Wake Christian Academy
Wake Christian Academy (WCA) is a private, Christian, co-educational school in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. It was established in 1966 as a segregation academy in response to the racial integration of public schools.[3]
| Wake Christian Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
5500 Wake Academy Drive , North Carolina 27603 United States | |
| Coordinates | 35°42′17″N 78°40′8″W |
| Information | |
| Other name | WCA |
| Type | Private school |
| Motto | That Christ might be first |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Christian |
| Established | 1966 |
| NCES School ID | 01012616[1] |
| Head of school | Mike Woods[2] |
| Teaching staff | 62.4 (on an FTE basis)[1] |
| Grades | K–12 |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Enrollment | 896 (2017–2018)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 14.4[1] |
| Nickname | Bulldogs |
| Website | www |
History
Wake Christian Academy was established in 1966 as Wake Academy by a group of segregationists that included L. C. Purdy, a former president of White Citizens' Councils.[4] Purdy, along with the White Citizens' Council, tried to raise funds in time to open a school building in the fall of 1966, but fell short and had to lease a residence in which to operate the school.[5][3] School board president H.W. Carey, referencing the founding of the school, told the News & Observer that he "hope[ed] the school would be known for its quality education, but it would be false if I said integration didn't enter into it".[4]
In 1969, Purdy told a reporter that "all you get in public schools is integration, not education. The children are pawns in sociological experiments".[6] Principal Franklin Pierce said that although the school was formed to maintain segregation, she was seeking to change the school's image.[6]
In 1970, North Carolina Supreme Court justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. gave a speech to students and parents at the school in which he denounced school desegregation. Lake noted "the products of jungles" were enrolling in public education and opined that all white private schools like Wake Christian Academy "offer to our state her best hope for safe passage through perilous times."[7][8] In May 1970, School founder L. C. Purdy was also a leader of the local chapter of the White Citizens Council and campaigned against a public school bond issue on the grounds the funds would "be used more integration than for education".[9]
In 1971, L. C. Purdy, by then a member of board of directors, told a reporter that no black students had applied and that he was not sure if the school would admit a black student.[10]
In 1973, Wake Christian Academy's tax exempt status was revoked after a federal court found that the school would not admit black students.[11] In response to the ruling, board member L. C. Purdy commented "we are not going let the federal government dictate our admissions policies, even if it means losing our tax exempt status".[12]
In 1980, Midway Christian Schools merged into Wake Christian.[13]
On September 16, 2015, the school officially opened a new field house known as the Fidelity Bank Field House, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the school. It would support its football, baseball, softball and soccer programs.[14]
References
- "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for WAKE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- "Staff". Wake Christian Academy. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- Adam, Jerry; Covington, Sam R (September 7, 1969). "Private schools include buildings old and new". Charlotte Observer. p. 12.
- Brown, Kate (January 7, 1967). "School is product of dissatisfaction". Raleigh News and Observer. p. 20.
- Robon, Roy (August 24, 1966). "Private school falls short of goal". Raleigh News and Observer.
- Bolch, Judy (March 31, 1969). "Wake Academy finds support for disciplined education". Raleigh News and Observer. p. 1.
- Drescher, John (2000). Triumph of Good Will: How Terry Sanford Beat a Champion of Segregation and Reshaped the South. Univ. Press of Mississippi. pp. 256–257. ISBN 9781578063109. - Profile at Google Books
- Bolch, Judy (June 5, 1970). "Justice Lake Overspeaks His Bias". Asheville Citizen-Times. p. 4. Retrieved October 30, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Citizen's council opposed to bonds". Raleigh News and Observer. May 26, 1970. p. 20.
- Sample, Joseph T (July 6, 1971). "Private schools all but filled". Raleigh News and Observer. p. 32.
- Davis, Angela (July 31, 1973). "Federal court decision affects 18 NC schools". Raleigh News and Observer. p. 3.
- "IRS tells pre-school to run ad". Raleigh News and Observer. July 4, 1971. p. 29.
- "Christian schools planning merger". The News and Observer. February 7, 1980. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- Best, D. Clay (September 21, 2015). "Wake Christian opens new field house". Garner-Cleveland Record. Raleigh News and Observer. Retrieved October 30, 2019.