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Cary Academy

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Coordinates: 35°49′11.83″N 78°46′09.03″W / 35.8199528°N 78.7691750°W / 35.8199528; -78.7691750
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35°49′11.83″N 78°46′09.03″W / 35.8199528°N 78.7691750°W / 35.8199528; -78.7691750

Cary Academy
Location
Map
1500 North Harrison Avenue

Cary
,
NC
27513

USA
Information
TypePrivate
Motto"A learning community dedicated to Discovery, Innovation, Collaboration, and Excellence"
Religious affiliation(s)Nonsectarian
Established1996
Head of schoolDonald S. Berger
Staff40
Faculty113
Grades6-12
Number of students727
CampusSuburban, 52 acres (210,000 m2)
Athletics conferenceTISAC, NCISAA
MascotCharger (horse)
AccreditationSACS, SAIS
YearbookThe Legacy
Tuition$18,300
School colorsblue and gold
   
Websitewww.caryacademy.org

Cary Academy is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian, college-preparatory secondary school in Cary, North Carolina established in 1996. The school is known for its use of technology in the classroom,[1][2] with Tablet PCs issued to all students [3]. In the 2010-2011 academic school year, Cary Academy had 727 students and 153 faculty/staff.

History

Cary Academy was founded by James Goodnight and John Sall, co-founders of SAS Institute, in 1996, though the first classes were not held until 1997. The Upper School (High School), Middle School, Administration Building (which also houses the Library), Fine Arts Building, and Fitness Center were completed that year.

As a school established by the founders of SAS, the school has placed a heavy emphasis on the use of technology.[4] from 1997 until 2006, the school had desktop computers located in every classroom [2].

In 2003, the Sports/Education Annex was completed, allowing more space for both athletics and Foreign Language classes.

In September 2004, the United States Department of Education named Cary Academy one of 255 public and private schools that had won its No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon award since the inception of the program.

Starting in the 2006-2007 school year, the school transferred from desktops to a Tablet PC program for all students.

Architecture for the school buildings is neoclassical, with ornate columns at entrances. It was modeled after the University of Virginia, and was designed by Cherry Huffman architects of Raleigh, North Carolina. [5]

Academics

Middle school

The middle school curriculum includes required course sequences in science, math, social studies, English, foreign language, and PE; students are also required to choose an elective in the arts. Almost all classes meet each day; the exception is art classes in sixth grade, since sixth-graders choose one class to have three days a week and are rotated through the other arts on the other two days to expose them to different disciplines.

Math levels offered are Math 6 and Math 7 (more or less based on the standard North Carolina curriculum), Transitional Math (i.e. Pre-Algebra), Algebra I, and Geometry. Students are initially placed into either Math 6 or Transitional Math, based on previous grades and entry test scores. The math courses taken in middle school will also determine what courses the student will take in the Upper School. For example, a student that has taken Transitional Math in Eighth Grade will begin with Algebra in the Ninth Grade, whereas a student who has taken Algebra in Eighth Grade will begin with Geometry in the Upper School.

Foreign language classes are emphasized more than is generally the case in middle schools; levels from Novice to Intermediate-Low on the ACTFL scale are offered in Spanish, French, German, and Mandarin Chinese.

Science, History (officially referred to as World Cultures in 6th grade), and English (officially referred to as Language Arts) consist of three-year integrated sequences, though English and social studies emphasize ancient civilizations in the sixth grade, Europe in the seventh, and the United States in the eighth.

Upper school

The high school (referred to as the Upper School) offers an extensive range of required and elective courses. These include many corresponding AP classes, for which college credit can be earned.[6] Most students take at least one or two of these in their junior and senior years, and some take as many as five each year; there are enough AP classes to offer an AP option in nearly every subject for juniors and seniors.

The Upper School operates on a double block daily schedule. Two days of the week, only half the classes meet (the other half meeting on the other day), but they meet for twice as long. This feature is meant to accommodate longer in-class activities, as well as to reduce the time taken to move between classes.

Math

Three years of math are required, though almost all students take four. As the majority of Cary Academy students are one year ahead of the standard curriculum; most students take Geometry as freshmen and Algebra II as sophomores. Later, in junior and senior years, they choose from an array of other options ranging from Probability and Statistics to Advanced Topics in Calculus. The school does not offer multivariate calculus although a few students take advanced math courses at North Carolina State University.

Foreign languages

The foreign language program is, as with the middle school, a particular emphasis, with comprehensive instruction offered from the novice to the most advanced level [7]. Students that began taking German, French, or Chinese in the Middle School continue through the Upper School, though all new Upper School students start with Novice Spanish. In most cases 3 years of the same language are also required in the high school curriculum. The school organizes a two- to three-week exchange program with schools in countries with these native languages. The program usually takes place in the sophomore year, and approximately 90% of students participate [citation needed].

English

Four years of English are also required, including two years of World Literature (in 9th and 10th grade) and one of American Literature (in 11th Grade). As with other core subjects, there are also various elective English courses offered to 11th and 12th graders [6].

Science

Three years of science, including Biology (9th Grade), Chemistry (10th Grade), and Physics (11th Grade), are required as well. Several year-long and single-term courses ranging from Anatomy and Physiology to AP Biology to Forensics are offered in addition to these requirements [6].

History

The fifth core requirement is three years of history and/or social sciences. Students are required to take two years of World History (in 9th and 10th grade) and one of American History (in 11th Grade) [6].

Other courses

There are a few other requirements such as PE (which is generally waived for athletes participating in one or more varsity sports), an Emotional Health program for 10th Graders, and a World Arts program in 9th and 10th grade. A large range of elective courses are offered as well, though the majority of them are available exclusively to 11th and 12th graders [7].

Technology

From its inception, Cary Academy has placed a heavy emphasis on technology [3][2]. From 1997 until 2006, Cary Academy featured desktop computers in every classroom, as per the "one-computer-per-student" policy in use at the time [2]. For the 2006-2007 school year, these were replaced with Tablet PCs (model HP Compaq tc4400) issued to every student. For the 2010-2011 school year, these were replaced with newer Lenovo ThinkPad X201s, using the Windows 7 operating system.

The school issues these computers to students in their first year, and are collected and reissued when the student graduates or leaves Cary Academy. Students are not required to purchase these computers as they are included in the annual tuition. Various types of technology support for the computers are also included, with a computer "help desk" located in both the middle school and upper school [3].

The Tablet PC program is one of the first of its kind in the country; [8] it was financed by school founder Dr. Jim Goodnight.[citation needed]

Nearly all classes make use of the tablet in some form.[3] Main uses include taking notes via the electronic stylus in Microsoft OneNote, using Microsoft Word to type papers, and viewing homework assignments and projects through the school's extensive internal network.[2]

All students, faculty, and staff receive Microsoft Outlook E-Mail accounts, which are used both for communication,[3] and for submitting assignments (which can be done from home as well as during school). Students can also check their current grades through a database, which is available through the school's website and can be accessed at any time [2].

There has also been some difficulty associated with having computers open in every class, as some students use the computers to surf the internet, play video games, or email other inattentive students. The school has instituted various measures to combat this distraction [citation needed].

Extracurricular Activities

Speech and debate

Cary Academy features a Speech and Debate Team, participation in which is available to Upper School students. The school participates in competitions of the National Forensic League. Main Speech and Debate events offered at Cary Academy include:

Cary Academy has earned many titles, including the 2003 & 2004 Tarheel East District Tournament Sweepstakes Winner, 2004 Tarheel Forensic League State Tournament Sweepstakes Champions, and 2003 Tarheel Forensic League State Tournament Sweepstakes Runner-Up.

The school has sent debaters to the National Forensics League National Tournament. Debaters representing Cary Academy have also performed well at other national tournaments, including the Wake Forest University Tournament, and the University of Florida Blue Key Tournament [citation needed].

In 2009, Cary Academy debaters competed for the first time at the Columbia University Debate Tournament. At this tournament, Cary Academy's Varsity Public Forum team took First Place, and the school also garnered several quarter-finalists [citation needed].

In 2010, Cary Academy debaters competed at the University of Florida Blue Key Tournament. At this tournament, Cary Academy placed first in International Extemporaneous Speaking and second in Lincoln Douglas Debate.

Cary Academy's State Champions include:

  • Lincoln Douglas Debate: Varsity- 2004, 2007, 2008. Junior Varsity- 2002, 2006
  • Extemporaneous Speaking: 2003, 2004
  • Public Forum: One Person- 2003, Varsity Team Public Forum (modern)- 2008

Cary Academy is the first and only team in state history to win both Varsity Lincoln Douglas and Varsity Public Forum in a single year [citation needed].

Athletics

Cary Academy has an expansive athletic program, and is a member of the Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference and the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association. Cary Academy has seventeen different athletic teams participating in a diverse range of sports, which include:

Charger logo
The Charger horse is the logo of Cary Academy Athletics

Boys - Lacrosse - Baseball - Basketball - Cross Country - Golf - Soccer - Swimming - Tennis - Track - Wrestling - Swimming

Girls - Basketball - Cross Country - Cheer-leading - Field Hockey - Golf - Soccer - Softball - Tennis - Track - Swimming - Volleyball

Achievements

In 2005, the Varsity Girls' Cross Country team won the state championships, and the Varsity Girls' Basketball team came in second.[9]

In 2008 and 2009, the Varsity Men's Tennis Team won state championships.[9]

The Varsity Men's Cross Country Team won state runners-up honors om 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.[9]

In 2009 and 2010, the Varsity Volleyball team were state runners-up.[9]


Arts

Cary Academy has a diverse Arts Department. In the Middle School, arts offered are visual arts, band, orchestra, chorus, drama, and modern dance [10]. The Upper School offers a much wider range of fine, performing and computer arts, and at least one arts credit (usually one full year of an arts class) is required to graduate [10].

In addition to frequent Instrumental, Choral, Dance and Art shows, Cary Academy's Fine and Performing Arts department has produced the following school-wide productions since its beginning:

References

  1. ^ "Investing in the Future". Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Cary Academy Instructional Technology Outreach Program".
  3. ^ a b c d e "Cary Academy: Technology". Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Feature: SAS in School". Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Cherry Huffman Architects - Cary Academy". Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d "Academic Information: College Credits". Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Cary Academy: Academics".
  8. ^ "wn.com: Cary Academy". Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d "Athletics". Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  10. ^ a b ""Cary Academy: Arts"".

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