The Norwich Free Academy
Address
Map
305 Broadway

Norwich
,
Connecticut
06360

United States
Coordinates41°32′13″N 72°04′52″W / 41.537°N 72.081°W / 41.537; -72.081
Information
TypeIndependent day school
MottoTradition & Innovation
Established1854 (170 years ago) (1854)
CEEB code070590
Head of schoolNathan Quesnel[1]
FacultyAbout 150
Enrollment2,234 (2018–19)[2]
Color(s)Red and white
  
Athletics conferenceEastern Connecticut Conference
Websitewww.nfaschool.org

The Norwich Free Academy (NFA), founded in 1854 and in operation since 1856, is a coeducational independent school for students between the 9th and 12th grade. Located in Norwich, Connecticut, the Academy serves as the primary high school for Norwich and the surrounding towns of Canterbury, Bozrah, Voluntown, Sprague, Lisbon, Franklin, Preston, and Brooklyn. It was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2001.

Incorporated in 1855 by an act of the Connecticut Legislature, the Academy is an independent school and operates as a privately endowed educational institution that is governed by its board of trustees.[3] One of the state's three endowed, independent academies, the Connecticut State Department of Education refers to the Academy as "a privately governed, endowed, regional independent school."[4][5]

In addition to serving Norwich and surrounding communities, NFA also educates private tuition students. NFA is a member of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools.[6]

History

In 2017 the NFA administration protested against a Governor of Connecticut Dannel P. Malloy's Senate Bill 786, which requires trustees of any "incorporated or endowed high school or academy" to publicly post each "schedule, agenda and minutes of each meeting". SB 786 also allows for area school districts that send students to NFA to have seats on the NFA board of representatives. It also allows public hearings and reviews by area boards of education of portions of NFA's budget, as well as the auditing the NFA revenues each year.[7]

The bill ultimately was modified; it continued to allow area boards of education to review the NFA budget and hold public hearings and requiring annual auditing, but the requirement that area school boards have representatives on the NFA board was removed. On March 24 the Education Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly approved this revised version. The NFA administration expressed satisfaction over this outcome.[8]

Campus

The Slater Memorial Museum in 1958

The 38 acre main campus contains seven buildings that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the most prominent being the Slater Memorial Museum.[9][10]

Varsity sport teams

The NFA sports logo

[11]

Football rivalry

The oldest high school football rivalry in the United States is between Norwich Free Academy and New London High School.[12][13] The first meeting between NFA and the Bulkeley School for Boys occurred on May 12, 1875; Bulkeley merged with Chapman Technical High School in 1951 to become New London High School and the rivalry with NFA continued.[14] The games have been noncontinuous, interrupted by World War I[14] and a 2-year hiatus after a brawl in 1951.[15] Some years saw them play against each other more than once a season.[16] The two teams played their 153rd game in November 2014.[17]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

See also

Other Connecticut private academies acting as public high schools:

Other private academies acting as public high schools:

References

  1. ^ Matt Grahn (November 7, 2022). "Meet the new Head of School at Norwich Free Academy: Nathan Quesnel". The Bulletin. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "Norwich Free Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  3. ^ "Norwich Free Academy Governance." Retrieved on October 11, 2015.
  4. ^ "STRATEGIC SCHOOL PROFILE 2005–06 High School Edition Norwich Free Academy." Connecticut State Department of Education. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
  5. ^ "Report – School Construction Grants – Connecticut General Assembly." Connecticut State Department of Education. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  6. ^ "CAISCT School Finder Directory." Retrieved on August 22, 2015.
  7. ^ "NFA defends private school status". Norwich Bulletin. March 25, 2017.
  8. ^ "NFA glad legislature revised bill that would have stripped its independence". Norwich Bulletin. April 5, 2017.
  9. ^ "Strategic School Profile 2008–09" (PDF). sdeportal.ct.gov. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  10. ^ "Chelsea Parade Historic District". National Park Service. December 9, 1988. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  11. ^ "Teams & Schedules". The Norwich Free Academy. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  12. ^ Rogers, Thomas (November 13, 1985). "SCOUTING; Oldest Rivalry Is Renewed". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  13. ^ "High School Football Records". National Football League. Archived from the original on June 14, 2007.
  14. ^ a b Serra, Geoff (Fall 2009). "The Nation's Oldest High School Rivalry" (PDF). Connecticut Explored. 7 (4): 42–43. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  15. ^ Girasoli, Brian (2012). The Norwich Free Academy V. New London Football Rivalry. Charleston: The History Press. p. 83.
  16. ^ Allard, Mark; Girasoli, Brian (November 26, 2013). "NFA, New London renew rivalry on Thanksgiving". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  17. ^ Poole, Owen (November 27, 2014). "Johnson scores 7 TDs to lift NFA over New London". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  18. ^ Deutsch, Ronald (1961). The Nuts Among the Berries. Ballantine Books. p. 196.
  19. ^ Oliver, Myrna (June 17, 1990). "Don Alexander; Health Ideas Stirred Furor". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  20. ^ Mosher, James (March 22, 2011). "Norwich author wants to put coffee bar in Otis Library". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  21. ^ "Obituary Sketch of Allyn L. Brown". Memorials of Connecticut Judges and Attorneys – As Printed in the Connecticut Reports volume 164, page(s) 713–715. Connecticut State Library. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  22. ^ Owen Poole (May 11, 2014). "Norwich's Campbell Gets the Call". Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  23. ^ "Eric Campbell Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  24. ^ Farmer, Tony (December 19, 2013). "Carignan signs minor-league deal with Giants". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  25. ^ Rogers, Thomas (March 23, 1976). "Charles Chapman, Boat Editor And Author of 'Piloting,' Dead". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  26. ^ Dimauro, Mike (July 7, 2000). "Tech will miss Ward". The Day. p. D10. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  27. ^ James T. White, ed. (1921). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. XVII. p. 257.
  28. ^ "GENERAL WILLIAM JOHN EVANS". US Air Force. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  29. ^ Flint, Peter B. (July 23, 1990). "John Harold Fanning Dies at 73; A Chief of Labor Relations Board". The New York Times. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  30. ^ "Norwich Free Academy Receives $12 Million for Endowment". Philanthropy News Digest. November 11, 2004. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  31. ^ Tuttle, Roger W. (1911). Biographies of Graduates of the Yale Law School, 1824–1899. Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company. p. 895. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  32. ^ "Deceased : 1935" (PDF). The Norwich Free Academy Alma Matters. Norwich Free Academy. 21 (2): 24. Winter 2011–2012. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  33. ^ Franklin, Kelly-Ann (April 5, 2011). "Norwich native, Grammy-winning musician lived generously and humbly, friends say". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  34. ^ a b Parsons, Merribell Maddux (Spring–Summer 1984). "Henry Watson Kent: Distinguished Museum Educator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art". Roundtable Reports. 9 (2): 5–7. JSTOR 40479787. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  35. ^ Sikorski, Don (February 15, 2009). "On the Run: Relaxing in Stockholm, NFA legend Krohn looks back on career". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  36. ^ Lamb, Wally. "Essays: Braided Cords". HarperCollins Publishers. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  37. ^ McElheny, Victor K. (1998). Insisting on the Impossible: The Life of Edwin Land. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books. p. 16. ISBN 9780788192036. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  38. ^ "Barbara Latham". Tacoma Art Museum. Tacoma Art Museum. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  39. ^ McCauley, Janie (April 5, 2014). "Mariners call up former NFA star Leone". The Day. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  40. ^ "Joseph Longo; Was Justice On State Supreme Court". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. December 1, 1993. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  41. ^ Rasmussen, Frederick N. (January 24, 2010). "Ida Mae Selenkow". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  42. ^ United States. Congress (1943). Official Congressional Directory. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 16. ISSN 0160-9890. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  43. ^ Anderson, George B. (1907). History of New Mexico: its resources and people. Vol. 1. Los Angeles: Pacific States Pub. Co. p. 307. OCLC 1692911.
  44. ^ Reindl, JC (August 26, 2012). "Osten girds for another fight". The Day. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  45. ^ Bessette, Claire (November 6, 2012). "19th Senate: Osten big winner". The Day. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  46. ^ Mosher, James (January 10, 2013). "Coast Guard chief gives 2 speeches Wednesday at Academy". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  47. ^ Curland, Richard (January 19, 2010). "NFA grad joining TV Hall of Fame". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  48. ^ "Dewey Perry, Long-time Area Police Officer, Dies". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. October 22, 1970. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "Tenth Annual Concert by Academy Orchestra". The Bulletin. Norwich, CT. June 12, 1915. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ Osborn, Norris Galpin (1906). Men of Mark in Connecticut (PDF). Hartford, Connecticut: William R. Goodspeed. p. 100.
  51. ^ Ginsberg, Larry F. "Musings from my Hermitage" (PDF). Jewish Historical Society of Fairfield County. Jewish Historical Society of Fairfield County. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  52. ^ Drouet, Francis (November 1943). "William Albert Setchell". The American Midland Naturalist. 30 (3): 529–532. doi:10.2307/2421204. JSTOR 2421204. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  53. ^ "Local roundup: Shaughnessy signs with Cardinals". The Day. March 16, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  54. ^ Somers, Kent (March 12, 2014). "Matt Shaughnessy to re-sign with Arizona Cardinals". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  55. ^ "Ex-NFA star Tuzar Skipper added the Pittsburgh Steelers' roster". The Day. May 14, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  56. ^ Varley, Teresa (November 19, 2019). "Steelers Sign Skipper to 53-man Roster". Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  57. ^ Mason, Marsha Levinson (March 20, 2021). "Trip to Norwich is a day of art, history". The Journal Inquirer. Manchester, Connecticut. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  58. ^ Bessette, Claire (March 24, 2018). "Norwich native takes helm as Fort Lauderdale mayor". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  59. ^ Towns, George A. (1942). "The Sources of the Tradition of Atlanta University". Phylon. 3 (2): 117–134. doi:10.2307/271517. JSTOR 271517. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  60. ^ "Paul Faulkner-Was NFA artist". The Day. January 6, 1997. p. B4.
  61. ^ "Lamb credits his teaching experience". USA Today. Associated Press. December 2, 1999. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  62. ^ "Couple Glad to Give up Titles to Become Citizens of the U.S." The Hartford Courant. July 1, 1960. Retrieved April 13, 2021.

External links

Eastern Connecticut Conference
Authority control databases
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