Arendell Parrot Academy

Arendell Parrott Academy upholds a tradition of fostering each student’s intellectual, creative, social, physical, and moral development in a positive and challenging educational community.

Arendell Parrott Academy is a unit school providing an educational environment which nurtures the student—assisting each individual in reaching his or her full potential.  Realizing the significant role of self-esteem, the Academy focuses primarily on the stimulation of maximum intellectual development in a positive learning environment.  In acquiring a knowledge base, students are given the opportunity to apply critical and reflective thinking and to engage in learning activities which promote the development of their natural curiosity.

With well-qualified and compassionate faculty and staff working in partnership with parents, the students develop morally, emotionally, socially, and physically, enabling them to appreciate and accept the responsibilities of membership in the community and society.  As preparation for accepting their individual responsibilities, students receive a liberal arts education with skills to become mature individuals who can make responsible decisions.

ACADEMICS are the cornerstone of the Academy's program.  At Arendell Parrott Academy students normally accumulate between 22 and 24 units of credit.  Course offerings are listed on back of this page.  Over 90% of the Academy's class sections are honors level and/or AP level coursework.  Twelve Advanced Placement courses are offered to sophomore, junior and senior students.  The Academy requires all students completing AP courses to take the national examination.   Independent study is offered for the highly motivated student, and all classes stress teacher-student communication in a small group setting.  There are four marking periods in each academic year.  In order to prepare students for the instructional methods of college, students are required to take mid-year and final exams.

Student life offers a full variety of options.  An active Student Government Association sponsors dances, charity drives, and meets with the administration to discuss student concerns.  Academic clubs such as Senior Beta Club, National Art Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society and others promote leadership and academic excellence.  The school's S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions) chapter and Fellowship of Christian Athletes are active in both the school and community.  The SERV Society promotes volunteerism and community service.  Healthy competition is fostered through Quiz Bowl Team, participation in local and state contests for math, art and writing, and a full athletic program in which 80% of high school students participate in one or more sports.  Students' artistic abilities are enhanced through a wide variety of options in both the visual and performing arts.  More than 25% of the student body are involved the performing arts while over 30% take at least one visual art course.  Close friendships are formed and class bonds are forged as groups go on overnight field trips that include a bike tour of the Outer Banks for freshmen.  High school students participate in publications such as The Patriot Yearbook, The Parrott Post school newspaper, and Spectrum literary magazine.

Guidance and counseling monitors and promotes each student's growth.  A guidance counselor supervises testing and helps guide students through the college selection and admissions process.  A high school advisor meets individually with each student and coordinates regular programs for students and parents to guide them through the high school experience. This includes planning for course selection, summer experiences, and college/career planning. The Academy promotes an open-door policy of faculty-student communication.  Teachers and administrators are always available to listen.  Rapport among staff, students, and parents in a supportive family atmosphere is a hallmark of the Academy's counseling approach.

The school day at Parrott Academy begins at 8:15 with classes dismissing at 2:35.  In addition to six

50-minute class meetings, time allows for a 25-minute mid-morning break when students can purchase nourishing snacks and socialize in the cafeteria.  A 40-minute lunch period allows students in grades 11 and 12 the privilege of going off-campus to eat at various times during the week.

The campus is fully equipped, attractive and safe, enhancing the Academy's high school program.  The upper school facility is a state-of-the-art learning environment containing comfortable classrooms, chemistry and biology labs.  Computer lab stations are available for scheduled instruction and individual student use.  There is a student lobby area for displaying high school honors and providing an open place for socialization. The Academy's 80-plus acre campus and playing fields provide the essential "growing room" that adolescents need.