| Morgan Park Academy | |
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| Address | |
|---|---|
| 2153 W. 111th St. Chicago, Illinois, 60643 USA |
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| Coordinates | 41°41′25″N 87°40′33″W / 41.69038°N 87.67574°W |
| Information | |
| School type | non–sectarian private |
| Opened | 1873 |
| Head of school | Dr. Catherine Raaflaub |
| Staff | 70 |
| Gender | coed |
| Age | 3–10 to 14–18 |
| Average class size | 12 |
| Student:teacher ratio | 1:12 |
| School Colour(s) | maroon ivory |
| Slogan | Independent Thinkers. Global Leaders. |
| Athletics conference | Independent School League |
| Nickname | Warriors |
| School roll | 425 |
| Publication | Academy Magazine |
| Newspaper | Academy News |
| Yearbook | Compendium |
| Tuition | US$9,530–$17,300[1] |
| Assistant Head of School Programs | Barbara Tubutis |
| Assistant Head of Administration & Finance | Mercedes Sheppard |
| Assistant Head of School Advancement & Community Relations | Karen O'Neill |
| Dean of Upper School | Tom Drahozal |
| Dean of Middle School | Jennifer Schmidt |
| Dean of Lower School | Joyce Rasmussen |
| Website | http://morganparkacademy.org |
Morgan Park Academy is a private, independent, Pre-Kindergarten-12th grade day school located in the Morgan Park neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Morgan Park Academy was formerly known as Mt. Vernon Military Academy, Morgan Park Military Academy (MPMA), and briefly as the Illinois Military Academy, and Morgan Park Academy of the University of Chicago. For a time, the school had a very close connection with the University of Chicago, with the graduates being specifically groomed to enter the new university.
Contents |
History
The school was founded as Mt. Vernon Military and Classical Academy in 1873 as a "proprietary school" owned by the headmaster, and run as a for–profit institution. Students paid room and board, as well as for education, uniforms, and maintenance.
While the school was renamed Morgan Park Military Academy in 1877, the school was briefly (1890–92) incorporated as the Illinois Military Academy.
In 1892, William Rainey Harper, acting as the first president of the University of Chicago, joined the recently formed Owen Academy to the school. The Academy's land was purchased, and all operations were moved there, renaming the school Morgan Park Academy of the University of Chicago, where students were to be specifically prepared for entrance into the new university. At this time, the school was integrated, made non–sectarian, and was made co–ed.
Teachers at the school were considered a part of the University of Chicago faculty, instead of being considered separate. Among the faculty was the school's football coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg, who also coached at the University.
In 1906, the University of Chicago ended its relationship with the school. The school reverted to an all–male military school.
During the Great Depression the school expanded, creating a junior college, and extending summer classes to students from nearby public and parochial schools.
In 1958, the school ended its time as a military school, finally becoming Morgan Park Academy. Girls were readmitted in 1959, and the boarding aspect of the school was phased out over ten years.[2]
Academics
The school is centered on being a college preparatory school. All junior students in the upper school are required to take a course in college planning, which meets monthly.[3]
The school offers 13 Advanced Placement courses: English Language, English Literature, AP Statistics, Calculus (AB) & (BC), Biology, Chemistry, U. S. History, Comparative Government & Politics, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, French Language, and French Literature[4]
Athletics
At the middle school level, the school sponsors interscholastic competition for boys and girls in basketball and soccer. Girls may also compete in volleyball and softball. Boys may also compete in baseball.
The MPA Warriors compete interscholastically at the upper school level as members of the Independent School League, which comprises independent private schools in the Chicago area. The school also competes in state championship tournaments sponsored by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).
The upper school sponsors interscholastic teams for men and women in basketball, soccer, and tennis. Women also compete in softball and volleyball, while men compete in baseball and golf.
The following teams finished in the top four of their respective state tournaments sponsored by the IHSA.[5]
- Golf (boys): 4th place (1955–56)
- Soccer (boys): 4th place (2006–07)
- Track & Field (boys): 4th place (1915–16)
While the school no longer sponsors football, early in the school's history, the game was notable. Amos Alonzo Stagg, the coach at the University of Chicago coached the school's football team for a time.[2] On November 23, 1901, the school became the first Illinois school to travel outside the border states to play a football game, playing University High School of Cleveland to a 0–0 tie.[6] Three alumni are members of the College Football Hall of Fame (two as coaches, one as a player).
Notable alumni
- Albert Benbrook was a two–time All-American (1909–10) guard for the University of Michigan. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971.[7]
- Patrick Bertoletti is an internationally known competitive eater. [8][9]
- Robert R. Church, Jr. (1885-1952), son of Robert R. Church, Sr., was an African American businessman and civic leader in Memphis, Tennessee.[10]
- Edward C. Eicher was a Congresman (1933–38) and chief justice of the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia (1942–44). From 1941–42, he was the fifth Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.[11]
- Jesse Harper (class of 1902) coached Knute Rockne (who would immediately follow him) as head football coach at the University of Notre Dame (1913–17). He also served as Notre Dame's head basketball coach, and later served as ND's athletic director. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame with fellow alum Ben Benbrook in 1971.[12]
- Maestro Harrell (class of 2009) is a professional singer and actor, best known for his recurring role of Randy Wagstaff on the HBO series The Wire and as young Cassius Clay in the film Ali.[13][14]
- Arthur W. Hummel, Sr. (class of 1905) was a noted Chrisitan missionary to China, who later served from 1928 to 1954 as the first Chief of the Asian Division of the Library of Congress.
- Steven Rosengard (class of 1995) is a noted fashion designer. He appeared on the popular television series "Project Runway".
- Wallace Wade (class of 1913) was the head baseball and head football coach at the University of Alabama (1923–30) winning three national championships in football. He then was head football coach at Duke University (1931–41, 46–50). Wallace Wade Stadium at Duke is named in his honor. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.
References
- ^ Morgan Park Academy 2008–09 tuition
- ^ a b History of Morgan Park Academy
- ^ Curriculum guide, p. 13
- ^ Curriculum guide
- ^ IHSA record page for Morgan Park Academy
- ^ A Century of Intersectional and Interstate Football Contests 1900–1999, Robert Pruter, @Illinois H.S.toric
- ^ Ben Benbrook biography @collegefootball.org
- ^ Local Boy Eats Good, Evan Swan (Medill News Service), Oct 12, 2007, Southwest Observer
- ^ So many hot dogs: competitor eats to win, Kevin Olson, The Regional News
- ^ http://www.tnstate.edu/library/digital/churchrj.htm Roberta Church and Ronald Walter. Robert Reed Church, Jr. (1885-1952).
- ^ Edward Eicher bio @congress.gov
- ^ Reflections from the Dome: Jesse Harper, Sept, 2001, @irishlegends.com
- ^ Maestro in the Making, Sarah Desprat, Jan, 2008 Chicago Magazine
- ^ Maestro Harrell @imdb.com
External links
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