Pace Academy

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Pace Academy
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
966 W. Paces Ferry Rd.

Atlanta
,
Georgia

United States
Coordinates33°50′56″N 84°25′00″W / 33.84892°N 84.416694°W / 33.84892; -84.416694Coordinates: 33°50′56″N 84°25′00″W / 33.84892°N 84.416694°W / 33.84892; -84.416694
Information
TypePrivate, college preparatory
Motto"To Have the Courage to Strive for Excellence"[citation needed]
Established1958; 61 years ago
Head of schoolFred Assaf
Faculty156
GradesK–12
Genderco-educational
Number of students1080
Campus size34 acres
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)Navy, Colombia blue, and white
     
Athletics19 Athletic teams
MascotKnight
NicknameKnights
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
National Association of Independent Schools
Atlanta Association of Independent Schools
Tuition$27,100–$31,200[1]
Websitewww.paceacademy.org

Pace Academy is a K–12 college preparatory private school, located at 966 West Paces Ferry Road in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Pace has approximately 1,115 students.

History[]

Kirkpatrick Hall

[relevant?]

Pace Academy was founded in Atlanta in 1958 in response to the successful challenge of Atlanta Public Schools' segregationist policies in federal court. Pace Academy was founded as a de facto all-white school and was among the private schools attended by white children whose parents did not want them going to public schools with African-Americans.[2][3] Although the school is not affiliated with a specific church or religion, it adheres to Judeo-Christian values and places a major emphasis on character development.[4]

Pace Academy is situated on 37 acres in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood. The school's main building, the Castle, was constructed as a private house in 1932 for the Ogden family. Pace Academy was incorporated on June 30, 1958, with an initial enrollment of 178 students, for the purpose of “training and educating children and operating a school and kindergarten.” Frank Kaley was hired as Pace's first headmaster in 1959.

In 1964, Pace graduated its first class, with 13 students receiving diplomas. Further improvements to Pace’s athletic facilities were made in 1966 when the school constructed a gymnasium and enlarged the athletic field. This facility was dedicated to the memory of William T. Boyd, who had been president of the Pace Parents Club. In 1971, Bridges Hall was constructed and named in honor of Russell Bridges, who had served as chairman of Pace’s Board of Trustees for 10 years. It housed the Lower School, some Upper School classrooms and the present library.

Pace accepted its first African-American student, a kindergartener, in 1966.[5]

In 1972, George G. Kirkpatrick assumed leadership of the school. Although from its incorporation, Pace was accredited by the Georgia Accreditation Committee for its educational programs, 1973 saw the accreditation of Pace by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1976 the Randall property adjacent to Pace became available and a fundraising drive was launched to purchase the property.

Peter Cobb became headmaster in 1994, the same year the Castle was officially named Kirkpatrick Hall, in honor of George G. Kirkpatrick, who had led Pace through its greatest growth.

Following Cobb's resignation in 1996, Michael A. Murphy, who had served as head of Lower School for seven years, served as Interim Headmaster until February 1997 when he was named Headmaster. In spring 1997, following a gift of $2 million by the Hugh M. Inman Foundation, the Educating for Life – Pace 2000 capital campaign was launched, with a goal of $16 million. During Murphy's tenure, Pace embarked on a campaign to build a new Middle School building.

In fall 2005 the fifth Head of School was appointed, Fred Assaf. In 2007 the school resolved longstanding issues with the neighborhood association and entered into an agreement which preserved the small size of Pace whilst expanding the facilities to accommodate a moderate increase in enrollment. As a part of this plan, Pace realized its need to acquire expanded athletic facilities and acquired two parcels, an eight-acre baseball/softball complex on Warren Road and a 23-acre tract on Riverview Road in Cobb County, which now has a stadium for soccer, lacrosse, and football with seating for 2000, a track & field facility, an additional soccer/lacrosse/football field, a baseball field and stadium, and a softball field and stadium. Development of the softball field and the renovation of the baseball field were funded by the sale of the Warren Road complex to The Galloway School in 2016.[6]

During summer 2012, Pace Academy launched a new capital campaign with a purpose of building a new high school. The campaign's lead donor was Arthur Blank, who was both the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and a Pace parent. The Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School officially opened on August 18, 2014.[7]

Awards and recognition[]

During the 2004–05 school year, Pace Academy was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education.[8][9]

School programs[]

Pace Academy also has a robotics team for both Middle and Upper School, the Roboknights. The Middle School team participates in the FIRST Lego League, while the Upper School team participates in the FIRST Tech Challenge.[10]

The school's Isdell Center for Global Leadership runs global education programs.[11]

Sports programs[]

The baseball team won the Georgia Class A State Championship from 1993 to 1995, all of which included future Major League Baseball player Michael Barrett.[12]

The boys' soccer team won the final three Fall Soccer League championships (2002 to 2004), and finished second nationally in the final NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches of America) poll during the fall of 2003.[13] In its first season in the GHSA Spring League in 2006, the team captured the Class AA/A State Championship and finished 19th nationally[14] and 5th in Region II in the Final NSCAA poll.[15]

In 2006, the school announced plans to add a football team, with varsity play scheduled to begin in 2009. For most of its existence, the school focused on its soccer and baseball programs, opting to take part in a smaller fall soccer season to allow players to play baseball in the spring. However, the cancellation of the fall soccer season left the spring season the only option, leading the school to develop a football program.[16]

The middle school football team reached the championships of the Atlanta Metro Football League in its first year in existence.

In fall 2010, after a 9-1 regular season, the Pace Knights football team made its first GHSA playoff appearance.

On November 9, 2013, the varsity girls' cross country team brought home a class 1A state championship title.

In December 2015 the Pace Academy Knights won the GHSA AA state championship, defeating Fitzgerald at the Georgia Dome, 42–21. The Knights were the 4th seed in region 6-AA, and played four away games and then the state championship in the Dome. The Knights went 13–2, avenging one of their losses in the state semifinals versus Greater Atlanta Christian School in a 45–20 blowout.

Notable alumni[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Tuition & Financial Aid". paceacademy.org. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  2. ^ Henry, Elizabeth E., "Halting White Flight: Atlanta's Second Civil Rights Movement." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2012. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/history_diss/31
  3. ^ Purdy, Michelle A. (February 2016). "Blurring public and private: the pragmatic desegregation politics of an elite private school in Atlanta". History of Education Quarterly. 56 (1): 61–89. doi:10.1111/hoeq.12149.
  4. ^ "Admissions FAQs - Pace Academy". www.paceacademy.org. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  5. ^ Michael Gannon, “From White Flight to Open Admissions: The Founding and Integration of Private Schools in the City of Atlanta, 1951–1967” (Master’s thesis, Georgia State University, 2004).
  6. ^ "AJC.com: Atlanta Georgia News, AJC Sports, Atlanta Weather". ajc.
  7. ^ "Pace Academy opens new Upper School". Reporter Newspapers. 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  8. ^ "Atlanta Schools Named No Child Left Behind Blue-Ribbon School", Atlanta Inquirer, October 2, 2004. Accessed November 9, 2007.
  9. ^ U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 2003 through 2006 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.
  10. ^ "RoboKnights". RoboKnights Wiki. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  11. ^ "Isdell Center for Global Leadership - Pace Academy". www.paceacademy.org. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  12. ^ "Legendary Baseball Coaches Celebrate Milestone Season". Buckhead, GA Patch. 2011-04-10. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  13. ^ "High School Boys Fall Rankings -- National, Nov. 24, 2003 - Week 11". National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  14. ^ "High School Spring Rankings Boys, National Last Poll - June 13, 2006". National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  15. ^ "High School Spring Rankings Boys, Region II Last Poll - June 13, 2006". National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  16. ^ "Unknown title". Pace Academy. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  17. ^ "Brigade getting warm K.C. reception". LJWorld.com. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  18. ^ "Knight Times Fall 2013". ISSUU.com. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  19. ^ "Pace Academy - Rich Middlemas '93 Wins Oscar". PaceAcademy.org. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  20. ^ "Barrett passes on Clemson, signs with Expos", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 10, 1995. Accessed November 9, 2007. "For most folks, the entire experience might be overwhelming, but when former Pace Academy shortstop Michael Barrett signed a professional contract Friday with the Montreal Expos, it seemed to his family like little more than the ordinary course of business."
  21. ^ "SPEED READS", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 12, 2001. Accessed November 9, 2007. " Harrison, a 1996 graduate of Pace Academy in Buckhead, stars in Showtime's "Queer as Folk," which depicts the lives and loves of a group of gay men and lesbians."
  22. ^ "FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 13, 1996. Accessed November 9, 2007. "Blessed with a lot of natural talent, a positive attitude and an unusual amount of inner strength, Pace Academy's Sarah-Elizabeth Langford used those qualities to become a two-sport standout for the Lady Knights."
  23. ^ "Sam Sloman - Football". Miami RedHawks football. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  24. ^ Spears, Marc (April 14, 2017). "Duke signee Wendell Carter Jr and his parents have basketball in the blood and academics on their minds". The Undefeated. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

External links[]

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