Isle of Wight Academy

Isle of Wight Academy

17111 Courthouse Highway, Isle of Wight, Va 23397
Information
Type Private
Established 1967
Headmaster Benjamin Vaughan
Grades Pre-K - 12th
Mascot Chargers
Website iwacademy.com

Isle of Wight Academy (IWA) is a private non-profit day school located in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. The school has students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade and is non-sectarian and coeducational.

History

The Isle of Wight Academy started in the space previously occupied by the Isle of Wight Elementary School, as a segregation academy. It was open for one year until, in the fall of 1968, a fire completely destroyed the school building, leaving only the original gymnasium (which remains the only building standing on the campus from the original school structure). With funding from the school community, the academy was able to rebuild with four permanent classroom buildings and a new gymnasium.

The academy was one of many such schools which lost tax-exempt status in the early 1970s because of racially discriminatory admissions policies.[1] During the 1980s enrollment began to decrease.

After briefly losing its tax-exempt status again in 1985 [2] it finally regained it June 1987.[3] In 1988, The school enrolled three Black students out of 300, and in 1989 one.[3] Headmaster Don Deaton told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that "We would like to have more black students but it's hard to attract them."[3]

The early 1990s saw a reversal of fortune for the school. Enrollment began a steady increase and more programs began to be offered to the growing student body. Enrollment now stands at approximately 650 students, the most ever enrolled at the Academy.[4]

On December 3, 2013 Smithfield Foods, a subsidiary of Shuanghui International Holdings Limited, pledged 1 million dollars to the school for facilities and scholarships.

Mission

Theess.[5] The school's philosophy is to "accept students of average or above average ability and develop them to their fullest potential by providing a quality program, which will build the student mentally, physically, and spiritually. The school emphasizes the honor, integrity, social development, and citizenship of the student." [6]

Athletics

Isle of Wight Academy is a member of both the Virginia Commonwealth Conference and Metro Athletic Conference.[7] In its history, IWA has won 70 conference season championships, 35 conference tournament championships, and 11 state championships (five in softball, five in football, and one in baseball).[8]

References

  1. ↑ Tax credits for nonpublic education: Hearings, Ninety-second Congress, second session, on H.R. 16141 and other pending proposals ... U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1972. p. 647. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  2. ↑ Gordon, Richard E. (April 16, 1986). "Prince Edward Academy Given Tax Exempt Status". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 Ebeling, Ashlea (November 26, 1989). "Despite Its Changed Image, Academy Draws Few Blacks". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  4. ↑ "About IWA". Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  5. ↑ "SACS/AdvancEd Accreditation Standards". Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "Philosophy". Isle of Wight Academy. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  7. ↑ "Metro Conference". Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "IWA Trophy Case - Metro Conference". Retrieved 26 November 2011.

Coordinates: 36°54′27.7″N 76°42′23.7″W / 36.907694°N 76.706583°W / 36.907694; -76.706583

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