Academy of Richmond County

Infobox School
name = Academy of Richmond County
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location =
streetaddress = 910 Russel Street
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city = Augusta
state =
county = Richmond County, Georgia
zipcode = 30904
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schoolboard =
district = Richmond County School District
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principal = David Robbins
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ratio = 1:17 [ [http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/21766 Academy Of Richmond County High School - Augusta, Georgia/GA - Public School Profile ] ]
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type = Public
grades = 9–12
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campus type = urban
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nickname = Musketeers
school_colors = Purple and Gold
colorbox|purple colorbox|gold
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opened =
established = 1783
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closed =
students =
enrollment = 1,500
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homepage = [http://arc.rcboe.org/home.aspx arc.rcboe.org]

The Academy of Richmond County (ARC), also known as Richmond Academy, is a public high school and a Registered Historic Place located in Augusta, Georgia. Originally known as Richmond County Military Academy, and commonly known as Richmond Academy, it was chartered in 1783. This makes it the third oldest existing public high school in the United States, and the oldest existing public high school in the South.

History

Initially an all-male, privately funded school, it became a military school after the American Civil War. Richmond Academy ultimately transitioned into a co-educational, traditional high school during the last half of the 20th century. The school retains a large Army JROTC contingent. President George Washington attended graduation ceremonies at ARC in 1791.

In 1926, The Academy of Richmond County moved to its present-day building of Walton Way. The principal of that time, Major George Butler, described the school in 1927 as "Second to none in the South in terms of facility." The 1926 building of the school has a Gothic-style architecture. Up until the 1950s, ARC was for white males only. In 1959, the school lost its status as a integrated school and became a coeducational institute.

Academics

The Academy of Richmond County has a nationally known International Baccalaureate and IB Programme taught within the school for grades 9 through 12. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a rigorous college preparatory course of study for highly motivated high school students. The program features a comprehensive curriculum that contains both breadth and depth in its focus. The IB program of studies provides students of various linguistic, cultural and educational backgrounds with the intellectual, social, critical thinking skills, and perspective necessary for the adult world. The IB Program was added to the school in July 2003. [cite web|url=http://www.ibo.org/school/001467|title=Academy of Richmond County ] The Academy of Richmond County's International Baccaluareate and IB Programme is ranked among the best in the country. fact|date=August 2008

tudent activities

Athletics

The school mascot is a Musketeer, and the school colors are purple and gold. The original school mascot was called a bearcat.

Mathematics Team

The Academy of Richmond County's Mathematics Team won the 2005 National Society of Black Engineers Try-Math-A-Thon, which was held in Boston. [cite web|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/042105/met_3925585.shtml|title=Richmond Academy math team wins national event|date=2005-04-20|work=The Augusta Chronicle |publisher=The Augusta Chronicle|first=Greg|last=Rickabaugh]

Notable alumni

References

External links

* [http://arc.rcboe.org/home.aspx arc.rcboe.org] -- Official web site
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/Augusta/index.html Augusta, Georgia, a National Park Service "Discover Our Shared Heritage" Travel Itinerary] at [http://www.nps.gov/ www.nps.gov]