Pulaski Academy


Pulaski Academy is a private, independent college preparatory preschool, elementary, and junior/senior high school headed by Matthew Walsh in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. PA was established in 1971 as a segregation academy and remains as the only independent, non-sectarian, college preparatory school in Arkansas.

History

When busing was introduced in the early 1970s to counteract the effects of racially defined residential patterns, whites built private schools in the suburbs or fled the county altogether. In 1971, the segregationist businessman William F. Rector announced the construction of the private Pulaski Academy in the western suburbs of the city for those, he said, who "don't like busing." Pulaski was the first school established after the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education decision. Rector said, "I even hope we'll be allowed to play Dixie if we want to without having a riot about it."
In 2003, one of 102 graduating seniors was black.
In the 2015–2016 school year, 955 of 1,221 students in grades 1-12 were white. In 2016, Little Rock was 48% white.
In 2000, Pulaski Academy purchased the campus of Fellowship Bible Church, on the corner of Hinson and Napa Valley, increasing the campus to.

Academics

PA is accredited by ISACS, and ANSAA. PA is a member of the Cum Laude Society, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, Arkansas Activities Association, College Board and NAIS.
Pulaski Academy was named 2003 "Best of the Best" Private High School by the readers of an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette contest.
During the 2008–09 academic year, fifteen members of the Class of 2009 were named as National Merit Scholars, three as Commended Scholars and twelve as Finalists. Enrollment for 2009-10 is approximately 1,210 K-12 students, with a student/teacher ratio of 8.9:1.

Extracurricular activities

The school's mascot is the Bruin and school colors are Navy blue and Vegas gold. For 2012–14, the Pulaski Academy Bruins play in the 5A Central Conference administered by the Arkansas Activities Association. The school participates in baseball, basketball, cheer, cross country, Pom, football, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, golf volleyball, lacrosse, and wrestling.
The school's football team, which has won eight state championships since 2003, is coached by Kevin Kelley, who has gained notoriety for his strategies, which include the total rejection of punting and returning punts, as well as a reliance on the onside kick.

Athletic state championships

Pulaski Academy Bruins have won numerous state championships: