Morgan Park Academy
Encyclopedia
Morgan Park Academy is a coeducational, college preparatory, independent Pre-Kindergarten-12th grade day school
located in the Morgan Park neighborhood
on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1863, Morgan Park Academy was formerly known as Mt. Vernon Military Academy, Morgan Park Military Academy (MPMA), and briefly as the Illinois Military Academy, and Morgan Park Academy of the University of Chicago. For a time, the school had a very close connection with the University of Chicago
, with the graduates being specifically groomed to enter the new university. The school is committed to providing academic excellence with an emphasis on independent thinking and scholarship. Morgan Park Academy students are consistently accepted into and succeed in the colleges and careers of their choice. Admissions to the Academy is competitive, and the student body reflects a wide array of ethnic, cultural and socio-economic diversity, which prepares students to act as leaders in the dynamic world of the future.
While the school was renamed Morgan Park Military Academy in 1877, the school was briefly (1890–92) incorporated as the Illinois Military Academy.
In 1892, William Rainey Harper
, acting as the first president of the University of Chicago, joined the recently formed Owen Academy to the school. The Academy's land was purchased, and all operations were moved there, renaming the school Morgan Park Academy of the University of Chicago, where students were to be specifically prepared for entrance into the new university. At this time, the school was integrated, made non–sectarian, and was made co–ed.
Teachers at the school were considered a part of the University of Chicago faculty, instead of being considered separate. Among the faculty was the school's football
coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg
, who also coached at the University.
In 1906, the University of Chicago ended its relationship with the school. The school reverted to an all–male military school.
During the Great Depression
the school expanded, creating a junior college, and extending summer classes to students from nearby public and parochial schools.
In 1958, the school ended its time as a military school, finally becoming Morgan Park Academy. Girls were readmitted in 1959, and the boarding aspect of the school was phased out over ten years.
The Middle School includes Grades 6 through 8. The Academy Middle School emphasizes independent learning. The Academy’s Middle School offers a foundation in English, mathematics, science, music, drama, art, physical education, social studies, world languages and technology. At this level, the faculty work with students to teach them to organize learning and absorb information into a meaningful whole that supports independent learning. Each Middle School student chooses a faculty advisor with whom he or she meets in a small group and individually to discuss academic, social and personal concerns. The purpose of the Advisor group is to strengthen the student’s role within the Academy community by allowing advisees the opportunity to make personal connections, develop a group affiliation, and build their academic and interpersonal skills within the group. Co-curricular opportunities include cultural immersion trips that supplement the Spanish and French programs, spring trips with their class, sports activities (soccer, basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball) and a variety of clubs (Math, Science, French, Spanish, Geography and Chess). Middle School students also have the opportunity to be involved in the Leadership Council that plans and organizes service and social activities for the school year.
The Upper School, which encompasses Grades 9 through 12, completes the program of college preparation. As students transition from the Middle to the Upper School, learning continues to be authentic and engaging with curriculum offerings at three levels: college preparatory, honors, and advanced placement. The Upper School program provides an excellent academic curriculum as well as varied athletic, artistic and leadership opportunities. It fields a variety of athletic teams; provides opportunities in the performing arts, including band, chorus and theater productions; and offers numerous co-curricular offerings to develop leadership ability. Students compete in divisional, regional, and statewide academic and athletic competitions, including previous recognition in the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) and Rube Goldberg contests.
The school offers 13 Advanced Placement courses.
and soccer. Girls may also compete in volleyball
, and softball
. Boys may also compete in baseball
.
The MPA Warriors compete inter-scholastically at the upper school level as members of the Independent School League
, which comprises independent private schools in the Chicago area. The school also competes in state championship tournaments sponsored by the Illinois High School Association
(IHSA).
The upper school sponsors interscholastic teams for men and women in basketball, soccer, and tennis
. Women also compete in softball and volleyball, while men compete in baseball and golf
.
The following teams finished in the top four of their respective state tournaments sponsored by the IHSA.
While the school no longer sponsors football
, early in the school's history, the game was notable. Amos Alonzo Stagg
, the coach at the University of Chicago
coached the school's football team for a time. On November 23, 1901, the school became the first Illinois school to travel outside the border states to play a football game, playing University High School of Cleveland to a 0–0 tie. Three alumni are members of the College Football Hall of Fame
(two as coaches, one as a player).
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
located in the Morgan Park neighborhood
Morgan Park, Chicago
Morgan Park, located on the far south side of the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, is one of the city's 77 official community areas.-Morgan Park:...
on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1863, Morgan Park Academy was formerly known as Mt. Vernon Military Academy, Morgan Park Military Academy (MPMA), and briefly as the Illinois Military Academy, and Morgan Park Academy of the University of Chicago. For a time, the school had a very close connection 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...
, with the graduates being specifically groomed to enter the new university. The school is committed to providing academic excellence with an emphasis on independent thinking and scholarship. Morgan Park Academy students are consistently accepted into and succeed in the colleges and careers of their choice. Admissions to the Academy is competitive, and the student body reflects a wide array of ethnic, cultural and socio-economic diversity, which prepares students to act as leaders in the dynamic world of the future.
History
The school was founded as Mt. Vernon Military and Classical Academy in 1873 as a "proprietary school" owned by the headmaster, and run as a for–profit institution. Students paid room and board, as well as for education, uniforms, and maintenance.While the school was renamed Morgan Park Military Academy in 1877, the school was briefly (1890–92) incorporated as the Illinois Military Academy.
In 1892, William Rainey Harper
William Rainey Harper
William Rainey Harper was one of America's leading academics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Harper helped to organize the University of Chicago and Bradley University and served as the first President of both institutions.-Early life:Harper was born on July 26, 1856 in New Concord,...
, acting as the first president of the University of Chicago, joined the recently formed Owen Academy to the school. The Academy's land was purchased, and all operations were moved there, renaming the school Morgan Park Academy of the University of Chicago, where students were to be specifically prepared for entrance into the new university. At this time, the school was integrated, made non–sectarian, and was made co–ed.
Teachers at the school were considered a part of the University of Chicago faculty, instead of being considered separate. Among the faculty was the school's football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football...
, who also coached at the University.
In 1906, the University of Chicago ended its relationship with the school. The school reverted to an all–male military school.
During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
the school expanded, creating a junior college, and extending summer classes to students from nearby public and parochial schools.
In 1958, the school ended its time as a military school, finally becoming Morgan Park Academy. Girls were readmitted in 1959, and the boarding aspect of the school was phased out over ten years.
Academics
The Lower School includes Preschool to Grade 5. The curriculum emphasizes problem-solving and higher-order thinking rather than rote learning and drill. Students are involved in at least one major dramatic performance per year. Computers are used in the classroom and students develop technology skills in regular lab classes.The Middle School includes Grades 6 through 8. The Academy Middle School emphasizes independent learning. The Academy’s Middle School offers a foundation in English, mathematics, science, music, drama, art, physical education, social studies, world languages and technology. At this level, the faculty work with students to teach them to organize learning and absorb information into a meaningful whole that supports independent learning. Each Middle School student chooses a faculty advisor with whom he or she meets in a small group and individually to discuss academic, social and personal concerns. The purpose of the Advisor group is to strengthen the student’s role within the Academy community by allowing advisees the opportunity to make personal connections, develop a group affiliation, and build their academic and interpersonal skills within the group. Co-curricular opportunities include cultural immersion trips that supplement the Spanish and French programs, spring trips with their class, sports activities (soccer, basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball) and a variety of clubs (Math, Science, French, Spanish, Geography and Chess). Middle School students also have the opportunity to be involved in the Leadership Council that plans and organizes service and social activities for the school year.
The Upper School, which encompasses Grades 9 through 12, completes the program of college preparation. As students transition from the Middle to the Upper School, learning continues to be authentic and engaging with curriculum offerings at three levels: college preparatory, honors, and advanced placement. The Upper School program provides an excellent academic curriculum as well as varied athletic, artistic and leadership opportunities. It fields a variety of athletic teams; provides opportunities in the performing arts, including band, chorus and theater productions; and offers numerous co-curricular offerings to develop leadership ability. Students compete in divisional, regional, and statewide academic and athletic competitions, including previous recognition in the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) and Rube Goldberg contests.
The school offers 13 Advanced Placement courses.
Athletics
At the middle school level, the school sponsors interscholastic competition for boys and girls in basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and soccer. Girls may also compete in volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, and softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
. Boys may also compete in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
.
The MPA Warriors compete inter-scholastically at the upper school level as members of the Independent School League
Independent School League (Illinois)
The Independent School League is an athletic league comprising nine private secondary schools in the Chicago metro area. All of the schools are also full members of the Illinois High School Association; the governing body for most high school athletics and competitive activities in the state...
, which comprises independent private schools in the Chicago area. The school also competes in state championship tournaments sponsored by 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...
(IHSA).
The upper school sponsors interscholastic teams for men and women in basketball, soccer, and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
. Women also compete in softball and volleyball, while men compete in baseball and golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
.
The following teams finished in the top four of their respective state tournaments sponsored by the IHSA.
- Golf (boys): 4th place (1955–56)
- Soccer (boys): 4th place (2006–07)
- Track & Field (boys): 4th place (1915–16)
While the school no longer sponsors football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, early in the school's history, the game was notable. Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football...
, the coach at 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...
coached the school's football team for a time. On November 23, 1901, the school became the first Illinois school to travel outside the border states to play a football game, playing University High School of Cleveland to a 0–0 tie. Three alumni are members of the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
(two as coaches, one as a player).
Notable alumni
- Albert BenbrookAlbert BenbrookAlbert "Benny" Benbrook was an American football guard who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1908-1910. He was chosen by Walter Camp as an All-American in 1909 and 1910 and was the team’s captain in 1910...
was a two–time All-American (1909–10) guard for the University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He was elected to the College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1971. - Patrick BertolettiPatrick BertolettiPatrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti is an American competitive eater from Chicago. He is ranked second in the International Federation of Competitive Eating...
is an internationally known competitive eater. - Robert R. Church, Jr. (1885–1952), son of Robert R. Church, Sr.Robert R. Church, Sr.Robert Reed Church, Sr. was one of America's most profound “rags to riches“ stories. Church not only became the South's first African American millionaire, he did it after having been born a slave....
, was an African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
businessman and civic leader in Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, TennesseeMemphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. - Edward C. EicherEdward C. EicherEdward C. Eicher was a three-term congressman, federal securities regulator, and federal district court judge during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was considered a consummate "New Deal" liberal....
was a Congresman (1933–38) and chief justice of the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia (1942–44). From 1941–42, he was the fifth Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. - Jesse HarperJesse Harper-External links:* * at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com...
(class of 1902) coached Knute RockneKnute RockneKnute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
(who would immediately follow him) as head football coach at the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
(1913–17). He also served as Notre Dame's head basketball coach, and later served as ND's athletic directorAthletic directorAn athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
. He was elected to the College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
with fellow alum Ben Benbrook in 1971. - Maestro HarrellMaestro HarrellMaestro Harrell is an American actor who starred on the HBO original series The Wire as Randy Wagstaff. He was also on the NBC drama ER on April 26, 2007....
(class of 2009) is a professional singer and actor, best known for his recurring role of Randy WagstaffRandy WagstaffRandy Wagstaff is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Maestro Harrell. Randy is an enterprising student who is dependent on social services. During season 4, he was an 8th grade pupil at Edward Tilghman Middle School and is friends with Namond Brice, Michael Lee and Duquan...
on the HBO series The WireThe Wire (TV series)The Wire is an American television drama series set and produced in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States...
and as young Cassius ClayMuhammad AliMuhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
in the film AliAli (film)Ali is a 2001 American biographical film directed by Michael Mann. The film tells the story of boxing icon Muhammad Ali, played by Will Smith, from 1964 to 1974 featuring his capture as of the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston , his conversion to Islam, criticism of the Vietnam War, banishment...
. - Arthur W. Hummel, Sr.Arthur W. Hummel, Sr.Arthur William Hummel, Sr. was an American Christian missionary to China, noted Sinologist and father of Arthur W. Hummel, Jr., a career diplomat and U.S. Ambassador to China.-Biography:...
(class of 1905) was a noted Chrisitan missionary to China, who later served from 1928 to 1954 as the first Chief of the Asian Division of the Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
. - Steven RosengardSteven RosengardSteven Rosengard is an independent American fashion designer. He designs his eponymous line in Chicago, Illinois, and was a contestant in season four of the Bravo reality television show Project Runway.-Childhood and education:...
(class of 1995) is a noted fashion designer. He appeared on the popular television series "Project Runway". - Wallace Wade (class of 1913) was the head baseball and head football coach at the University of AlabamaUniversity of AlabamaThe University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
(1923–30) winning three national championships in football. He then was head football coach at Duke UniversityDuke UniversityDuke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
(1931–41, 46–50). Wallace Wade StadiumWallace Wade StadiumWallace Wade Stadium is a stadium on the campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Primarily used for American football, it is the home field of the Duke Blue Devils. It opened in 1929 with a game against Pitt, as the first facility in Duke's new west campus. The...
at Duke is named in his honor. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1951. - Chris CheliosChris CheliosChristos Kostas Tselios is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman. He is currently the Executive Advisor to Ken Holland, the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, a role that Steve Yzerman held before leaving to become general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.Chelios played...
is a professional hockey player best known for playing with the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. Chelios did not graduate from the Academy, but did attend the school for one year while in third grade.