Calhoun Academy (South Carolina)

For school formerly known as Calhoun Academy in Walterboro, South Carolina, see Colleton Preparatory Academy.

Calhoun Academy (CA) is a private school located outside of downtown St. Matthews, South Carolina, United States. It was founded in 1969 as a segregation academy.

Calhoun Academy
Location
81 Academy Rd St. Matthews, South Carolina 29135 United States
Coordinates	33°38′57″N 80°45′48″W
Information
Type	Private school
Motto	Small Town Big Dreams
Established	1969 (55 years ago) (1969)
CEEB code	411748
Headmaster	Becky Haigler
Grades	K3–12
Number of students	438
Campus	10 acres (4.0 ha)
Color(s)	Blue and gold
Athletics conference	South Carolina Independent School Association
Mascot	Cavalier
Website	http://www.calhounacademy.org

History

Calhoun Academy was founded on December 30, 1969, as a segregation academy.^[1] The school's racially discriminatory charter made it ineligible to operate as a tax-exempt charity organization. In 1985 CA changed its charter to allow non-white students to attend. The school renounced its formal policy banning black students in 1985 and applied for tax-exempt status in 1986.^[2] The Internal Revenue Service denied the school's application on the grounds that it had never, to that time, had a black student or teacher. This decision was upheld by the United States Tax Court in 1990.^[1][3]

Academics

Calhoun Academy offers three courses of study: an Academic College Preparatory Diploma, a General College Preparatory Diploma, and a General Basic Diploma.

CA is a member of the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA).

Athletics

The academy's athletic program includes football, basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, cross country, track, cheerleading, and golf. The Cavaliers' varsity football team were the SCISA Class AA Football Champions in 1978,^[4] 2004 and 2015. The varsity baseball team won the AA SCISA Championship in 1979, 2008, 2015, and 2016. The Cavalier varsity girls' basketball team was the 2017 AA SCISA runner-up.

References

1. Carol Innerst (March 6, 1990). "All-white school loses its tax status". The Washington Times. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
2. "Court Upholds Tax Exemption Order". The Greenville News. November 6, 1990. p. 11.
3. Calhoun Academy v. Commissioner United States Tax Court 94 T.C. 284 (March 1, 1990)
4. "Calhoun 1970-1979 - SCISA Football History".