Pulaski Academy

Last updated

Pulaski Academy
Address
Pulaski Academy
12701 Hinson Road

Little Rock, Arkansas

United States
Coordinates 34°46′18″N92°24′53″W / 34.77167°N 92.41472°W / 34.77167; -92.41472
Information
Type Private Secondary
Established1971(54 years ago) (1971)
StatusOpen
CEEB code 041444
NCES School ID 00048235 [1]
HeadmasterRachel S. Deems, President Garry Sullivan, Head of School
Grades2.5 year old–12 grade
Enrollment1221 [1]  (2016–2016)
Campus Suburban
Campus size32 acres (13 ha)
Color(s)Navy blue, Vegas gold, white
   
Mascot Bruin
Nickname PA
Team namePulaski Academy Bruins
AffiliationsNonsectarian
Website www.pulaskiacademy.org

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. [2] [ independent source needed ]

Contents

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." [3] [4] [5] 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." [6]

In 2003, one of 102 graduating seniors was black. [7]

In the 2015–2016 school year, 955 of 1,221 students in grades 1-12 were white (78%). [8] 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 32 acres (13 ha). [9]

Academics

PA is accredited by ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States), [2] 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). [10]

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 the 2009–10 academic year was approximately 1,210 K-12 students, with a student–teacher ratio of 8.9:1. [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. [11]

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. [12] [13] [14] [15]

Athletic state championships

The Pulaski Academy Bruins have won 80 state championships: [16]

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for Pulaski Academy". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "ISACS School Profile, Pulaski Academy". ISACS. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Civil Rights Movement (Twentieth Century) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas".
  4. ↑ 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. ISSN   0004-1823. JSTOR   26856263.
  5. ↑ 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. doi:10.2307/40028048. ISSN   0004-1823. JSTOR   40028048. 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"
  6. ↑ Whayne, Jeannie M. (June 1, 2013). Arkansas: A Narrative History. University of Arkansas Press. p. 427. ISBN   9781557289933.
  7. ↑ Guerrero, Perla M. (2017). Nuevo South: Latinas/os, Asians, and the Remaking of Place. University of Texas Press Austin. p. 42. ISBN   9781477314449 . Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Private School Universe Survey". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  9. ↑ "PA to Buy Fellowship Bible's Nearby Campus".
  10. ↑ Accreditation and Memberships. "Discover PA" . Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  11. ↑ "School Profile, Pulaski Academy". Arkansas Activities Association. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  12. ↑ Wertheim, Jon. Down 29-0 before touching the ball. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  13. ↑ "At last, San Diego State may be shirking the punt". Matt Hinton, CBS sports blogger. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  14. ↑ "The High School Football Coach Who Never Punts". FiveThirtyEight. December 16, 2015.
  15. ↑ Mojica, Adrian (September 12, 2019). "Tennessee high school to draw national attention during football game against Arkansas foe". Nashville, TN: WZTV . Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  16. ↑ "2012-13 Arkansas State Sports Record Book" (PDF). Arkansas Activities Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 31, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
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