Norfolk Academy (NA) is an independent co-educational day school in

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia B ...

. Chartered in 1728, it is the oldest private school in Virginia and the eighth oldest school in the United States. In 1966, Norfolk Academy merged with Country Day School for Girls in Virginia Beach, Virginia to create the current co-educational school. It serves students in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Suffolk. In sports, NA competes in the

Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools The Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS) is a 10-team athletic conference in the Tidewater region of Virginia. Prior to the 2004 school year, the TCIS had tournaments for JV and Middle School teams as well as Varsity. Now, the TCI ...

(TCIS) as well as in the Virginia Preparatory League (males) and the League of Independent Schools (females).

History

The original Norfolk Academy building was designed by architect

Thomas Ustick Walter Thomas Ustick Walter (September 4, 1804 – October 30, 1887) was an American architect of German descent, the dean of American architecture between the 1820 death of Benjamin Latrobe and the emergence of H.H. Richardson in the 1870s. He was ...

, who subsequently became the fourth

Architect of the Capitol The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is the federal agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex. It is an agency of the legislative branch of the federal government and is ...

. The Greek-revival building, featured on the school's current seal (at right), was modeled after the Temple of Thesus in Athens. Subsequently, the building was a military hospital during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and t ...

and a Red Cross building during World War I. The building was used from 1920 to 1970 as the City of Norfolk's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and from 1973 as the headquarters of City of Norfolk's Chamber of Commerce. an
''Accompanying photo''
/ref> Originally accessible via downtown Norfolk's Bank Street, the building now sits at the intersection of East Charlotte Street and St. Paul's Boulevard. The building was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1969.

Academics and student life

Students are required to research, compose, and deliver to the student body and faculty an original persuasive speech as a graduation requirement. Public speaking skills are integrated into the curriculum starting in the first grade.

Athletics

Norfolk Academy teams compete in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools, the League of Independent Schools, and the Virginia Prep League. Athletic venues include multiple gymnasiums, an aquatic facility, tennis courts, baseball and lacrosse fields, and track-and-field facilities.

Notable alumni

* Hardy Cross (1899), engineer *

Glenn Youngkin Glenn Allen Youngkin (born December 9, 1966) is an American businessman and politician, currently serving as the 74th governor of Virginia since January 15, 2022. A member of the Republican Party, Youngkin defeated former Democratic governor T ...

(1985), governor of Virginia (2022–present)

References

{{coord, 36, 52, 27.58, N, 76, 11, 34.14, W, type:landmark_scale:2000, display=title 1728 establishments in Virginia Educational institutions established in 1728 National Register of Historic Places in Norfolk, Virginia Private elementary schools in Virginia Private high schools in Virginia Private middle schools in Virginia School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Schools in Norfolk, Virginia Thomas U. Walter buildings Buildings and structures in Norfolk, Virginia