Mountain State Academy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mountain State Academy, or "The Academy", is a private, college preparatory high school located in Beckley, West Virginia that enrolls students from grades K and 7 and 9 through 12. Admission into The Academy is highly competitive, and the administration weighs academic achievement, testing ability, and personal recommendations into the selection process. An interview with the dean is also required for admission.
Current enrollment stands at approximately 100 students.
Mission:
| “ | The mission of the Academy is to develop competent, confident, and curious students through challenging and integrative college-preparatory studies. Our students will have the knowledge, tools, and leadership experiences to excel in their future academic endeavors and in life. | ” |
The current head of the school is Dr. Jill Hopkins.
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[edit] Academics
The Academy was by far one of the most academically challenging schools in West Virginia. The average ACT scores for the school were higher than those of any other school in the state, as reported last year. By allowing students to attend college level classes at nearby Mountain State University, (while still taking the required full academic load), students are also generally more prepared to begin their lives as a college freshman. Along with the challenging classes, The Academy also incorporates volunteer work into their schedule, providing a vast array of community service activities and clubs for the students. The Academy boasts a highly diverse student population. This year, The Academy recruited individuals from countries such as Serbia, Slovakia, Ethiopia, Dominican Republic, and Germany to play on sports teams. Recently, recruiting practices led to the suspension of the Academy to be eligible to play in the Secondary Schools Athletic Conference (SSAC). Although unable to compete in SSAC sanctioned events, The Academy does compete in regional tournaments.
[edit] Honor System
All areas of student life and behavior are governed by the Honor System. Its purpose is to provide the growing, maturing student with on-going developmental experiences leading to and culminating in a firm, secure value system. The Honor System is based upon and not limited to the Honor Code: “I will not lie, cheat, nor steal, nor tolerate anyone who does.”
[edit] Graduation
To qualify for graduation and an Academy diploma, a student must be in full-time attendance for his or her entire senior year. A senior must take and pass at least four academic subjects and one other course during each semester, regardless of the total number of credits previously earned. Additionally, a senior must earn a college-certifying grade of a C- or above in all course work. Successful completion of a course requires taking the semester examination (except when a senior is exempt from an exam). A senior who is deficient in one subject, meaning the final average was below a C-, may make up the deficiency during the summer, thereby qualifying for graduation in May.
