BOSTON UNIVERSITY ACADEMY

'Boston University Academy' (BUA) is a secondary high school (grades 9-12) affiliated with Boston University and located on its Charles River campus. It was founded in 1993.^[1] As of 2007 it has 156 students and 26 teaching faculty members. It has a liberal arts-based curriculum emphasizing the humanities and science, while specializing in the classics.^[2] Students in the upper grades attend some courses at the University, and can graduate with a college transcript of up to 48 credits.^[1] BU Academy's average SAT scores have consistently been among the highest in the nation.^[4]

Contents

Mission

History

Notable faculty

Student activities

Accreditation

External links

References

Mission

BUA's mission statement is that "Boston University Academy is committed to providing an outstanding secondary education, optimizing the respective strengths of its small school community and its inclusion within a world-class research university." ^[5] To this end BUA has focused strongly on providing individual attention to students, maintaining a six-to-one student to teacher ratio.



As Philip Gambone, the head of of the English Department, says: "We look different," than an ordinary elite private school, "we're smaller, we don't have a fancy campus, we don't have extravagant facilities, but what we have, I think, is great teaching, kids who want to learn, kids who like to work hard, and kids who are not distracted by a lot of the other agendas that many high schools are also putting in front of them." ^[6]

History

Boston University Academy was proposed and founded in 1993 by Peter Schweich,^[7][8]
then the Vice President of Boston University, and authorised by John Silber^[6], then the acting president of Boston University. Peter Schweichwas its first headmaster, and served in that role until 1999, when he was succeeded by Dr. Jennifer Bond Hickman. James Tracy replaced Dr. Hickman and served until the spring of 2006, when he was replaced by the current headmaster, James Berkman.



James Berkman has recently announced plans to expand BUA from its current size of 156 students by as much as 50% within ten years, as well as plans to proportionally increase the faculty and the building area available to the school.

Notable faculty

Boston University Academy has many graduate of prestigious universities on its faculty, some with advanced degrees.^[10]
Notable faculty include:

★ Philip Gambone, Head of the English Department

Student activities

Student activities include:

★ 'Model United Nations'- a student run club including nearly one-third of the school's student population. BUA Model UN website

★ 'Science Team'- a large team who competes to demonstrate their superior science skills in the Western Suburban Science League.

★ 'Robotics'-The BUA Robotics team competes in the FIRST league and many local competitions.

★ 'Sports' such as: Basketball, Crew, Fencing, Soccer, Tennis, Ultimate, and Sailing

★ 'Dance Team'

★ 'Yearbook'

★ 'Nerdly Hobbies'- a small club which plays games such as Battlefleet Gothic, Dungeons & Dragons, and Zombies!!!

★ 'Music Diversity club'

★ 'Social Issues group'

★ 'Opera Club', which studies and then attends a performance of various opera.

★ 'Math Team'

★ 'Chess Club'

★ 'Environmental club'- A club who helps the environment through an extensive recycling program.

★ 'Literary Magazine' (LitMag) and 'LitCafe', where student authors and artist can publish and share their works with the school community.

★ 'BU Academy Press'- A student run and edited newspaper that brings the important news to the students.

★ 'Art Club'

★ 'Gallery Hoppers', where students take an afternoon to visit a local art gallery (and often grab a snack).

★ 'Drama', including the Drama class as well as the Senior Play and Independent Drama.

★ Many Students help in admissions, performing such functions as 'Tour Guides' and 'Hosting' visiting applicants

★ 'Student Council', which organizes student activities such as dances.

★ 'Peer Tutors'- A group of students who help their peers by tutoring them in subjects where they need help.

★ Mandatory 'community service'

Accreditation

The Academy is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of both the Secondary School Admission Test Board and the Association of Independent Schools of New England.

External links

★ buacademy.org-Official Site

★ buamun.org-Model UN Site

★ Robotics Website

References

1. Boston University Academy, ''relationship with BU'', 2006, http://www.buacademy.org/academics/relationship.html
2. Boston University Academy, ''Academics Overview'', 2006, http://www.buacademy.org/academics/overview.html
3. Boston University Academy, ''relationship with BU'', 2006, http://www.buacademy.org/academics/relationship.html
4. College Board, ''SATs'', 2006, http://www.collegeboard.com/
5. Boston University Academy, ''Mission Statement'', 2007, http://www.buacademy.org/academics/overview.html
6. BU Daily Free Press, ''A look at Boston University Academy, the elite private high school at the heart of the BU campus'', 6 December 2006, http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2006/12/06/Spotlight/Shortcut.To.College-2525034.shtml
7. High school at Boston University directs students into academic life Carol Innerst

8. BU Academy seen as educational model Brian Fitzgerald

9. BU Daily Free Press, ''A look at Boston University Academy, the elite private high school at the heart of the BU campus'', 6 December 2006, http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2006/12/06/Spotlight/Shortcut.To.College-2525034.shtml
10. Boston University Academy, ''Faculty & Staff'', 2006, http://www.buacademy.org/academics/faculty.html