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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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George Walton Academy
George Walton Academy (GWA) is a pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade private school in Monroe, Georgia. It was established in 1969 as a segregation academy in response to school integration in the United States.

History

George Walton Academy was founded in 1969 during school desegregation in Good Hope, Georgia. It is now located in Monroe, Georgia and serves PK-12th grades with a student-teacher ratio of 10:1. According to brigadier general, author, and GWA alumnus Ty Seidule, the school was founded for one purpose: "Ensure white kids didn't have to go to school with Black kids." Initially, the school was located in Good Hope, Georgia, where the school took over the facilities of two public schools, the previously all-white Good Hope School and the previously all-black Good Hope-Peters School. In 1975, the school moved from Good Hope to Monroe.

As of 1983, several black children had been accepted for admission, but none had enrolled.

As of 1991, George Walton Academy was accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission, but not Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which was considered the legitimate accrediting association for the state.

In 2010, George Walton Academy withdrew from the Georgia Independent School Association, which consists largely of former segregation academies, and started to compete alongside public schools in the Georgia High School Association athletic league. They would later return to the GISA (in the sector of GIAA) and continue athletics there.

In 2017, the school's global studies program was launched and includes educational study opportunities in Belize, France, the Galapagos Islands and Spain. Students have the chance to conduct field work alongside medical students from Johns Hopkins University in Belize.

In 2020, more than $4 million was pledged for the GWA "Go Beyond" campaign to expand and enhance the athletic and arts facilities on campus. The school was also awarded a School Empowerment Grant by Walton EMC to expand the high school physics program and lower school STEM program.

In 2021, George Walton's board decided to fire headmaster Dan Dolan after four years of service. The board later replaced him with Gary Hobbs, the temporary head of school. In 2023, a new head of school, John Marshall, was instated

Accreditation

The academy is accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission, Southern Association of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The academy is a member of the Georgia Independent School Association and the Georgia High School Association.

Fine arts

Visual and performing arts classes are offered during the school day as well as enrichment opportunities after school in the form of co-curricular activities and student clubs. Advanced Placement classes are available in both music and the visual arts. Offerings include marching band, symphonic winds, concert ensemble, percussion, theater, chorus, visual arts, dance, photography, sculpture studio, yearbook.

Athletics

GWA was a member of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), Region 8, Class A division.

In 2020 the school forfeited 6 football games because of rules violations involving paying players. The team was fined $1,000 per violation, and the coach was fired. In November, 2021, GWA returned to the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA).

GWA's athletics programs won GISA championships in football (1979, 1991, 2003, and 2009) boys basketball (1975 and 1984), girls basketball (2023), boys lacrosse (2023), and girls lacrosse (2023). Sports include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, majorettes, softball, swimming, equestrian, soccer, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling.

Notable alumni

Demographics

As of the 2018 school year, the students included 8 Asian, 34 Black, 8 Hispanic, 670 White, and 10 of two or more races.

References

  1. ^ "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "Leadership - George Walton Academy".
  3. ^ "George Walton Academy". Private School Universe Survey. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "Bulldog Magazine - George Walton Academy".
  5. ^ Seidule, Ty (January 26, 2021). Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause. St. Martin's Publishing. ISBN 978-1250239266.
  6. ^ Ezell, Hank (October 16, 1983). "A new era for academies". Atlanta Constitution. p. 1D.
  7. ^ George Walton AcademyUS News Archived 2021-08-11 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "A Southerner who abandoned the Lost Cause". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  9. ^ Walton Tribune – Sept. 3, 1958; Sept. 9, 1959; April 13, 1966; May 29, 1968; July 3, 1968; Aug. 21, 1969; Nov. 14, 1974; July 6, 1976
  10. ^ Ezell, Hank (October 16, 1983). "A new era for academies". Atlanta Constitution. p. 8D.
  11. ^ "Federal Judge asked to settle dispute over class valedictorian". The Courier. June 7, 1991. p. C4.
  12. ^ "High Schools". Atlanta Constitution. September 30, 2001. p. C8.
  13. ^ "Making an (Ex)change". October 14, 2017.
  14. ^ "The doctors are in". February 2, 2019.
  15. ^ "GWA goes beyond campaign goal". February 25, 2020.
  16. ^ "Walton EMC | Walton EMC". Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  17. ^ Tribune, David Clemons | The (May 28, 2021). "George Walton Academy making a change at the top". WaltonTribune.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  18. ^ "SAIS". www.sais.org. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  19. ^ "Southern Association of Colleges and Schools | SACS CASI". www.sacs.org. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  20. ^ "Southern Association of Colleges and Schools | SACS CASI". www.sacs.org. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  21. ^ "List of Member Schools | Georgia Independent School Association". April 30, 2012.
  22. ^ "Georgia High School Association | GHSA.net". www.ghsa.net. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  23. ^ "The Walton Tribune 11-11-2017" (PDF).
  24. ^ Fowler, Brett (January 31, 2022). "Football: Davis resigns as GWA football coach". Walton Tribune. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  25. ^ Holcomb, Todd (February 22, 2021). "George Walton Academy forfeits 6 football games". Atlanta Journal and Constitution. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  26. ^ "List of Georgia high school football state champions - GHSFHA". ghsfha.org. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  27. ^ "Coach Ronald Bradley". Coach Ronald Bradley - Through the Years. June 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  28. ^ "Defense helps lead Lady Dogs to title". March 7, 2023.
  29. ^ "BOYS LACROSSE: GWA boys romp to title". May 9, 2023.
  30. ^ "Twice as nice: GWA wins boys, girls lacrosse state titles". May 8, 2023.
  31. ^ Johnson, David (June 15, 2011). "Chandler has local ties". The Walton Tribune. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  32. ^ "INTERVIEW: Atlanta native John Clarence Stewart on playing Simon on "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist'".
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