Western Reserve Academy

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Western Reserve Academy
The Chapel
Lux Et Veritas (Light and Truth)
Location
Hudson, OH, USA
Information
Religion None
Headmaster Henry Flanagan, Jr.
Enrollment

approx. 406 [1]
Faculty approx. 69 [1]
Average class size 12 [1]
Student:teacher ratio 6:1 [1]
Type Private Boarding and Day
Athletics 23 interscholastic [2]
Mascot Pioneer
Color(s) Hunter Green and White
Established 1826
Homepage http://www.wra.net
The gates at Chapel Street
The gates at Chapel Street
Sidewalk along Brick Row
Sidewalk along Brick Row
A lacrosse tournament held at the school
A lacrosse tournament held at the school
A typical Reserve male dorm room
A typical Reserve male dorm room
The Athenaeum Dormitory
The Athenaeum Dormitory

Western Reserve Academy (also known as 'WRA' or 'Reserve') is a private, mid-sized, coeducational boarding and day college preparatory school located in Hudson, Ohio.

Contents

[edit] History

Western Reserve Academy was established in 1826 as the Western Reserve College and Preparatory School in Hudson, Ohio on a 180-acre (728,000 m²) plot of land set aside via charter. In 1882 the college moved north to Cleveland, Ohio and became Western Reserve University, later merging with the Case Institute of Technology.

Loomis Observatory, on the Academy campus, was constructed in 1837 and still stands today. It is the second-oldest observatory in the United States and houses its original instruments inside.

Western Reserve Academy remained open for another twenty-one years, until 1903, when it was forced to close due to financial problems. In 1916, however, the school reopened due to the graces of benefactor James Ellsworth, a former student and Hudson, Ohio resident who had returned after making millions of dollars in the coal industry.

The "Ellsworth Era" was marked by significant construction, namely Seymour Hall (the newly appointed academic building), the Bicknell Gymnasium, and Ellsworth Hall, a dormitory and dining hall.

In 1922, Western Reserve Academy became an all-boys institution, which it remained for fifty years, until 1972, when girls were once again admitted.

In the late 1990s and into the early 21st century, Western Reserve Academy again underwent a major construction period, eclipsing even the growth of the "Ellsworth Era." During this time the following projects were completed:

  • Renovation of computer lab in Seymour Hall (1998)
  • Expansion/ Construction of the Metcalf Center (1999)
  • Renovation of Wood House (2000-2002)
  • Construction and expansion of athletic facilities, including the Murdough Athletic Center (2001-2004)
  • Renovation of Bicknell Gymnasium into Bicknell House (2004)
  • Construction of the John D. Ong Library (2000)
  • Renovation of Wilson Science Hall (2001)
  • Construction of Long House Dormitory (2000)
  • Renovation of Nathan P. Seymour Guest House (1998)

In 2000, Western Reserve Academy was recognized by US News and World Report as one of the top boarding schools in the country[citation needed].

A boarding school, Western Reserve Academy is largely a residential campus, with 266 of 406 students living on campus and the remainder attending as "day-students".[3] In that population, students matriculated from 24 states and 19 countries. Its population consists of 57% male students and 43% female students.

More than half of the faculty have advanced degrees. Approximately 90% of the faculty members reside on campus in either faculty homes or dormitory apartments.

Reserve participates in an annual summer exchange program with the Caterham School in Surrey, England.

[edit] Boarding

There are nine dormitories, in which about 290 boarding students reside during the school year.

Boys Dormitories

  • North Hall
  • The Athenaeum (The A)
  • Harlan Wood House
  • Bicknell Dormitory
  • Long House

Girls Dormitories

  • Cutler House
  • Cartwright Hall (Garden)
  • Ellsworth Hall
  • Hobart House

[edit] Athletics

The school offers a wide variety of sports, including soccer, football, golf, cross country, field hockey, volleyball, swimming and diving, basketball, wrestling, riflery, ice hockey, baseball, softball, track and field, tennis, and lacrosse.

In recent years, Reserve has gained a reputation as one of the top high school lacrosse teams in the United States. In 2005, the school finished 16th in the US according to LaxPower.com's high school lacrosse team rankings. In 2006, Reserve's team won the Midwest Championship. In addition, the track and cross-country teams under Frank Longstreth, also the Latin department head, achieved success from the 1940s through the 1980s, winning many Interstate League championships, with the cross country team at one time boasting a streak of 179-1.

[edit] Notable Alumni

The following represents an incomplete list of renowned graduates of the school. Individuals with a † next to their name were enrolled in either or both institutions before Western Reserve College moved from the Hudson campus to Cleveland in 1882 and became Western Reserve University. As such, the degree to which they were affiliated with both institutions may vary. Individuals with a * next to their name did not complete their studies.

[edit] Politics, Government and Law

[edit] Literature and Journalism

[edit] The Arts

[edit] Business

[edit] Miscellaneous

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Western Reserve Academy - Visitors - WRA at a Glance Retrieved 29 November, 2006.
  2. ^ Western Reserve Academy - Athletics - Statement of Principles Retrieved 29 November, 2006.
  3. ^ Western Reserve Academy - Visitors - WRA at a Glance, retrieved 29 November, 2006.

[edit] External links