Albany Academy

The Albany Academy is an independent boys' day school in Albany, New York, enrolling students from "Early Childhood" (age 3) to Post-Graduate. It was founded in 1813 by a charter signed by Mayor Philip Schuyler Van Rensselaer and the city council of Albany. The Albany Academy is the oldest and considered the most prestigious boys' Day school in the Capital Region. The Albany Academy has an intensive coordinate program with its sister school, The Albany Academy for Girls (formerly known as the Albany Female Academy), enabling students in the Upper School to cross-register for classes and extracurricular activities.

Related Topics:
Day school - Albany - New York - 1813 - Albany Academy for Girls - Upper School

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In 1870, in response to a lack of military preparation institutions in the north during the American Civil War, the Albany Academy adopted the Battalion Leadership Program, instructing the "cadets" in military procedure and the art of leadership. The School has since ended compulsory involvement in the program in favor of a House-based leadership program commonly found in English preparatory schools. The four houses, named for prominent historical Academy figures (Beck, Gates, Henry, and Olcott), compete against one another in the fields of academics, athletics, community service, and extracurricular involvement for honor and special privileges awarded to the leading house. Through Upperclassmen mentorship and cross divisional interaction, the House Leadership system fosters a feeling of mutual respect and leadership in the school. Though the school has moved on from its military days, certain traditional elements such as the school's Drill Team, Drum Team, and Color Guard still live on.

Related Topics:
1870 - American Civil War - Battalion - Leadership - Preparatory schools - Academics - Athletics - Community service - Extracurricular

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In 1931, the school moved from its original building in present day Academy Park, next to the State Capitol, to its current location on the corner of Hackett and Academy Roads. The red-brick Academy building's marble corner stone was laid by the then Governor and future President, Franklin D. Roosevelt. All grades enrolled in the Albany Academy are housed under the same roof, a point of pride for the Academy Community. Though the Academy is primarily a day school, its grounds do house the Van Rensselaer Dormitory named for the School's first Chairman of the Board of Trustees and one of the richest Patroons in North America, Stephen Van Rensselaer III. In 2004 there were 350 students, of whom 187 were in the Upper School.

Related Topics:
1931 - President - Franklin D. Roosevelt - Day school - Dormitory - Patroons - Stephen Van Rensselaer III - 2004

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