Norwich Free Academy

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. The class of 2018 graduated in NFA's 162nd year of operation.

The Norwich Free Academy
Location
Norwich
,
Connecticut

United States
Coordinates41.537°N 72.081°W / 41.537; -72.081
Information
TypeIndependent day school
MottoTradition & Innovation
Established1854
Head of schoolBrian Kelly[1]
FacultyAbout 150
Enrollment2,234 (2018–19)[2]
Color(s)Red and white    
Athletics conferenceEastern Connecticut Conference
Websitehttp://www.nfaschool.org

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

NFA is located at 305 Broadway across from Park Church and the Chelsea Parade. The 38 acre[9] main campus contains seven buildings that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the most prominent being the Slater Memorial Museum.[10]

Statistics

Graduation Rate for Class of 2006: 93.6%
State Average: 92.2%[11]

Activities of Graduates
% Attending Two or Four Year College:
2006: 82.5%
2001: 77.6%[11]

Staff Education
% of Staff with Master's degree or Above: 84.0%
State Average: 76.0%[12]

Varsity sport teams

[13]

Football rivalry

The oldest high school football rivalry in the United States is between Norwich Free Academy and New London High School.[14][15] 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.[16] The games have been noncontinuous, interrupted by World War I[16] and a 2-year hiatus after a brawl in 1951.[17] Some years saw them play against each other more than once a season.[18] The two teams played their 153rd game in November, 2014.[19]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

See also

References
  1. Della Costa, Anna Maria (August 30, 2020). "NFA students return amid pandemic, with new leader at helm". The Bulletin. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  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 on October 24, 2009.
  5. "Report - School Construction Grants - Connecticut General Assembly." Connecticut State Department of Education. Retrieved on February 25, 2017.
  6. "CAISCT School Finder Directory." Retrieved on August 22, 2015.
  7. "NFA defends private school status". Norwich Bulletin. 2017-03-25.
  8. "NFA glad legislature revised bill that would have stripped its independence". Norwich Bulletin. 2017-04-05.
  9. "Strategic School Profile 2008-09" (PDF). sdeportal.ct.gov. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  10. "Chelsea Parade Historic District". National Park Service. December 9, 1988. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  11. "Strategic Group Profile 2006-07: Norwich Free Academy" (PDF). Connecticut State Department of Education. 2007-11-29. p. 5. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  12. "Strategic Group Profile 2006-07: Norwich Free Academy" (PDF). Connecticut State Department of Education. 2007-11-29. p. 3. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  13. "Teams & Schedules". The Norwich Free Academy. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  14. Rogers, Thomas (November 13, 1985). "SCOUTING; Oldest Rivalry Is Renewed". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  15. "High School Football Records". National Football League. Archived from the original on 2007-06-14.
  16. Serra, Geoff (Fall 2009). "The Nation's Oldest High School Rivalry" (PDF). Connecticut Explored. 7 (4): 42–43. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  17. Girasoli, Brian (2012). The Norwich Free Academy V. New London Football Rivalry. Charleston: The History Press. p. 83.
  18. Allard, Mark; Girasoli, Brian (November 26, 2013). "NFA, New London renew rivalry on Thanksgiving". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  19. Poole, Owen (November 27, 2014). "Johnson scores 7 TDs to lift NFA over New London". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  20. Mosher, James (March 22, 2011). "Norwich author wants to put coffee bar in Otis Library". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  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. Farmer, Tony (December 19, 2013). "Carignan signs minor-league deal with Giants". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  23. Dimauro, Mike (July 7, 2000). "Tech will miss Ward". The Day. p. D10. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  24. James T. White, ed. (1921). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. XVII. p. 257.
  25. "GENERAL WILLIAM JOHN EVANS". US Air Force. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  26. Flint, Peter B. (July 23, 1990). "John Harold Fanning Dies at 73; A Chief of Labor Relations Board". New York Times. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  27. "Norwich Free Academy Receives $12 Million for Endowment". Philanthropy News Digest. Nov 11, 2004. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  28. "Alma Matters" (PDF). 21 (2). Norwich Free Academy. Winter 2011–2012: 24. Retrieved May 21, 2013. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  29. Franklin, Kelly-Ann (April 5, 2011). "Norwich native, Grammy-winning musician lived generously and humbly, friends say". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  30. Sikorski, Don (Feb 15, 2009). "On the Run: Relaxing in Stockholm, NFA legend Krohn looks back on career". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  31. Lamb, Wally. "Essays: Braided Cords". HarperCollins Publishers. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  32. McElheny, Victor K. (1998). Insisting on the Impossible: The Life of Edwin Land. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books. p. 16. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  33. McCauley, Janie (April 5, 2014). "Mariners call up former NFA star Leone". The Day. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  34. Anderson, George B. (1907). History of New Mexico: its resources and people. Volume 1. Los Angeles: Pacific States Pub. Co. p. 307. OCLC 1692911.
  35. Reindl, JC (August 26, 2012). "Osten girds for another fight". The Day. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  36. Bessette, Claire (November 6, 2012). "19th Senate: Osten big winner". The Day. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  37. Mosher, James (January 10, 2013). "Coast Guard chief gives 2 speeches Wednesday at Academy". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  38. Curland, Richard (January 19, 2010). "NFA grad joining TV Hall of Fame". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  39. "Dewey Perry, Long-time Area Police Officer, Dies". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. October 22, 1970. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. "Tenth Annual Concert by Academy Orchestra". The Bulletin. Norwich, CT. June 12, 1915. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. "Local roundup: Shaughnessy signs with Cardinals". The Day. March 16, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  42. Somers, Kent (March 12, 2014). "Matt Shaughnessy to re-sign with Arizona Cardinals". AZCentral. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  43. "Ex-NFA star Tuzar Skipper added the Pittsburgh Steelers' roster". The Day. May 14, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  44. Varley, Teresa (November 19, 2019). "Steelers Sign Skipper to 53-man Roster". Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  45. Bessette, Claire (May 17, 2001). "'Wicked' guy this year's Norwich Native Son". The Day. p. B4. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  46. "Paul Faulkner-Was NFA artist". The Day. January 6, 1997. p. B4.
  47. "Lamb credits his teaching experience". USA Today. Associated Press. December 2, 1999. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
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