Concord Academy

Concord Academy, established in 1922, is a coeducational, independent college preparatory school for grades nine through twelve in Concord, Massachusetts. The school enrolls 378 boarding and day students as of 2013–14.[1]

Concord Academy
Main Gate
Address
166 Main Street

,
01742

Coordinates42°27′33″N 71°21′17″W
Information
School typePrivate, Day & Boarding
Established1922
StatusOpen
Faculty61
Teaching staff45.4 (FTE)
GenderCo-educational
Enrollment395 (2019-2020)
Student to teacher ratio6
Campus size39 acres (16 ha)
Color(s)Green  , White  
Athletics conferenceEastern Independent League
MascotChameleon
Websitewww.concordacademy.org
[1]

In 1971, Concord Academy became the first all-girls' boarding school in New England to shift to a coeducational model.[2]

Academics

Concord Academy ranks in the top fifteen U.S. boarding schools for student SAT scores and SSAT scores.[3] To foster love of learning and a noncompetitive environment, the school does not compute class rank and awards no academic, arts, athletic, or community awards during the school year or at graduation.[4]

The school eliminated all AP courses several years ago due to the lack of depth in their curricula. They were replaced by advanced courses designed by teachers, though the school still offers AP exams.[5] Eighty percent of the students taking an AP exam score a 4 or 5.[6]

Concord Academy – according to Niche 2020 rankings – is ranked the 9th best boarding school in the United States as well as the most diverse in its area.

Demographics

The demographic breakdown of the 378 students registered for the 2013–14 school year was:[1]

  • Asian – 23.3%
  • Black – 2.6%
  • Hispanic – 5.0%
  • White – 61.7%
  • Multiracial – 7.4%

Athletics

Concord Academy students play on 28 teams in 23 sports; about 75 percent of students play on at least one team each year. Teams compete in the Eastern Independent League (EIL).[7]

Student life

The dress code at Concord Academy is casual. Boarding students live in three girls' houses and three boys' houses, each holding an average of 25 students.[8] A little more than a third of the day students commute to school on the MBTA Commuter Rail.[9] Day (commuting) students comprise 60% of student population and boarding students 40%.[10]

Students participate in a variety of clubs, performing arts groups, and other activities.[8] The campus is a short walk from restaurants and shops in Concord and students have easy access to Cambridge and Boston via the MBTA Commuter Rail.[11]

Campus

Concord Academy's primary campus is on 39 acres (16 ha) between Main Street and the Sudbury River in the center of Concord, Massachusetts. The campus includes eleven historic houses on Main Street, all built as family homes between 1780 and 1830. It is a three-minute walk from the center of Concord and a five-minute walk from the MBTA Commuter Rail stop in Concord.[11]

Among the campus buildings are the PAC (Performing Arts Center), the SHAC (Student Health and Athletic Center), the main school, the newly built CA Labs, and the MAC (Math and Arts Center). The Elizabeth B. Hall Chapel is a 19th-century meetinghouse that was transported to Concord from Barnstead, New Hampshire in 1956. It serves as a meeting place three times per week for the entire Concord Academy community.[12]

The new 13-acre Moriarty Athletic campus, a mile from the main campus, includes six tennis courts, a baseball field, a field hockey field, and two soccer/lacrosse fields. A field house contains changing rooms, a training room, and a common room with fireplace. These new facilities freed up space on the main campus for expansion of academic and arts facilities.[13]

History

Concord Academy was established as a school for girls in September 1922. Enrollment grew gradually from three in 1924 to 20 in 1948. The school's headmistress for the first 15 years was Elsie Garland Hobson, followed by Valerie Knapp (1937–40) and Josephine Tucker (1940–49). Tucker imposed the advisor system and ended the giving of prizes at commencement. Under Elizabeth Hall (1949–63), student population increased.

  • 1981 – Thomas E. Wilcox named headmaster
  • 1984 – Elizabeth B. Hall Chapel dedicated [14]
  • 1987 – J. Josephine Tucker Library dedicated
  • 2000 – Jacob A. Dresden named head of school
  • 2004–05 – Renovation and expansion of Elizabeth B. Hall Chapel[14]
  • 2007 – Purchase of additional 13.6-acre (55,000 m2) property near main campus
  • 2009 – Richard Hardy named head of school; began July 1, 2009
  • 2012 – Completion of the Moriarty Athletic Campus, located 1 mile from main campus
  • 2017 – Renovation of the science center now known as CA Labs

Notable alumni

Notable teachers

  • Kevin Jennings taught at Concord Academy from 1987 to 1995. He was chair of the history department and founded the nation's first Gender-Sexuality Alliance.

References

  1. "Search for Private Schools - School Detail for Concord Academy". ed.gov. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  2. "All Girls Concord Acad. will accept boys in '71". Boston Globe. Boston, MA. 1970-05-19. p. 43.
  3. "Highest SAT Scores", Boarding School Review. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  4. "When Everyone Is Simply the Best". www.csmonitor.com. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  5. "AP classes: A problem for Massachusetts high schoolers?". www.bostonglobe.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  6. "The 24 smartest boarding schools in America". www.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  7. "www.concordacademy.org/athletics/teams.aspx". Archived from the original on January 12, 2010.
  8. "Concord Academy". www.boardingschools.com. The Association of Boarding Schools. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  9. Henry Schwan. "MBTA postpones schedule changes on commuter rail". concord.wickedlocal.com. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  10. "Facts and Figures". Concord Academy. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  11. "Concord Chamber Music Society". www.concordchambermusic.org. Archived from the original on 2016-02-08. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  12. "Campus". Concord Academy. Archived from the original on 2012-08-05. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
  13. "Concord Academy - Moriarty Athletic Campus". cefloyd.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  14. "Concord Academy: History". concordacademy.org. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  15. "Notable Alumnae/i". www.concordacademy.org. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  16. "Notable Alumnae/i". www.concordacademy.org. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  17. "Advanced Leadership Initiative Appoints managing director". Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  18. "2020 Centennial Hall Fellow Anita Lo '84 Shares Insights on Food, Culture, and Community". www.concordacademy.org. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  19. "Laura Foley bio". Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  20. "David Duffy Books". Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  21. "Edith Wilkie Edwards, Capitol Hill staffer". Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  22. "Laura Powers-Swiggett Legislative Resolution". Retrieved 2021-01-31.
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