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St. Johnsbury Academy

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St. Johnsbury Academy
Location
Map
St. Johnsbury
,
VT

U.S.
Information
TypePrivate, Boarding
Religious affiliation(s)non-sectarian
Established1842
HeadmasterThomas J. Lovett
Faculty112
EnrollmentApprox. 1000[1]
Average class size15 students
Student to teacher ratio8 to 1
Campus150 acres (0.6 km²)
Color(s)Green/White
Athletics19 Interscholastic Sports
MascotHilltopper
Websitewww.stjacademy.org

St. Johnsbury Academy is an independent,[2] private, coeducational, non-profit boarding and day school located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, U.S., enrolling students in grades 9-12. It was founded in 1842 by Thaddeus Fairbanks, and accepts the majority of its students through one of the nation's oldest voucher systems.[3]

History

St. Johnsbury Academy was founded in 1842 by Erastus, Thaddeus, and Joseph Fairbanks, to provide "intellectual, moral, and religious training for their own children and the children of the community.[4] The school was reincorporated in 1873 in order to accomplish the founders' goal of providing educational opportunities to a wider range for students beyond those destined for the liberal arts colleges and universities.

The school has one of the nations oldest voucher systems. The academy was established in 1842 at a time when public schooling had yet to become common.[5] When many local governments began establishing public schools, towns and regions with established and quality private institutions in some cases relied on these schools rather than build public facilities.[3]

One of the original buildings contributed by the Fairbanks in 1873, North Hall, burned on March 6, 1956. Work began promptly on its replacement, Ranger Hall.[6] The South Hall was built in 1870 to house the students and teachers at a total cost of $36,000 and the total cost to build and equip the Academy was $103,000, which was subsidized by the Fairbanks.[7]

John Negroponte delivered the commencement address in 2006, which drew a number of protestors.[8] He was then the first Director of National Intelligence of the United States.[9] In addition, the school has had a number of notable alumni and attendees.

Administration

Students from the town of St. Johnsbury and neighboring towns without a high school have often chosen to apply for admission to the Academy. Their tuition has been funded by payments from their town of origin. Tuition from these towns and from St. Johnsbury provided 44% of the annual operating budget of $14 million in 2007. Vermont law requires towns not operating schools to pay tuition to other approved schools for students in the grades not provided up to the Average Announced Tuition for union schools.[3][10]

The resident program encompasses almost 200 resident students from over 30 countries.

Accreditation

The Academy is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges[11] and approved by the Vermont State Department of Education. It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent School Association of Northern New England, and the Vermont Independent Schools Association. In addition, the Academy is a member of the College Board.[citation needed]

Athletics

Geographically, the academy competes in both the Northern Vermont Athletic Conference (NVAC) Mountain and the NVAC East Leagues depending on the sport. It usually competes in Division I by size.

The boys' track and field Team has won 29 Division I state championships, most recently in 2008.[citation needed]

The boys' baseball team won the Vermont state championship for Division I in 1993 and 2006[12]

The football team won the Vermont state championship for Division I in 1966 and 1968.[13] - The football team won the Vermont state championship for Division II in 1961, 1982 and 1994.[13]

The Ice Hockey team won the Vermont state championship for Division II in 2003.[citation needed]

Student activities

Notable alumni

Notable attendees

References

  1. ^ "St. Johnsbury Academy News & Sports".
  2. ^ Barbara Leitenberg (2008-02-18). "Retired Teachers Lauded for Prison School". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  3. ^ a b c d Amity Shlaes (1999). "A Little School in the Northeast Kingdom". Hoover Digest. Hoover Institution. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  4. ^ St. Johnsbury Academy website accessed March 12, 2008
  5. ^ Libby Sternberg (2001-09-10). "Lessons from Vermont: 132-Year-Old Voucher Program Rebuts Critics". Cato Institute. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  6. ^ Clair Dunne Johnson,St. Johnsbury,Arcadia Publishing 1996, page 30
  7. ^ "St. Johnsbury Academy". The New York Times. 1873-12-13. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  8. ^ "Graduation Heckler to go on Trial Later this Month". The Barre Montpelier Times Argus. 2007-09-08. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
  9. ^ David Gram (2006-06-05). "Intel Chief Gives Vt. Commencement Talk". The Washington Post. The Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  10. ^ http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_finance_data.html - Retrieved: May 32, 2007
  11. ^ New England Association of Schools and Colleges retrieved June 22, 2008
  12. ^ Vermont Principals Association accessed January 5, 2008
  13. ^ a b Vermont Principal's Association accessed January 5, 2008
  14. ^ "Notable Alumni of Black River Academy". Vermont Historical Society. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  15. ^ Carla Occaso (2005-05-23). "AA Founder's St. Johnsbury Birthplace Turning into Addiction Recovery Center". The Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
  16. ^ Bio of Linda Richards accessed December 6, 2007
  17. ^ "Vermont's New Senator". The New York Times. 1899-02-05. Retrieved 2008-03-11.

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