West Nottingham Academy facts for kids

West Nottingham Academy is a private school in Maryland, USA. It welcomes both students who live at the school (boarding students) and those who come for the day. The school teaches students in grades 9 through 12.

It was started in 1744 by a Presbyterian preacher named Samuel Finley. He later became the president of Princeton University. The school's campus is about 124 acres and has many trees. It is located in Colora, Maryland, close to the Chesapeake Bay. The school is about an hour south of Philadelphia and 45 minutes north of Baltimore.

West Nottingham Academy says it is "the oldest boarding school in the United States." It has the earliest founding date of any school still open today.

What Students Learn at West Nottingham Academy

West Nottingham Academy offers a program that helps students get ready for college. Students can take classes in many subjects. These include arts, history, foreign languages, math, and science.

English as a Second Language Program

The school also has a special program for international students. This is called English as a Second Language (ESL). About 25% of the students at West Nottingham Academy come from other countries. They come from places like Japan, Australia, South Korea, Brazil, and China.

History of West Nottingham Academy

West Nottingham Academy Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
West Nottingham Academy Historic District, April 2010
Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Nearest city	Colora, Maryland
Area	85 acres (34 ha)
Built	1864 (1864)
Architectural style	Colonial Revival, Mid 19th Century Revival, Federal
NRHP reference No.	90001125
Added to NRHP	July 26, 1990

Many important early Americans graduated from West Nottingham Academy. In 1744, Samuel Finley, an Irish Presbyterian preacher, started the school. He believed that people should use their minds to understand the world. He thought that education helped people think clearly and act creatively.

Early School Buildings

Finley opened the first school in 1744. It was a simple log building behind his home. A replica of this original log building now stands on the current campus. It was built using old descriptions and student memories.

After a few years, the school moved to its current location. A two-story building was built for school activities. This building later burned down. A single-story building replaced it, but it was destroyed by a storm. In 1865, the red brick J. Paul Slaybaugh Old Academy was built. This building is still standing today.

Growth and Changes

West Nottingham Academy was the first of many Presbyterian boarding schools. Over time, public schools became more common. Many church-run secondary schools closed or became colleges.

In the 2000s, the Chesapeake Learning Center was created. It focused on helping international students. This led to the development of the English as a Second Language program. A middle school was also started, but it closed in 2009.

Many new buildings have been added or updated over the years. These include the C. Herbert Foutz Student Center (1989) and the Patricia A. Bathon Science Center (2003). Dormitories like Magraw Hall (2000) and Finley Hall (2002) were also renovated. In 2007, Rush Dormitory was fully renovated and renamed Rush House. An outdoor meeting space called Durigg Plaza was also built. Rowland dormitory was renovated in 2008.

In June 2023, the school needed to reorganize its finances. It filed for a type of bankruptcy to help manage its money.

Historic Area of the School

The West Nottingham Academy Historic District is a special historic area. It is located in Colora, Maryland. This district covers about 85 acres. It has a park-like setting with old trees, a small stream, and a lake. It also includes buildings from the 1800s and 1900s.

Important historic buildings include the Old Academy, built in 1864. It is a brick building with a unique bell tower. The Gayley House, built around 1830, is a large brick home. Magraw Hall, built in 1929, is a stone administration building. Other historic buildings include Wiley House, Becktel House, and Hilltop House. The old barn, which was once a gym, burned down in 1993. The stone entrance and stone bridges are also part of the historic area.

The historic core of the Academy was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.

Sports and Activities

West Nottingham Academy offers many sports and activities for students. All students are asked to join a sport or club each school year. They participate in one activity per trimester.

Sports Teams

The school has teams for:

• Soccer
• Basketball (Prep and Varsity)
• Lacrosse
• Wrestling (for both boys and girls)
• Baseball
• Cross Country
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Martial Arts

Other Activities

Students can also join other activities like:

• VEX Robotics
• Chess
• Yoga
• Yearbook
• Theatre
• Photography
• Green Rams Environmental Club
• The school newspaper, The Arrow

Famous People Who Attended West Nottingham Academy

Many notable people have graduated from West Nottingham Academy. These include:

• John Archer – an early politician from Maryland.
• Josh Boone – a former professional basketball player in the NBA.
• Ross Cameron – the president of Charms Candy Company and the person who invented the Charms Blow Pop.
• Austin Lane Crothers – served as the governor of Maryland from 1908 to 1912.
• John Filson – an author and one of the founders of Cincinnati.
• Eric Fischl – a well-known artist and sculptor.
• Ebenezer Hazard – served as the United States Postmaster General from 1782 to 1789.
• Peter H. Kostmayer – a former US Congressman from Pennsylvania.
• Alexander Martin – an early governor of North Carolina.
• Yves Missi – an NBA player.
• John Morgan – one of the people who started the University of Pennsylvania Medical School.
• Benjamin Rush – known as the Father of American psychiatry and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
• William Shippen Jr. – also a co-founder of the University of Pennsylvania Medical School.
• Richard Stockton – another signer of the Declaration of Independence.