Blair Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blair Academy |
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Old Academy Building
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| Address | |
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2 Park Street
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United States
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| Coordinates | 40°59′06″N 74°57′50″W / 40.98500°N 74.96389°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Boarding, Day |
| Motto | Venite, Studete, Discite ("Come, Study, Learn") |
| Established | 1848 |
| NCES School ID | 00869091 |
| Head of school | Peter G. Curran (2021–present) |
| Faculty | 59.8 FTEs |
| Enrollment | 479 (as of 2021–22) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 8.0:1 |
| Campus | Rural, 463 acres (1.87 km2) |
| Color(s) | Navy blue White Gray |
| Athletics conference | Mid-Atlantic Prep League |
| Team name | Buccaneers |
| Rival | Peddie School |
| Accreditation | Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools |
| Tuition | $72,700 boarding; $50,600 day (2023–24) |
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Blair Presbyterial Academy
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The Mill, built 1825, also part of the Blairstown Historic District
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| Area | 55 acres (22 ha) |
| Architect | Addison Hutton |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001944 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | January 24, 1992 |
Blair Academy is a school for high school students. It welcomes both boys and girls. Students can live at the school (boarding) or attend classes during the day.
The school teaches students from ninth to twelfth grade. There is also a small class for students who want an extra year of study after high school. Blair Academy is located in Blairstown, New Jersey. It sits on a large campus of about 463 acres. This is about 60 miles west of New York City.
In the 2021–22 school year, 479 students attended Blair Academy. There were almost 60 teachers. This means there was one teacher for every 8 students. Students came from many different backgrounds.
Contents
Learning at Blair Academy
Blair Academy helps students get ready for college. The school's learning plan is based on what colleges expect. Students follow a four-year program. This program helps them meet college entrance requirements.
Sports and Teams
Blair Academy competes in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League. This league includes several other schools. The school's mascot is the "Buccaneer." Their teams are often called the "Bucs." The school colors are navy blue, white, and grey.
Blair vs. Peddie Rivalry
Blair Academy has a long-standing rivalry with The Peddie School. This school is in Hightstown, New Jersey. Since 1903, they have played football against each other. This is New Jersey's oldest continuous high school football rivalry.
Every November, the two schools compete in fall sports. The winning school gets the Kelley-Potter Cup. Before this "Peddie Day," the Blair campus is full of spirit. Banners hang from windows, often making fun of Peddie's Falcon mascot. On the night before Peddie Day, there is a pep rally. A torch parade and a huge bonfire also take place. These events get everyone excited for the sports day. In November 2021, Blair won the Kelley-Potter Cup for the ninth time.
Wrestling Success
Blair Academy is very famous for its wrestling program. The team won 31 National Prep Titles in a row. This was from 1981 to 2012. Many Blair wrestlers have become NCAA champions. One former student, Robert B. Weaver, even won an Olympic gold medal. The wrestling team is known as one of the best high school wrestling programs in the country. They have won 41 National Team Championships.
Other Sports Achievements
The boys' swimming team has also won state championships. They won in 1926, 1932, and from 1935 to 1940. Blair's basketball program has produced NBA players. These include Luol Deng, Charlie Villanueva, and Royal Ivey.
Former Blair football player Dion Lewis was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. He received many honors in 2010. Other notable football players from Blair include Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo. Both play for the Baltimore Ravens.
School Buildings and Campus
Most buildings at Blair Academy have a special style. It is called Richardson Romanesque. Newer buildings also look similar. There are five main academic buildings. These include Clinton Hall and the Bogle Science Center. The Timken Library and Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts are also important. The Chiang-Elghanayan Center for Innovation and Collaboration is another key building.
Modern Facilities
The Bogle Science Center was updated in 2019. It has labs and classrooms for science. It also has a 100-seat auditorium. The Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts opened in 1997. It has a 500-seat theater and practice rooms. The Timken Library was renovated in 1998.
New dorms for girls and boys have opened. These include Annie Hall (1999), Kathryn Hall (2015), and Lakeside Hall (2015). The Romano Dining Hall was finished in 2000.
Athletic Upgrades
Between 2006 and 2009, many sports facilities were improved. A new lighted field was added for football, field hockey, and soccer. It has new stands and a track. Ten new tennis courts were built, some with lights. A new baseball field was also added.
The athletic center, called Hardwick Hall, was also renovated. It has seven squash courts and three gymnasiums. There are also wrestling facilities, a fitness center, and locker rooms. This building also has the school's bookstore and college counseling offices. Blair Academy also has its own nine-hole golf course.
Campus Improvements
In 2010, the center of the campus became vehicle-free. This means no cars are allowed there. The Chiang-Elghanayan Center for Innovation and Collaboration opened in 2017. It is a modern building for technology and arts. In 2018, the J. Li Golf Training Center was added. A crew training center opened in 2021. An outdoor basketball court called the "Shipyard" was also named.
School Facts
Student Numbers
Here are some facts about the students at Blair Academy:
- Total Students: 470
- Most students (83%) live at the school.
- The number of boys and girls is almost equal (51% boys / 49% girls).
- About 8 students are in the post-graduate program.
- Students come from 23 different countries.
- They also come from 28 different states in the USA.
Costs to Attend
For the 2023–24 school year, it costs $72,700 to live and study at Blair. For day students, it costs $50,600. This covers tuition, study rooms, and meals.
In 2013–14, Blair Academy was ranked as the 29th most expensive boarding school in the U.S.
Teachers and Staff
- There is one teacher for every 6 students.
- The Head of School is Peter G. Curran.
School Approvals
- Blair Academy has been approved by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since 1928. This approval was extended in 2018.
School Groups
Blair Academy is a member of several important school organizations:
- ADVIS – Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools
- CASE – Council for Advancement and Support of Education
- NAIS – National Association of Independent Schools
- NJAIS - New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
School Funds
- As of June 2022, the school has about $140 million in its special fund (endowment).
Campus Details
- The campus is 463 acres. It is located among rolling hills near the Delaware Water Gap.
- In 1992, the campus was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was because of its history and architecture.
Famous Former Students
- Jabri Abdur-Rahim (born 2002), basketball player
- Mahlon Apgar IV (born 1958), businessman
- John C. Bogle (1929–2019), founder of The Vanguard Group
- John W. Campbell (1910–1971), science fiction writer
- John Cassavetes (1929–1989), actor and director
- Anthony D'Amato (born 1987), singer and songwriter
- Ray Davis (born 1999), American football running back
- Branson DeCou (1892–1941), photographer
- Luol Deng (born 1985), former professional basketball player
- Jordan Dingle (born 2000), college basketball player
- Tim Eustace (born 1956), former New Jersey Assembly member
- A.J. Ferrari (born 2001), wrestler
- Reid Fliehr (1988–2013), professional wrestler
- Thomas F. Goldsmith (1938–2020), former mayor of Easton, Pennsylvania
- John R. Guthrie (1921–2009), United States Army four-star general
- James Hagerty (1909–1981), White House Press Secretary
- Max Heidegger (born 1997), American-Israeli basketball player
- Andrew R. Heinze (born 1955), writer and scholar
- Royal Ivey (born 1981), former professional basketball player and coach
- George P. Jenkins Jr. (1915–2009), chairman of Metropolitan Life
- Sanoussi Kane (born 2001), American football safety
- Jesse L. Lasky Jr. (1910–1988), screenwriter and novelist
- Dion Lewis (born 1990), running back for the Tennessee Titans
- Stuart Loory (1932–2015), author and editor
- Tucker Max (born 1975), author
- Olivia Miles (born 2003), college basketball player
- Steve Mocco (born 1981), Olympic wrestler and mixed martial artist
- David Ojabo (born 2000), American football outside linebacker
- Odafe Oweh (born 1998), American football outside linebacker
- Frank Perantoni (1923–1991), professional football player
- Tucker Richardson, college basketball player
- Justin Robinson (born 1987), professional basketball player
- Ed Ruth (born 1990), mixed martial artist and wrestler
- Albert G. Rutherford (1879–1941), U.S. Congressman
- Ed Sabol (1916–2015), founder of NFL Films
- John Sebastian (born 1944), lead singer of The Lovin' Spoonful
- Marial Shayok (born 1995), professional basketball player
- Joseph Horace Shull (1848–1944), U.S. House of Representatives member
- William E. Simon (1927–2000), businessman and former Secretary of the Treasury
- Joe Stanowicz (1921–1999), football player
- Samuel S. Stratton (1916–1990), U.S. Congressman
- Hudson Taylor (born 1987), college wrestling coach and activist
- Taki Theodoracopulos (born 1937), writer
- Mike Tobey (born 1994), professional basketball player
- Charlie Villanueva (born 1984), former professional basketball player
- Alexis Wangmene (born 1989), Cameroonian basketball player
- Bobby Weaver (born 1958), Olympic Gold Medalist in Wrestling
