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Elgin Academy (Elgin, Illinois)
Encyclopedia
Elgin Academy is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory school
in Elgin
, Illinois
.
The Academy was established by charter of the Illinois General Assembly
in 1839 to provide students with a classical education
. The Academy's original building, Old Main, was constructed in 1855-6, and is on the United States' National Register of Historic Places
. It now serves as a museum of the Elgin Area Historical Society
.
seven commissioned officers, six non-commissioned officers, and 21 privates served from the Academy. All together, 153 Civil War veterans whose names are inscribed on the base of two authentic Union cannons, were associated with the Academy.
In 1874, 274 students were enrolled and high school degrees were offered in the areas of College Preparatory, Normal, English, Classical, Latin-Scientific, and Business. By 1900 the football team, basketball team, and a school newspaper were established. About this time the Academy became briefly associated with the University of Chicago
and then with Northwestern University
from 1903-1927 and 1932-1943. the Sears family helped build the academy's first gymnasium in 1918. A boarding program ran from 1920-1987, with girls allowed to board starting in 1941.
The Sears family helped build the Sears Art Gallery in 1924 and Sears Hall in 1940. The new gymnasium was built in 1958, North Hall was built as a girls dormitory in 1962, and Edwards Hall was built in 1969. Old Main was closed in 1972.
Enrollment fell to 85 students in 1973, but has risen to 425 since. In 1984 the program was expanded to K-12, and preschool was added in 1997. The Harold D. Rider Family Media, Science, and Fine Arts Center opened in 2008.
Other buildings on campus include:
Aa sports field complex, approximately one half-mile away from the main campus, includes tennis courts, grass fields, and 1/5-mile all-weather track.
Today, it is primarily used as the museum for the Elgin Area Historical Society. One room still serves as a regular school classroom for the school.
and is accredited by both the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
. The school is a member of the Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools, the Illinois Coalition of Nonpublic Schools, the Cum Laude Society, the National Honor Society, and many other academic organizations. It is recognized by the Illinois Non-Public Schools Recognition Program. Its sports affiliations include the Illinois High School Association
, the Illinois Council of Private Schools, and the Independent School League.
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
in Elgin
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
The Academy was established by charter of the Illinois General Assembly
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
in 1839 to provide students with a classical education
Classical education movement
The Classical education movement advocates a form of education based in the traditions of Western culture, with a particular focus on education as understood and taught in the Middle Ages. The curricula and pedagogy of classical education was first developed during the Middle Ages by Martianus...
. The Academy's original building, Old Main, was constructed in 1855-6, and is on the United States' National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It now serves as a museum of the Elgin Area Historical Society
Elgin Area Historical Society
The Elgin Area Historical Society is a non-profit organization that preserves and presents the history of the Elgin, Illinois area. Located at 360 Park Street in Elgin, Illinois on the Elgin Academy campus...
.
History
The original charter was granted by the Illinois legislature and signed in 1839, only four years after the founding of Elgin. The Academy opened, and has continued, with a non-denominational and coeducational policy. In 1856 the first building, Old Main was completed at a cost of $19,000 and opened for classes, but the first diploma was not awarded until 1872 when Laura Davidson, the granddaughter of James Gifford, Elgin's founder, earned the honor. Davidson later married Nathaniel Sears and their family became major donors to the Academy. During the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
seven commissioned officers, six non-commissioned officers, and 21 privates served from the Academy. All together, 153 Civil War veterans whose names are inscribed on the base of two authentic Union cannons, were associated with the Academy.
In 1874, 274 students were enrolled and high school degrees were offered in the areas of College Preparatory, Normal, English, Classical, Latin-Scientific, and Business. By 1900 the football team, basketball team, and a school newspaper were established. About this time the Academy became briefly associated with the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and then with Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
from 1903-1927 and 1932-1943. the Sears family helped build the academy's first gymnasium in 1918. A boarding program ran from 1920-1987, with girls allowed to board starting in 1941.
The Sears family helped build the Sears Art Gallery in 1924 and Sears Hall in 1940. The new gymnasium was built in 1958, North Hall was built as a girls dormitory in 1962, and Edwards Hall was built in 1969. Old Main was closed in 1972.
Enrollment fell to 85 students in 1973, but has risen to 425 since. In 1984 the program was expanded to K-12, and preschool was added in 1997. The Harold D. Rider Family Media, Science, and Fine Arts Center opened in 2008.
Facilities
The school occupies a 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) campus 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Chicago in the Historic District of the city of Elgin. The school's classrooms are largely housed in four buildings:- The Harold D. Rider Family Media, Science and Fine Arts Center houses the Kimball Street Theatre and part of the Liautaud-Lyons Upper School program
- Edwards Hall houses the Liautaud-Lyons Upper School program
- Sears Hall houses the Middle School program
- North Hall houses the Early Childhood and Lower School programs
Other buildings on campus include:
- Sears Gallery
- The Gymnasium
- Raymond House (business office)
- Penney House (admissions, marketing, development and alumni relations offices)
- Old Main (the Elgin Area Historical Society and one classroom used daily by the Academy)
Aa sports field complex, approximately one half-mile away from the main campus, includes tennis courts, grass fields, and 1/5-mile all-weather track.
Old Main
Old Main is the academy's original building. Rather than restore it in the early 1970s, the academy sold it to the city of Elgin for $1.Today, it is primarily used as the museum for the Elgin Area Historical Society. One room still serves as a regular school classroom for the school.
The Academy today
The Academy offers an academic, college-preparatory curriculum. The Academy is a member of the National Association of Independent SchoolsNational Association of Independent Schools
The National Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1963, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boarding, and day/boarding schools; elementary and secondary...
and is accredited by both the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
. The school is a member of the Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools, the Illinois Coalition of Nonpublic Schools, the Cum Laude Society, the National Honor Society, and many other academic organizations. It is recognized by the Illinois Non-Public Schools Recognition Program. Its sports affiliations include the Illinois High School Association
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
, the Illinois Council of Private Schools, and the Independent School League.