper (Norwich), Mike Mortimer and Ryan Crapser (Trinity), Mike Dwyer (Assumption).

In 2008 the Worcester Academy Girls Varsity soccer team won the NEPSAC Class B Final. The final finished off their 15-0-2 undefeated season, which saw the team only allowed 6 goals all season, with 11 shutouts.[citation needed]

The Varsity Baseball team has seen great success since Peter Kostacopolous was hired as head coach in 2003. The team has consistently made post season play including a NEPSAC Class A Championship appearance in 2004. In 2008 Dana Forsberg took over the program and led the team to a second place finish. Each year the varsity team makes a week long spring training trip to Fort Pierce, Florida, practicing and playing teams from around the country.

Basketball Powerhouse

Worcester Academy has enjoyed tremendous success with its storied basketball program. Since its inception in 1917, the Hilltoppers have traditionally been one of the regions premier programs.

Competing against the top Prep School and College programs in New England, Worcester Academy proudly displays eighteen (18) New England Prep School Class A championship banners.

Countless players and coaches have contributed significantly to this legacy of success. Harold Bockoven, the first coach in Worcester Academy history to record 100 wins, set the tone from the 1920s through the 1940s and paved the way for Andy Laska and Dee Rowe to establish Worcester Academy as a Prep School Power in the 1950s and 1960's. Coach Rowe's teams won an unprecedented nine (9) New England Prep School Championships in a 12-year run propelling Coach Rowe into the head coaching position at the University of Connecticut where he continues today as a member of the UConn athletic staff.

Tom Blackburn, the winningest coach in Worcester Academy history with over 360 victories, coached the Hilltoppers for 26 seasons. His legacy includes seven (7) New England Prep School Championships and 20 trips to the semi-final level of this prestigious event.

Team members over the years included former Boston Celtic and current Head Coach of the Dallas Mavericks, Rick Carlisle, Jeff Cross, former LA Clipper and Obina Ekezie, currently a member of the Atlanta Hawks.

Luke Bianchi, John Drosos, Wayne Embry, Michael Malone (current Assistant Coach for the New York Knicks), Donnie Nelson (current General Manager of the Dallas Mavericks), Paul Seymour, and Brendan Winters (formerly of Davidson College and now with Bayer Giants of the German League) represent several NBA coach's sons, present and former, who have graduated form Worcester Academy.

The college coaching world is also filled with Worcester Academy Alumni including Tim Welsh '80, Head Basketball Coach at Providence College, Brian Baptiste '72, Head Basketball Coach at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth and recently named Head Basketball Coach at Clark University, Mo Casarra, '93, who led the 2003 Worcester Academy quintet to the New England Prep School Championship.

Current Head Basketball Coach, Ed Reilly, brings 20 plus years of collegiate experience to Worcester Academy and the rich tradition of basketball success will continue to be a benchmark for generations to come.[2]

Other

In September 2006, Boston Magazine rated Worcester Academy the sixteenth best private school in the Boston Area, and the best in Worcester County. In an article entitled "The Right Private School for Your Kid," Boston Magazine rated Worcester Academy the best private school in the Boston area for students to exercise their mathematical talents. In 2008-2009 it was Worcester Academy's 175 anniversary.

Trivia

  • Parts of the 1992 movie School Ties were filmed in Worcester Academy's gymnasium.
  • Arctic explorer Donald B. MacMillan was a member of the faculty from 1903 to 1908, when he joined Robert Peary in his effort to reach the North Pole. He donated a kayak from the expedition to the Academy, which now rests in the Megaron.
  • A rafter in the Megaron has Greek writing on it, which translates to "Let no evil enter here."
  • The Andes Pit Theatre used to be the gym.

Notable alumni

Notable faculty and alumni of Worcester Academy include:

In addition, many student-athletes attend Worcester Academy solely for their senior year, or for a single postgraduate year, to increase their exposure to college coaches or to improve their academic standing. Notable student-athletes include:

Headmasters of Worcester Academy

NumberNameYears
1stSilas Bailey, D.D.1834-1838
2ndSamuel S. Greene, LL.D.1838-1840
3rdNelson Wheeler, A.M.1840-1847
4thEli Thayer 1840, A.M.1847-1849
5thCharles C. Burnett, A.M.1849-1852
6thEleazer J. Avery, A.M.1852-1854
7thWilliam S. Greene, A.M.1854-1858
8thWerden Reynolds, A.M.1858-1860
9thJames R. Stone, D.D.1860-1862
10thAmbrose P. S. Stuart, A.M.1862-1864
11thCharles Ayer, A.B.1865-1866
12thAlbert Prescott Marble, Ph.D.1866-1868
13thWilliam C. Poland, A.B.1868-1870
14thWillard T. Leonard, M.A.1870
15thRev. David Weston, A.B.1870-1871
16thJohn D. Smith, A.B.1872-1875
17thNathan Leavenworth, A.M.1875-1882
18thDaniel Abercrombie, Litt.D., LL.D.1882-1918
19thSamuel Foss Holmes, A.M.1918-1933
20thHarold H. Wade1933-1942
21stLeRoy A. Campbell, Ph.D.1942-1950
22ndPaul K. Phillips, A.B.1950-1954
23rdWilliam S. Piper, Jr., Ed.D.1954-1968
24thHarold G. Rader, Ed.D.1968-1969
25thDavid R. Jefferson, B.A., B.D.1969-1970
26thRobert A. LaBranche 1946, M.S.1970-1974
27thJohn A. Bloom, M.A.1974-1985
28thBen Williams1985-1991
29thJohn Mackenzie1991-1997
30thDexter P. Morse1997-present

References

  1. ^ History of Worcester Academy
  2. ^ http://www.worcesteracademy.org/miscpage.asp?mp=378

External links

42°15′10″N 71°47′27″W / 42.252675°N 71.790703°W / 42.252675; -71.790703

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