Harding Academy (Memphis)
| Harding Academy of Memphis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
|
Memphis, Tennessee USA |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Christian school |
| Motto |
"Be strong and courageous." Joshua 1:9 |
| Established | 1952 |
| President | Trent Williamson |
| Enrollment |
1,040 age 18 months - 12th grade |
| Campus | East Memphis (upper and lower school campus) and Cordova (lower school campus) |
| Color(s) | Blue, White, Red |
| Mascot | Prowler |
| Nickname | Lions |
| Yearbook | The Shield |
| Website | HardingAcademyMemphis.org |
"Be strong and courageous."
1,040
Harding Academy is a coeducational, Christian, college-preparatory school serving students from age 18 months through grade 12.
Memphis Christian School opened in 1952 with 192 students in grades K through 6. Mary Nell Hardeman Powers served as the first principal. During that year, the school acquired the King Mansion where the Harding University Graduate School of Religion (now the Harding School of Theology) is located on Cherry Road at Park Avenue. The 1953-54 school year opened at the new 57-acre (230,000 m2) site, and grades seven and eight were offered for the first time. Mrs. Powers wrote the school alma mater that year.
For the 1955-56 school year, the ninth grade was added. Mr. Marion Hickingbottom became the new principal. The following year the school received approval for the first time from the Tennessee State Board of Education. During the spring of 1957, Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas was asked to take over the school. Harding’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to assume the oversight of the school. That decision included moving the Harding University Graduate School of Religion to Memphis where it would reside in the King Mansion and the construction of a new building south of the mansion to house the newly renamed Christian school as Harding Academy of Memphis.
In 1957-58, the construction on the new building began and the tenth grade was added. Harding Academy opened the 1958-59 year in the new building. It included a classroom wing, a gymnasium, and a cafeteria. Mr. A.M. Anderson became principal. Grades eleven and twelve were added, and the first graduating class, of fifteen students, received diplomas. An elementary building was also under construction and completed in March 1960.
Mr. J.E. Summitt served as superintendent for the 1960-61 year. Mr. Harold Bowie arrived the following year and became superintendent.
Over the next decade, the Cherry Road campus continued to expand.
Enrollment increased dramatically during the 1970s and peaked at 2,879 students in 1976. At that point, the Academy was the largest private school in the United States. This growth was possible because of the willingness of the local Churches of Christ to allow the school to use their educational facilities in order to expand. By 1970-71, all elementary enrollment had moved from the Cherry Road campus into local church buildings. In 1978, the Academy separated from Harding College becoming an independent school under the direction of its own board of directors.
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Wikipedia