Stratford Academy
Encyclopedia
Stratford Academy is an independent school near Macon, Georgia
, United States
. Stratford was founded in 1960 by a group of Macon parents who felt that the Middle Georgia area needed an independent college preparatory school. In September 1960, the school opened its doors to 117 students and 17 faculty members in the antebellum
Overlook Mansion on Coleman Hill in Macon's historic district. Thirteen students became Stratford's first alumni in 1962, and since that time more than 2,700 young people have been graduated from the school.
The current facilities were built in 1974 on more than seventy acre
s of wooded land in northwest Bibb County
. The school completed its move when the Lower School and Kindergarten came to the campus in 1978. The new buildings represent a contemporary contrast to Overlook Mansion and house the four school divisions: Preschool, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. The 17500 square feet (1,625.8 m²) Olson Library, a state-of-the-art facility, was completed in August 2000. The Stratford Academy Eagles athletics teams compete in the Georgia Independent School Association
and have won over 160 state championships in its 50 years of existence. In the 2009-2010 school year Stratford won six State championship titles. These titles are currently held in Golf, Men's Soccer,Women's Soccer, Men's Tennis,Women's Tennis, and Softball. Stratford is today a school community of more than 900 students and more than 100 faculty and staff. Stratford recently extended its family to new headmaster, Robert Veto. Along with the gaining of a new staff member, they lost one, Gary Ross, who recently retired due to back problems. Gary Ross was the dedicated Middle School Principal there and had taught at Stratford for over 10 years. Stratford's signature colors are navy blue, grey, and white; and their mascot is the eagle.
Stratford is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools
(NAIS), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(SACS), the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA), the Southern Association of Independent Schools
(SAIS), and the College Board
. In 1982, Stratford earned accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
In partnership with families, students, and faculty, Stratford:
Alumni are invited and encouraged to stay in touch with faculty and staff members at the school. Numerous avenues exist for sharing news and visiting with fellow alums, including:
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Stratford was founded in 1960 by a group of Macon parents who felt that the Middle Georgia area needed an independent college preparatory school. In September 1960, the school opened its doors to 117 students and 17 faculty members in the antebellum
Antebellum architecture
Antebellum architecture is a term used to describe the characteristic neoclassical architectural style of the Southern United States, especially the Old South, from after the birth of the United States in the American Revolution, to the start of the American Civil War...
Overlook Mansion on Coleman Hill in Macon's historic district. Thirteen students became Stratford's first alumni in 1962, and since that time more than 2,700 young people have been graduated from the school.
The current facilities were built in 1974 on more than seventy acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s of wooded land in northwest Bibb County
Bibb County, Georgia
Bibb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 153,887. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 154,709...
. The school completed its move when the Lower School and Kindergarten came to the campus in 1978. The new buildings represent a contemporary contrast to Overlook Mansion and house the four school divisions: Preschool, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. The 17500 square feet (1,625.8 m²) Olson Library, a state-of-the-art facility, was completed in August 2000. The Stratford Academy Eagles athletics teams compete in the Georgia Independent School Association
Georgia Independent School Association
The Georgia Independent School Association is an association of private independent, and parochial schools throughout the state of Georgia. It was established to provide coordination of and services for the various member schools including athletics and academic competition...
and have won over 160 state championships in its 50 years of existence. In the 2009-2010 school year Stratford won six State championship titles. These titles are currently held in Golf, Men's Soccer,Women's Soccer, Men's Tennis,Women's Tennis, and Softball. Stratford is today a school community of more than 900 students and more than 100 faculty and staff. Stratford recently extended its family to new headmaster, Robert Veto. Along with the gaining of a new staff member, they lost one, Gary Ross, who recently retired due to back problems. Gary Ross was the dedicated Middle School Principal there and had taught at Stratford for over 10 years. Stratford's signature colors are navy blue, grey, and white; and their mascot is the eagle.
Stratford is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools
National Association of Independent Schools
The National Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1963, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boarding, and day/boarding schools; elementary and secondary...
(NAIS), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
(SACS), the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA), the Southern Association of Independent Schools
Southern Association of Independent Schools
The Southern Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based voluntary organization of more than 340 independent elementary and secondary schools through the South, representing more than 180,000 students...
(SAIS), and the College Board
College Board
The College Board is a membership association in the United States that was formed in 1900 as the College Entrance Examination Board . It is composed of more than 5,900 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. It sells standardized tests used by academically oriented...
. In 1982, Stratford earned accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Mission Statement
"Libertas Excellentiae"In partnership with families, students, and faculty, Stratford:
- Provides opportunities for students to develop their individual abilities and skills within the context of a rigorous curriculum.
- Builds character and integrity by offering students a variety of ethical and cultural perspectives through the curriculum and service to the school and community.
- Encourages students to engage in a wide range of academic, athletic, fine arts, and service-related activities.
- Inspires leadership and prepares students for responsible stewardship and citizenship.
Admissions
Stratford educates the whole student in the following areas:- Academics
- Athletics
- Arts
- Character development
- Leadership and self-confidence
- Social responsibility
- Co-curricular activities
Alumni
Since the first class of thirteen students graduated in 1962, Stratford Academy's alumni have always been a source of pride for our school. To date, Stratford has graduated over 2700 students. While many graduates reside in Georgia, others choose to live in varying locations across the country.Alumni are invited and encouraged to stay in touch with faculty and staff members at the school. Numerous avenues exist for sharing news and visiting with fellow alums, including:
- Annual Alumni Weekend
- Class Reunions
- Stratford Magazine - a publication for Stratford alumni, parents, grandparents, parents of alumni and friends
- Alumni Online Community
- Facebook Stratford Academy Alumni Group and Stratford Academy Fan Page
- "Stratford Academy Alumni" on LinkedIn
- stratfordeagles on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...