Pulaski Academy

Pulaski Academy
Address
12701 Hinson Road
Little Rock, Arkansas
USA
Coordinates 34°46′18″N 92°24′53″W / 34.77167°N 92.41472°WCoordinates: 34°46′18″N 92°24′53″W / 34.77167°N 92.41472°W
Information
Type Private Secondary
Established 1971
Status Open
CEEB Code 041444
NCES School ID 00048235[1]
Grades 2 year old-12 grade
Enrollment 1,210 [1]
Campus Suburban
Color(s)      Navy blue
     Vegas gold
Mascot Bruin
Nickname PA
Team name Pulaski Academy Bruins
Affiliations Nonsectarian
Website www.pulaskiacademy.org

Pulaski Academy (PA) is a private, independent college preparatory, preschool, elementary, and junior/senior high school headed by Matthew Walsh in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. PA was established in 1971 and remains as the only independent, non-sectarian, college preparatory school in Arkansas.[2]


History

When busing was introduced in the early 1970s to counteract the effects of racially defined residential patterns, whites built private schools in the suburbs or fled the county altogether. In 1971, insurance and real estate man William F. Rector announced the construction of the private Pulaski Academy in the western suburbs of the city for those, he said, who "don’t like busing.” [3]

Since this time, Pulaski Academy has been dedicated to providing an excellent college preparatory educational experience for the cultural and racially diverse student population. Embracing all religions and races, Pulaski Academy has 22% diversity as opposed to the national average of 19% among private schools.

In 2000, Pulaski Academy purchased the campus of Fellowship Bible Church, on the corner of Hinson and Napa Valley, increasing the campus to 32 acres.

Academics

PA is accredited by ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States),[2] and ANSAA (Arkansas Non-public School Accrediting Association). PA is a member of the Cum Laude Society, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), College Board and NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools).[4]

Pulaski Academy was named 2003 "Best of the Best" Private High School by the readers of an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette contest.

During the 2008-09 academic year, fifteen members of the Class of 2009 were named as National Merit Scholars, three as Commended Scholars and twelve as Finalists. Enrollment for 2009-10 is approximately 1,210 K-12 students, with a student/teacher ratio of 8.9:1.[1]

Extracurricular activities


The school's mascot is the Bruin and school colors are Navy blue and Vegas gold. For 2012-14, the Pulaski Academy Bruins play in the 5A Central Conference administered by the Arkansas Activities Association. The school participates in baseball, basketball (boys/girls), cheer, cross country, dance, football, soccer (boys/girls), softball, swimming and diving (boys/girls), tennis (boys/girls), volleyball, and wrestling.[5]

The school's football team, which has won three state championships since 2003, is coached by Kevin Kelley, who has gained notoriety for his strategies, which include the total rejection of punting and returning punts, as well as a reliance on the onside kick.[6][7]

Athletic State Championships

Pulaski Academy Bruins have won numerous state championships:[8]

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Search for Private Schools - School Detail for Pulaski Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved Aug 26, 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "ISACS School Profile, Pulaski Academy". ISACS. Retrieved Aug 24, 2012.
  3. http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=4704
  4. "Discover PA". Retrieved 17 August 2012. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  5. "School Profile, Pulaski Academy". Arkansas Activities Association. Retrieved Aug 24, 2012.
  6. Wertheim, Jon. Down 29-0 before touching the ball. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  7. "At last, San Diego State may be shirking the punt". Matt Hinton, CBS sports blogger. Retrieved Aug 24, 2012.
  8. "2012-13 Arkansas State Sports Record Book" (PDF). Arkansas Activities Association. Retrieved Aug 24, 2012.
  9. Athletic Media Relations. "Broderick Green". Retrieved 14 April 2013.

External links