Arendell Parrott Academy

Arendell Parrott Academy is a non-sectarian private school located in Kinston, North Carolina, for grades K–12.[2] The school was founded as a segregation academy in response to the court ordered integration of public schools.[3] The school was the vision of Mr. Marion Parrot, a local attorney and state representative.[4] After struggling for a few years to gain support, the untimely death of their son, Arendall, provided the inspiration to Parrott family to open the school[5]

Arendell Parrott Academy
Location
1901 Dobbs Farm Road

Kinston
,
North Carolina
28504

United States
Coordinates35°18′46″N 77°36′11″W
Information
TypePrivate
Founded1964 (1964)
CEEB code342067
NCES School ID01011496[1]
Teaching staff63.3 (FTE)[1]
GradesK–12
GenderCo-educational
Number of students719 (2015–2016 school year[1])
Campus55 acres (220,000 m2)
Campus typeRural
Color(s)Red and royal blue
AthleticsNCISAA
MascotPatriots
Tuition$12,000
Websitewww.parrottacademy.org

History

The school was founded by Marion A. Parrott, a former member of the North Carolina General Assembly and attorney. In 1964, Parrott and his wife came together with several other citizens to form Arendell Parrott Academy, named after their deceased son, Marion Arendell Parrott Jr. 55 acres (220,000 m2) of land was donated for the school in 1965, and by 1971 the school consisted of kindergarten through twelfth grade.[6]

Mewborne Hall and Whitaker Hall were the school's first elementary classroom buildings and they were completed in 1966. Since then, the school has grown to include eight instructional buildings, seven athletic facilities and one activity center. With these facilities the school is able to support over 700 students, approximately 65 full-time teachers and over 30 sports teams.[6]

In 2003, the school suffered minor damage from the West Pharmaceutical Services explosion. Many windows burst in and a student was injured by broken glass.[7]

Demographics

In 2010, 90% percent of students were white. In contrast, Lenoir County was only 52% white.[8] Students come from across a ten county area in Eastern North Carolina.[9]

In a 2015 retrospective interview, a board member said that the school was not integrated since blacks "just didn't apply".[3]

In 2016, the school enrollment was 88% white, while the area population was 57.9% non-white.[10]

References
  1. "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for ARENDELL PARROTT ACADEMY". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved Mar 5, 2019.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2009-04-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. George, Dustin (August 30, 2015). "50 Years of Parrott Academy". The Free Press. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  4. "Mission, Philosophy, History – About APA – Arendell Parrott Academy". www.parrottacademy.org. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  5. George, Dustin. "50 Years of Parrott Academy". The Free Press. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  6. Arendell Parrott Academy.
  7. "Explosion at North Carolina factory kills at least three people, injuring dozens". Longview Daily News. January 30, 2003. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  8. "The State of Exclusion in Lenoir County, N.C." (PDF). UNC Inclusion Project.
  9. "Admissions – Admissions – Arendell Parrott Academy". www.parrottacademy.org. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  10. Joyner, Ann Moss. "A Study of Diversity in Lenoir County, NC Schools" (PDF). pp. 17–18. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
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