Western Reserve Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western Reserve Academy |
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| Address | |
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115 College Street
, Ohio
44236-2999
United States
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| Coordinates | 41°14′55″N 81°26′08″W / 41.248685°N 81.435494°W |
| Information | |
| Former name | Western Reserve College and Preparatory School |
| Type | Independent college-preparatory boarding and day high school |
| Motto | Latin: Lux Et Veritas (Light and Truth) |
| Established | 7 February 1826 |
| Founder | David Hudson |
| Status | Currently operational |
| Trust | Board of Trustees |
| CEEB code | 362655 |
| NCES School ID | 01064121 |
| President | Martin D. Franks '68 Nathaniel E. Leonard '82 |
| Head of school | Suzanne Walker Buck |
| Faculty | 51.4 (on a FTE basis) |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Enrollment | 390 (2019-2020) |
| • Grade 9 | 84 |
| • Grade 10 | 103 |
| • Grade 11 | 84 |
| • Grade 12 | 119 |
| Average class size | 11 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 7.6:1 |
| Hours in school day | 7.2 |
| Campus size | 190 acres (77 ha) |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Hunter Green and White |
| Athletics | 23 interscholastic |
| Nickname | Pioneers |
| Rivals | University School The Kiski School Linsly School |
| Accreditation | HLC |
| SAT average | 1340 |
| Endowment | $64.42 million |
| Annual tuition | $71,250 (boarding) $46,000 (day) |
| Revenue | $38.11 million |
| Affiliation | GCSDAC, NAIS, and TABS |
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Western Reserve Academy
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Roughly bounded by Aurora St. and both sides of Oviatt, High, Hudson, Ohio |
| Area | 58 acres (23 ha) |
| Architect | Porter, Simeon; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001539 |
| Added to NRHP | June 30, 1975 |
Western Reserve Academy (WRA), also known as Reserve, is a private high school in Hudson, Ohio. It is a boarding and day school that helps students get ready for college. Most of its 390 students live on campus. Students come from over 20 different states and 15 countries to attend WRA.
Contents
- Discover the History of Western Reserve Academy
- Exciting Extracurricular Activities at WRA
- Exploring the Historic Campus
- Famous People Who Attended Western Reserve Academy
- Notable Teachers at Western Reserve Academy
Discover the History of Western Reserve Academy
Western Reserve Academy started on February 7, 1826. It was first called the Western Reserve College and Preparatory School. The school was built on 190 acres of land in Hudson, Ohio. It is the 27th oldest boarding school in the United States. It is also the oldest outside of the Northeast region.
The school's name comes from the Connecticut Western Reserve area. It was the first school of its kind in Northern Ohio. Settlers from Connecticut wanted a school as good as Yale College. They used similar brick buildings and the same motto: Lux et Veritas (Light and Truth). People even called it "the Yale of the West."
In 1882, the college part of the school moved to Cleveland. It became Western Reserve University. Later, it joined with the Case Institute of Technology to form Case Western Reserve University. Western Reserve Academy stayed open until 1903, when it closed due to money problems.
Reopening and Growth of WRA
In 1916, the school reopened with help from James Ellsworth. He was a former student who became wealthy in the coal business. During this "Ellsworth Era," many new buildings were added. These included Seymour Hall, the Bicknell Gymnasium, and Ellsworth Hall.
In 1922, Western Reserve Academy became an all-boys school. It stayed that way for 50 years. In 1972, girls joined the junior class, and it became a co-ed school again. In 2001, U.S. News & World Report named Western Reserve Academy one of the top boarding schools.
Exciting Extracurricular Activities at WRA
Western Reserve Academy offers many activities outside of classes. Students can join sports teams or explore their artistic talents.
Sports and Athletics at Reserve
The school has many sports teams. These include soccer, golf, and cross country. Other sports are field hockey, volleyball, swimming, and basketball. Students can also play wrestling, riflery, baseball, softball, track and field, tennis, and lacrosse.
Lacrosse Success
Western Reserve Academy has a top high school lacrosse team. They won the Midwest Scholastic Lacrosse Championship in 2006 and 2009. Inside Lacrosse ranked the 2009 team number one in the Midwest.
Track and Cross-Country Achievements
The track and cross-country teams were very successful from the 1940s to the 1980s. They won many championships. The cross-country team once had an amazing streak of 179 wins to only 1 loss. The school's track is named after coach Frank Longstreth.
Soccer Team Highlights
In 2012, both the girls' and boys' soccer teams were ranked high in the state. The boys' team had an undefeated season. The girls' teams set a record for most wins in a season.
Rivalries and Competitions
WRA has a long-standing rivalry with University School, going back to 1895. Other rival schools include The Kiski School, Linsly School, and Hawken School.
Arts Programs and Creative Spaces
Reserve offers over 20 art classes. Students can study music, dance, theater, and visual arts. There are special rooms for 2D and 3D art. Students can also use a graphic design lab and a woodworking workshop.
Most art activities happen in the Knight Fine Arts Center (KFAC). The music program is in Hayden Hall. KFAC has classrooms, a theater, and a dance studio. The Moos Gallery in KFAC shows student art and works by famous artists.
Wang Innovation Center (WIC)
The Wang Innovation Center (WIC) is also in KFAC. It is a modern "maker space." Students can use it to create almost anything they can imagine. They can also take special classes there.
Unique Traditions at Western Reserve Academy
Western Reserve Academy has several special traditions. These help students feel connected to the school.
Vespers and Sit-Down Meals
One popular tradition is Vespers. It is a Christmas concert and a special dinner before winter break. Another tradition is sit-down meals. Every Wednesday, all students and teachers have lunch together. It's a family-style meal where students sit with their academic advisors.
Victory Bell and Musical Events
After every sports victory, the winning team rings the victory bell. The whole campus can hear it! Students also enjoy musical traditions. The annual "Messiah Sing" concert features the Academy String Orchestra and Choir. The audience is invited to sing along.
Commencement Ceremony
The final tradition is Commencement, the graduation ceremony. It takes place outside the historic chapel. Graduating boys wear green and white pants, and girls wear white dresses. Bagpipers lead them through campus, followed by the teachers. Each student gets their diploma and a special alumni tie or pin.
Dress Code Guidelines
Western Reserve Academy has a dress code. Boys must wear a coat and tie all week. On Mondays and Fridays, they must wear "Reserve Green" (a green jacket with the school crest and a green striped tie). Girls wear a green blazer and a green kilt on "Reserve Green" days.
Exploring the Historic Campus
WRA's campus has many old and beautiful buildings. Two of the most important are the chapel and the Loomis Observatory. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Historic Chapel and Loomis Observatory
The chapel was built in 1836 and updated in 2021. It is still used for morning meetings twice a week. Weddings, concerts, and gatherings also happen there. The graduation ceremony takes place outside the chapel.
The chapel has a cross that once hung in a Spanish monastery. It is said that Christopher Columbus prayed before this cross.
The Loomis Observatory was built in 1838. It was the third observatory built in the United States. Today, it is the second oldest observatory in the country. It is named after astronomer Elias Loomis. The building has three rooms and is near the music building. The old telescope is no longer used. A newer observatory is on Cross Country Hill.
Ong Library: A Hub for Learning
The Ong Library is named after Ambassador John D. Ong. It is a large building with almost 23,000 books. It also has DVDs, CDs, and magazines. Students can use the library all day. It has two computer labs and many group study rooms. The basement holds the school's archives. These archives tell the story of the 200-year-old school and town.
Student Dormitories and Campus Life
There are ten dormitories for the over 200 boarding students. North Hall, built in 1838, is the oldest. Bicknell House is the newest. Students live in single, double, triple, or quad rooms. They share bathrooms.
Each dorm has 2-3 teachers who live there. One teacher is the Dorm Head. About 85% of all teachers live on campus.
Famous People Who Attended Western Reserve Academy
Many notable people have attended Western Reserve Academy. They have gone on to achieve great things in various fields.
Leaders in Politics and Government
- William B. Allison† — U.S. Senator from Iowa
- David R. Paige† — U.S. Representative from Ohio
- Mark Hanna*† — U.S. Senator from Ohio, campaign manager for President William McKinley
- Louis P. Harvey† — 7th Governor of Wisconsin
- William H. Upson† 1842 — U.S. Representative from Ohio
- George Hoadly† — 36th Governor of Ohio
- James W. Dawes† — 6th Governor of Nebraska
- George K. Nash† 1860 — 41st Governor of Ohio
- John Hessin Clarke† — Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
- Walter Folger Brown 1888 — U.S. Postmaster General
- William R. Hopkins 1892 — First city manager of Cleveland, Ohio
- David S. Dennison '36 — U.S. Representative from Ohio
- Ronald B. Cameron '45 — U.S. Representative from California
- James Robertson '55 — Federal District Court judge
- Daniel W. Christman '61 — Former leader of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
- Oliver Everett '62 — Royal Librarian to Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
- Thomas C. Sawyer* '63 — U.S. Representative from Ohio
- Martin R. Hoke '69 — U.S. Representative from Ohio
- Neel Kashkari '91 — Head of the U.S. Office of Financial Stability
Writers and Journalists
- Rupert Hughes 1888 — Novelist, film director, historian
- Lucien Price 1901 — Journalist for The Boston Globe
- R. W. Apple Jr. '52 — Editor for The New York Times
- Martin Perlich '55 — Radio broadcaster and writer
- Ted Gup '68 — Author of A Secret Gift
- Chris Gulker '69 — Photojournalist, two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee
- Ian Frazier '69 — Nonfiction author and essayist
- Andrew Meldrum '70 — Senior editor at GlobalPost
- John Yang '75 — PBS Newshour correspondent, Peabody Award winner
- Kevin Prufer '88 — Essayist and poet
Artists and Entertainers
- D.M. Marshman Jr. '41 — Academy Award-winning screenplay writer
- Frederick Coffin '61 — Film and television actor
- Jeff Schaffer '87 — Film director, TV show writer (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm)
- Richard Brake '83 — Film actor (Batman Begins)
- Macy Gray* '84 — Grammy Award-winning musician/singer
- Ted Humphrey '87 — Emmy Award-nominated television and film writer
Business Leaders
- James Ellsworth† 1868 — Coal mine owner, banker
- James L. Knight '29 — Newspaperman and philanthropist, founder of Knight Ridder
- William D. Perez '65 — Former CEO of Nike, Inc.
Sports Figures
- Keith Carter '48 — Olympic swimmer; silver medalist at 1948 Summer Olympic Games
- Joel Dalgarno '05 — Professional lacrosse player
- Chris Livingston — Professional basketball player
Other Notable Alumni
- John Strong Newberry — Geologist, physician
- Frederic de Forest Allen — Scholar of classics
- Lincoln Ellsworth — U.S. explorer; first undisputed sighting of North Pole
- Scott E. Forbush '20 — Physicist, discoverer of the Forbush decrease
- George Kubler '29 — Art historian
- Lee Morin '70 — NASA astronaut
- Thomas Day Seymour 1870 - educator
Notable Teachers at Western Reserve Academy
- Beriah Green — Taught at Western Reserve College and Prefatory Academy
- Edward Morley — Taught at Western Reserve College and Prefatory Academy
- Joseph Frederick Waring — Taught at Western Reserve Academy for 32 years
