Tuscaloosa Academy
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| Tuscaloosa Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 33°14′42″N 87°32′23″W / 33.2451°N 87.5397°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Established | September 1967 |
| NCES School ID | 00001558 |
| Head of school | Beckie Share |
| Faculty | 56[1] |
| Enrollment | 438 (2016[1]) |
| Color(s) | Navy Blue, Bright Gold, and White |
| Website | tuscaloosaacademy.org |
Tuscaloosa Academy (TA) is a private school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It has been described as a segregation academy.[2][3]
The school opened with grades one through seven in September 1967, the year Alabama public schools were forced to desegregate.[4][5] In 1973, the first graduation exercises were held. In a 1979 interview, headmaster William Garrison denied that it was founded as a segregation academy, as did all other private schools in Tuscaloosa, and said the school was "actively recruiting for blacks".[6] However, in 2021, Headmaster Bryan Oliver gave an interview acknowledging that the school was indeed founded as a segregation academy.[7]
It was initially housed in the Northington Army Hospital, in proximity to the University Mall, and had 113 students.[8] The property was state-owned, which stimulated protest by opponents.[9]