The History of Athens Academy


Officially founded in 1966, the planning for Athens Academy was actually started in 1965 by John Wilkins and a group of his friends in a church basement. They wanted their children to have a good college preparatory education, but did not want to send them away to boarding school. They envisioned a school that emphasized hard work and a challenging curriculum; the basic tools of reading, writing and mathematics; honesty and integrity; and service to the community.

The school opened for its first day of classes on September 5, 1967, at the corner of Hawthorne Avenue and Jefferson Road in Athens, on a former dairy farm. The first class graduated in 1971. But even before this, in 1970, the school was outgrowing the space. J. Swanton Ivy donated 105 acres in Oconee County for a new campus. Ground was broken and the three initial buildings (now the Middle School) were built. The students began the move in March 1972 and all students occupied the new facilities by 1975.

Since that time, the school has continued to grow. Today the campus includes 15 buildings and extensive outdoor and athletic facilities. In partnership with the Bertelsmann Foundation, the school opened the Bertelsmann media center building in 1994. The Lower School media center and multi-purpose building opened in 1995.

In 2003 and 2004 improvements were made to athletic facilities, including a new track and track house, new baseball facility, and new football stadium bleachers. The 27,00-square-foot Upper School Science & Art building opened in 2004. In 2007 construction and renovation began on the Lower School, in 2008 construction began on the new Preschool and Arts Center.

Last updated 10/27/2008 1:43 PM