Elmira Free Academy
Encyclopedia
Elmira Free Academy, or EFA, is a high school in Elmira, New York
, USA. It is one of seven public high schools serving Chemung county. (Waverly, Spencer-Van Etten and Odessa-Montour are outside Chemung County, but serve students from Chemung County). As of 2007, EFA has an enrollment of 1,047 students, with a faculty that includes 67 full-time teachers and many other instructors, administrators, and support staff.
The metro-area surrounding EFA is both economically and racially diverse, traits reflected in the student body. 77% of the student body is White, 20% is Black, 2% Hispanic, less than 1% Asian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American. Also, 38% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunches, a percentage significantly higher than the state average of 17%.
The school also boasts many honors courses, taught to the standards of both AP and ACE (a program that offers direct college credits at many schools). Elmira Free Academy is also a strong statewide contender in many sports, despite smaller a student enrollment and budget than many competing schools. The school is classified as class A in Section IV of the NYSPHSAA.
Every fall, Southside High School
and EFA competed in football for the Erie Bell. In 2011, however, the Elmira City School District
announced that due to severe budget problems, the 64 year old rivalry between Southside
and EFA would have to come to an end. The two high schools will be combining sports teams beginning in the 2011-12 school year. A community vote was taken to determine what new mascot and colors people were interested in. On May 25, 2011, the district officially announced that the new team would be called the Elmira Express, a common nickname for Elmiran legend Ernie Davis
, the first African-American to ever win the Heisman Trophy in the sport of football. The colors will be red, black, and white.
The rumor has been that when the school merges, the district would like the Elmira Free Academy building to hold the high school while Southside turns into the middle school. Even though EFA has known to be in a worse neighborhood, older building then southside, and smaller building compared to southside.
The school is operated by the Elmira City School District
.
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, USA. It is one of seven public high schools serving Chemung county. (Waverly, Spencer-Van Etten and Odessa-Montour are outside Chemung County, but serve students from Chemung County). As of 2007, EFA has an enrollment of 1,047 students, with a faculty that includes 67 full-time teachers and many other instructors, administrators, and support staff.
The metro-area surrounding EFA is both economically and racially diverse, traits reflected in the student body. 77% of the student body is White, 20% is Black, 2% Hispanic, less than 1% Asian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American. Also, 38% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunches, a percentage significantly higher than the state average of 17%.
The school also boasts many honors courses, taught to the standards of both AP and ACE (a program that offers direct college credits at many schools). Elmira Free Academy is also a strong statewide contender in many sports, despite smaller a student enrollment and budget than many competing schools. The school is classified as class A in Section IV of the NYSPHSAA.
Every fall, Southside High School
Southside High School (Elmira, New York)
- Overview :Elmira Southside High School, commonly referred to as SHS, is a high school in Elmira, New York, USA. It is one of three public high schools operated by the Elmira City School District serving Chemung County, alongside Elmira Free Academy and the Elmira Alternative High School. Until...
and EFA competed in football for the Erie Bell. In 2011, however, the Elmira City School District
Elmira City School District
Elmira City School District is a school district in Elmira, New York. The district serves the city of Elmira and the towns of Ashland, Baldwin, Erin, Pine City, Southport, and Wellsburg ....
announced that due to severe budget problems, the 64 year old rivalry between Southside
Southside High School (Elmira, New York)
- Overview :Elmira Southside High School, commonly referred to as SHS, is a high school in Elmira, New York, USA. It is one of three public high schools operated by the Elmira City School District serving Chemung County, alongside Elmira Free Academy and the Elmira Alternative High School. Until...
and EFA would have to come to an end. The two high schools will be combining sports teams beginning in the 2011-12 school year. A community vote was taken to determine what new mascot and colors people were interested in. On May 25, 2011, the district officially announced that the new team would be called the Elmira Express, a common nickname for Elmiran legend Ernie Davis
Ernie Davis
Ernest "Ernie" Davis was an American football running back and the first African-American athlete to win the Heisman Trophy. Wearing number 44, Davis competed collegiately for Syracuse University before being drafted by the Washington Redskins, then almost immediately traded to the Cleveland...
, the first African-American to ever win the Heisman Trophy in the sport of football. The colors will be red, black, and white.
The rumor has been that when the school merges, the district would like the Elmira Free Academy building to hold the high school while Southside turns into the middle school. Even though EFA has known to be in a worse neighborhood, older building then southside, and smaller building compared to southside.
The school is operated by the Elmira City School District
Elmira City School District
Elmira City School District is a school district in Elmira, New York. The district serves the city of Elmira and the towns of Ashland, Baldwin, Erin, Pine City, Southport, and Wellsburg ....
.
Notable alumni
- Hal RoachHal RoachHarold Eugene "Hal" Roach, Sr. was an American film and television producer and director, and from the 1910s to the 1990s.- Early life and career :Hal Roach was born in Elmira, New York...
(1908) - Film and TV producer with a career spanning much of the 20th century. In 1984, he won the honorary Academy Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement. - Ernie DavisErnie DavisErnest "Ernie" Davis was an American football running back and the first African-American athlete to win the Heisman Trophy. Wearing number 44, Davis competed collegiately for Syracuse University before being drafted by the Washington Redskins, then almost immediately traded to the Cleveland...
(1958) - First Black American to win the Heisman TrophyHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, and two time All-American. Drafted by Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
and traded to Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
before he died from leukemiaLeukemiaLeukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 1963. - Tommy HilfigerTommy HilfigerThomas Jacob "Tommy" Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and founder of the premium lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger.-Early life:...
(1970) - Fashion designer and creator of the eponymous "Tommy Hilfiger" and "Tommy" brands. - Eileen CollinsEileen CollinsEileen Marie Collins is a retired American astronaut and a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. A former military instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first female pilot and first female commander of a Space Shuttle. She was awarded several medals for her work. Col. Collins has logged 38 days 8...
(1974) - Retired Astronaut, first female pilot, commander of the Space Shuttle - Heath Kennedy (1994) - Musician, Educator