School combines high academic standards and Christian focus
Smyrna’s Whitefield Academy is proudly celebrating its 20th anniversary. In August 1997, Whitefield opened its doors for the first time to 94 pioneer students in grades six through 12. But there is much more to the Whitefield story than just gathering together a group of students, a few desks and a couple of teachers and calling themselves a Christian school.
In 1995, former Trinity School Headmaster Chuck Johnston, Whitefield’s current fine arts director Stacy Quiros and 14 additional men and women found themselves longing for a quality Christian school that held high academic standards and an equally strong Christian focus. They began planning and praying for a Christ-centered school. Their vision was to establish a school for Christian families that encompassed excellent academics, mentoring Christian faculty, diverse community and uncompromised biblical emphasis.
After several months of prayer and discussion, they partnered with David Jones, chairman of the board of Mount Vernon Christian Academy, who was prayerfully seeking answers for his school, which was struggling with numbers. After many more months of collaboration, weekly prayer meetings and needed financial investments being miraculously donated by a nonprofit foundation, Whitefield Academy was finally on its way to becoming a reality. Now they needed a school name. It seemed only fitting that the founders chose the name Whitefield Academy after George Whitefield, the 18th-century English evangelist whose messages focused on the idea of new birth.
Whitefield Academy will kick off the school year in August 2017 for its 21st year of operation. This charming Smyrna campus has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a former horse farm in the country. Whitefield now spans across 100 acres of a magnificent landscape comprised of the Grand Amphitheater; WolfPack Stadium with its beautiful, synthetic turf field that can accommodate more than 1,000 spectators; baseball and softball fields, Lower School playground and garden; and Whitefield’s most recent addition: a state-of-the-art tennis complex featuring 10 lighted courts; all in addition to the many classroom buildings and full-size gymnasium. Enrollment has now surpassed more than 800 students.
With all of its astounding growth, one thing is for certain—Whitefield Academy remains steadfast in its unwavering focus on its foundational beliefs and core values, embracing a family based community, focused on providing top-notch academics, along with instilling in students a passion for others ahead of self in a truly Christ-centered atmosphere.
When considering school options, parents have a lot to think about. Consider these facts as you begin the process—through exceptional academics, arts and athletics programs, Whitefield has matriculated students to the top colleges and universities in America. One hundred percent of Whitefield Academy graduates gain admission to a four-year college or university.
These are just a few of the many colleges Whitefield’s graduates have been accepted to and/or are currently attending:
- Auburn University
- University of Georgia
- Georgia Tech
- Parsons School of Design
- Emory University
- Vanderbilt University
- Furman University
- Wake Forest University
- Harvard University
- Yale University
- Samford University
- U.S. Military Academy-West Point
- Stanford University
- U.S. Naval Academy-Annapolis
Over the last three years, classes have earned an average of $6.1 million in scholarships and grants. With more than 800 total graduates to date, 109 Whitefield graduates have become NCAA college athletes. In 2016, Whitefield graduate Naomy Grand‘Pierre, class of 2015, made history by becoming the first female swimmer to represent Haiti in the Summer Olympics in Rio.
Whitefield currently fields 55 sports teams representing basketball, soccer, football, tennis, track and field, cross-country, baseball, softball, wrestling, volleyball, golf, swimming and diving, lacrosse and cheerleading. A comprehensive sports medicine program and Student WolfPack Athletic Training program (SWAT) are also available to student athletes.
Whitefield’s academic curriculum is rigorous and comprehensive, including a broad spectrum of 28 Advanced Placement and honors courses to prepare students intellectually for the demands of college and life.
Whether it is splattering paint on a canvas, a shutter snapping, a soloist’s a capella performance, the sound of character shoes in unison parading across a brightly lit stage or the wondrous sounds of the Whitefield jazz and marching bands, the arts faculty and instructors encourage and support these budding artists to recognize and cultivate their God-given talents and creativity. Whitefield provides a plethora of artistic opportunities to its students. The school is one of just a handful of private schools in Georgia to offer a full marching band program. In addition, the Whitefield jazz band is a sought-after group of young musicians who play at events and venues all around town, giving students the opportunity to perfect the elements of performance in addition to just learning an instrument in class.
As Whitefield welcomes its new and returning students back to school this month, a remarkable new Innovation Lab will await them. The STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics—initiative provides a place where students can engage, practice skills and be creative in learning and studying concepts related to those core subjects.
“The Innovation Lab will be a place where kids can take the knowledge they have learned in class and put it into practice through the process of creativity,” Matthew David, Innovation Lab director and science teacher, says. “I want the students to feel they have their own space to connect, create and use their thirst for knowledge in solving problems that stretch beyond the realms of the classroom—digging deep into global concerns of today.”
The future of Whitefield is brighter than ever. The possibilities for the next 20 years are unsurpassable. Whitefield parents, students, faculty and staff all play an integral role in achieving the mission of the school and fostering a close-knit community that has made Whitefield a premier choice of private schools for Christian families.
For additional information, visit WhitefieldAcademy.com.