Woodstock Academy

Woodstock Academy (WA), founded in 1801, is an independent high school located in Woodstock, Connecticut, United States. The Academy serves residents from the Connecticut towns of Brooklyn, Canterbury, Eastford, Pomfret, Union, and Woodstock. The respective towns' taxpayers pay student tuition through municipal taxes. The school also accepts tuition-paying students from surrounding towns and states as day students, and students from around the country and the world as residential students.[2]

The Woodstock Academy
Location
North Campus
57 Academy Road
Woodstock, CT 06281

South Campus
150 Route 169
Woodstock, CT 06281

Bentley Athletic Complex
423 Route 169
Woodstock, CT 06281
Information
TypePrivately operated
MottoLook to your Future, Look to Woodstock Academy
Established1801 (1801)
PrincipalHolly G. Singleton
Head of schoolChristopher J. Sandford
Staff54
Faculty85
Grades9-12 + Post Graduate
Enrollment1,098 (2018–19)[1]
Color(s)  Yale Blue and   Gold
Athletics38 team sports
Athletics conferenceECC
MascotCentaur
Sending TownsBrooklyn, Canterbury, Eastford, Pomfret, Union, and Woodstock
Websitewoodstockacademy.org

History

In 1801 the school was organized by James and John McClellan, sons of Revolutionary War General Samuel McClellan.[3] The Connecticut Legislature officially chartered the school in 1802.[4]

In 1969 the Woodstock School Committee designated Woodstock Academy as the secondary public school of the town.[5]

In 1977 the Connecticut State Freedom of Information Commission ruled that Woodstock Academy must make its records public.[6] In July 1980 the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that Woodstock Academy is a public agency, because it serves three Connecticut towns in the manner that a public high school would, and therefore it must release all of its financial records under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act.[4]

In 1990 the school was planning to end Latin classes due to a lack of interest and the idea that students should study modern languages.[7]

In 2012 the school was trying to recruit students from other regions of the United States and international students.[8]

Governance and service area

The school is not within any school district and is not controlled by any municipality; therefore it describes itself as an "independent school." [9] The Connecticut State Department of Education does not list Woodstock in its list of non-public schools [10] and therefore considers Woodstock to be a "public school" because the state of Connecticut oversees and finances the school.[11][12] Woodstock Academy is also independently funded by student tuition and a growing endowment. Woodstock is a member of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education[13] and the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools.[14] The New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Incorporated accredits The Woodstock Academy as an "independent school".[15][16] A 1997 Hartford Courant article described the school as "a quasi- private, independent school".[17] A 1990 Worcester Telegram & Gazette article described the school as "a privately endowed secondary school incorporated by the state to act as the town's public high".[18]

The school serves the towns of Woodstock, Eastford, Pomfret, Canterbury, Union, and Brooklyn. As of that year it is the only secondary school that serves the town of Woodstock. In 1980 the Associated Press stated that the school serves the three towns in a manner that a public high school would. The school is funded by student tuition, whether the tuition is paid by sending towns or individual families. In 1980 the Associated Press said that The Academy is "incorporated like a private school but functions like a public school."[4] A board of thirty individuals from the region operates the school.[17]

Facilities

Woodstock Academy has boarding facilities.[8] The historic Woodstock Academy Classroom Building was constructed in 1873 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

  1. Woodstock Academy – North Campus, 57 Academy Road, Woodstock, CT 06281
  2. Woodstock Academy – South Campus, 150 Route 169, Woodstock, CT 06281
  3. Woodstock Academy – Bentley Athletic Complex, 423 Route 169, Woodstock, CT 06281

It was announced in October 2016 that Woodstock Academy would purchase the nearby 127-acre Hyde School campus for $15 million.[19][20] Acquisition of the site, originally the campus of Annhurst College,[21] was completed in 2017.[22]

Notable alumni and faculty

References
  1. "Woodstock Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  2. "Apply to WA / Apply to WA". www.woodstockacademy.org. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  3. Sears, George B. McClellan: The Young Napoleon, p. 2
  4. "Academy is ruled public." Associated Press at The Day. Tuesday July 22, 1980. Page 10. Retrieved from Google Books (6 of 17) on October 18, 2012.
  5. "School Designated 'Public' by Board." Hartford Courant. July 26, 1969. 15B. "The Woodstock School Committee has designated The Woodstock Academy as the town's secondary "public" school, pending, approval by the Connecticut Board of Education." Available on ProQuest.
  6. "Private school told to make records public." The Day. May 16, 1977. Page 12. Retrieved from Google Books (31 of 44) on October 18, 2012.
  7. "GLORY OF LATIN MAY FADE AWAY \ ET TU, WOODSTOCK ACADEMY?" Worcester Telegram & Gazette. October 14, 1990. Retrieved on October 18, 2012.
  8. Allard, Marc. "Woodstock names new athletic director." The Bulletin. October 16, 2012. Retrieved on October 18, 2012.
  9. "2006 Strategic Plan," The Woodstock Academy. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  10. "Non-public schools." Connecticut State Department of Education. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  11. "Woodstock Academy." Connecticut State Department of Education. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  12. Letter to the board of trustees of Woodstock Academy from Shane, Navratil, and Co.. Woodstock Academy. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  13. "Is my District a Member of CABE?." Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  14. "All School List," Connecticut Association of Independent Schools
  15. "Connecticut Independent Schools," The New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Incorporated. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  16. "Public Secondary Schools Connecticut." The New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Incorporated. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  17. "WOODSTOCK ACADEMY GRADUATES 168 WOODSTOCK NEWS NOTES." Hartford Courant. June 23, 1997. Retrieved on October 18, 2012. "Woodstock Academy is a quasi- private, independent school run by a governing board of 30 members from throughout the region. The students who attend live[...]"
  18. "ACADEMY IN WOODSTOCK TURNS UP 'BIG SURPLUS'." Worcester Telegram & Gazette. September 14, 1990. Retrieved on October 18, 2012.
  19. Worcester Telegram, 10/16/2016
  20. Megan, Kathleen. "Woodstock Academy Plans To Purchase Hyde School With Federal Loan". courant.com. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  21. Coffey, Denise (November 16, 2017). "Daughters Of The Holy Spirit Celebrates 100 Years". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. p. A3. Retrieved September 12, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  22. Coffey, Denise (June 8, 2017). "Woodstock Academy Plans For Expansion". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. p. A5. Retrieved September 12, 2018 – via newspapers.com.

Further reading


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