Boston University Academy

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Boston University Academy

Latin: Academia Universitarum Bostoniensis
Motto:	Nil Doctis Arduum (Nothing Daunts a Scholar (Nihil Doctis arduum est (full): Nothing is difficult for a scholar)
Established:	Founded in 1993
Type:	Independent secondary School
Principal:	James Berkman
Students:	156
Location:	Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Campus:	One building, located in the center of the Boston University campus. BUA has full use of the University facilities.
Colors:	Scarlet and Black
Nickname:	BUA
Mascot:	Rhett the Boston Terrier
Affiliations:	Boston University, The New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Website:	www.buacademy.org

Boston University Academy (BUA) is a secondary high school (grades 9-12) affiliated with Boston University and located on its Charles River campus. It was founded in 1993.^[1] As of 2007 it has 156 students and 26 teaching faculty members. It has a liberal arts-based curriculum emphasizing the humanities and science, while specializing in the classics.^[2] Students in the upper grades attend some courses at the University, and can graduate with a college transcript of up to 64 credits.^[3]

BUA's student body is drawn from 49 communities. 50% come from independent schools, 42% from public schools, 4% from parochial schools and 4% are from home schools. 22% are students of color. BUA provides tuition assistance to approximately 31% of the students. ^[4]

1 Mission
2 Academic Rigor
3 History
4 Notable faculty
5 Student activities
6 Accreditation
7 External links
8 References

[edit] Mission

BUA's mission statement is that "Boston University Academy is committed to providing an outstanding secondary education, optimizing the respective strengths of its small school community and its inclusion within a world-class research university."^[5] To this end BUA has focused strongly on providing individual attention to students, maintaining a six-to-one student to teacher ratio.

As Philip Gambone, the head of the English Department, says: "We look different," than an ordinary elite private school, "we're smaller, we don't have a fancy campus, we don't have extravagant facilities, but what we have, I think, is great teaching, kids who want to learn, kids who like to work hard, and kids who are not distracted by a lot of the other agendas that many high schools are also putting in front of them."^[6]

[edit] Academic Rigor

BU Academy student SAT scores ^[7] are consistently high. According to Peterson's Guide, in 2007 all students scored 600 or above on all three sections of the SATs. ^[8] Of the 37 members of the class of 2007, 18 were Commended National Merit Scholars, and 6 were National Merit Semi-Finalists. (National Merit Commended Scholars generally score in the top 2% of all PSAT/NMSQT test-takers.

[edit] History

Boston University Academy was proposed and founded in 1993 by Peter Schweich,^[9]^[10] then the Vice President of Boston University, and authorized by John Silber,^[6] then the acting president of Boston University. Peter Schweich was its first headmaster, and served in that role until 1999, when he was succeeded by Dr. Jennifer Bond Hickman. James Tracy replaced Dr. Hickman and served until the spring of 2006, when he was replaced by the current Head of School, James Berkman.

James Berkman has recently announced plans to increase the student body size from 156 to 192 within ten years, and to proportionally increase the faculty and the building area available to the school.

[edit] Notable faculty

Boston University Academy has many graduate of prestigious universities on its faculty, some with advanced degrees.^[11]

Notable faculty include:

Philip Gambone, Head of the English Department

[edit] Student activities

Student activities include:

Model United Nations- a student run club including nearly one-third of the school's student population. BUA Model UN website
Science Team- a large team who competes to demonstrate their superior science skills in the Western Suburban Science League.
Robotics-The BUA Robotics team competes in the FIRST league and many local competitions.
Sports such as: Basketball, Crew, Fencing, Soccer, Tennis, Ultimate, and Sailing
Dance Team
Yearbook
Music Diversity club
Social Issues group
Opera Club, which studies and then attends a performance of various opera.
Math Team
Chess Club
Environmental club- A club who helps the environment through an extensive recycling program.
Literary Magazine (LitMag) and LitCafe, where student authors and artist can publish and share their works with the school community.
BU Academy Press- A student-run and edited newspaper that brings the important news to the students.
Art Club
Gallery Hoppers, where students take an afternoon to visit a local art gallery (and often grab a snack).
Drama, including the Drama class as well as the Senior Play and Independent Drama.
Many Students help in admissions, performing such functions as Tour Guides and Hosting visiting applicants
Student Council, which organizes most student activities and functions.
Peer Tutors- A group of students who help their peers by tutoring them in subjects where they need help.
Mandatory community service