Cary Academy
Encyclopedia
Cary Academy is a private
, coeducational, nonsectarian
, college-preparatory
secondary school
in Cary, North Carolina
established in 1996. The school places an emphasis on the use of technology in the classroom, with tablet computer
s issued to all students. In the 2011-2012 academic school year, Cary Academy had 734 students and 153 faculty/staff.
and John Sall, co-founders of SAS Institute
, in 1996, though the first classes were not held until 1997. The Upper School (High School), Middle School, Administration Building (which also houses the Library), Fine Arts Building, and Fitness Center were completed that year.
As a school established by the founders of SAS
, the school has placed a heavy emphasis on the use of technology. from 1997 until 2006, the school had desktop computers located in every classroom.
In 2003, the Sports/Education Annex was completed, allowing more space for both athletics and Foreign Language classes.
In September 2004, the United States Department of Education
named Cary Academy one of 255 public and private schools that had won its No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon award since the inception of the program.
Starting in the 2006-2007 school year, the school transferred from desktops to a Tablet PC
program for all students.
Architecture for the school buildings is neoclassical
, with ornate columns at entrances. It was modeled after the University of Virginia
, and was designed by Cherry Huffman architects of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Math levels offered are Math 6 and Math 7 (more or less based on the standard North Carolina curriculum ), Transitional Math (i.e. Pre-Algebra), Algebra I, and Geometry
. Students are initially placed into either Math 6 or Transitional Math, based on previous grades and entry test scores. The math courses taken in middle school will also determine what courses the student will take in the Upper School. For example, a student that has taken Transitional Math in Eighth Grade will begin with Algebra in the Ninth Grade, whereas a student who has taken Algebra in Eighth Grade will begin with Geometry in the Upper School.
Foreign language classes are emphasized more than is generally the case in middle schools; levels from Novice to Intermediate-Low on the ACTFL scale are offered in Spanish
, French
, German
, and Mandarin Chinese
.
Science, History (officially referred to as World Cultures in 6th grade), and English (officially referred to as Language Arts) consist of three-year integrated sequences, though English and social studies emphasize ancient civilizations in the sixth grade, Europe in the seventh, and the United States in the eighth.
The Upper School operates on a double block
daily schedule. Two days of the week, only half the classes meet (the other half meeting on the other day), but they meet for twice as long. This feature is meant to accommodate longer in-class activities, as well as to reduce the time taken to move between classes.
.
s (model HP Compaq tc4400) issued to every student. For the 2010-2011 school year, these were replaced with newer Lenovo ThinkPad
X201s, using the Windows 7 operating system.
The school issues these computers to students in their first year, and are collected and reissued when the student graduates or leaves Cary Academy. Students are not required to purchase these computers as they are included in the annual tuition. Various types of technology support for the computers are also included, with a computer "help desk" located in both the middle school and upper school.
The Tablet PC program is one of the first of its kind in the country; it was financed by school founder Dr. Jim Goodnight.
Nearly all classes make use of the tablet in some form. Main uses include taking notes via the electronic stylus in Microsoft OneNote, using Microsoft Word
to type papers, and viewing homework assignments and projects through the school's extensive internal network.
All students, faculty, and staff receive Microsoft Outlook
E-Mail accounts, which are used both for communication, and for submitting assignments (which can be done from home as well as during school). Students can also check their current grades through a database, which is available through the school's website and can be accessed at any time.
Boys: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling
Girls: Basketball, Cross Country, Cheerleading, Field Hockey, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
team came in second.
In 2008 and 2009, the Varsity Boys Tennis Team won State Championships.
The Varsity Boys Cross Country Team won State Runner-up honors in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
In 2009 and 2010, the Varsity Volleyball team was State Runner-up.
, band
, orchestra
, chorus
, drama
, and modern dance
. The Upper School offers a much wider range of fine, performing and computer arts, and at least one arts credit (usually one full year of an arts class) is required to graduate.
In addition to frequent Instrumental, Choral, Dance and Art shows, Cary Academy's Fine and Performing Arts department has produced the following school-wide productions since its beginning:
. Main Speech and Debate events offered at Cary Academy include:
Cary Academy has earned many titles, including the 2003 & 2004 Tarheel East District Tournament Sweepstakes Winner , 2004 Tarheel Forensic League State Tournament Sweepstakes Champions, and 2003 Tarheel Forensic League State Tournament Sweepstakes Runner-Up.
Cary Academy has also won state championships in Lincoln-Douglas Debate
(in 2004, 2007, and 2008) , Extemporaneous Speaking
(in 2003 and 2004) and Varsity Team Public Forum Debate
(in 2008).
The school has sent debaters to the National Forensics League National Tournament. Debaters representing Cary Academy have also performed well at other national tournaments, including the Wake Forest University
Tournament, and the University of Florida
Blue Key Tournament as well as the Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions and the George Mason Patriot Games.
In 2009, Cary Academy debaters competed for the first time at the Columbia University
Debate Tournament. At this tournament, Cary Academy's Varsity Public Forum team took First Place, and the school also garnered several quarter-finalists.
In 2010, Cary Academy debaters competed at the University of Florida Blue Key Tournament. At this tournament, Cary Academy placed first in International Extemporaneous Speaking and second in Lincoln Douglas Debate.
Cary Academy is the first and only team in state history to win both Varsity Lincoln Douglas and Varsity Public Forum in a single year.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, coeducational, nonsectarian
Nonsectarian
Nonsectarian, in its most literal sense, refers to a lack of sectarianism. The term is also more narrowly used to describe secular private educational institutions or other organizations either not affiliated with or not restricted to a particular religious denomination though the organization...
, college-preparatory
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Cary, North Carolina
Cary, North Carolina
Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
established in 1996. The school places an emphasis on the use of technology in the classroom, with tablet computer
Tablet computer
A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen...
s issued to all students. In the 2011-2012 academic school year, Cary Academy had 734 students and 153 faculty/staff.
History
Cary Academy was founded by James GoodnightJames Goodnight
James "Jim" Goodnight is the CEO of SAS Instituteand is generally recognized as the wealthiest man in the state of North Carolina and one of the wealthiest in the world.-Biography:...
and John Sall, co-founders of SAS Institute
SAS Institute
SAS Institute Inc. , headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, USA, has been a major producer of software since it was founded in 1976 by Anthony Barr, James Goodnight, John Sall and Jane Helwig...
, in 1996, though the first classes were not held until 1997. The Upper School (High School), Middle School, Administration Building (which also houses the Library), Fine Arts Building, and Fitness Center were completed that year.
As a school established by the founders of SAS
SAS Institute
SAS Institute Inc. , headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, USA, has been a major producer of software since it was founded in 1976 by Anthony Barr, James Goodnight, John Sall and Jane Helwig...
, the school has placed a heavy emphasis on the use of technology. from 1997 until 2006, the school had desktop computers located in every classroom.
In 2003, the Sports/Education Annex was completed, allowing more space for both athletics and Foreign Language classes.
In September 2004, the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
named Cary Academy one of 255 public and private schools that had won its No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon award since the inception of the program.
Starting in the 2006-2007 school year, the school transferred from desktops to a Tablet PC
Tablet computer
A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen...
program for all students.
Architecture for the school buildings is neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
, with ornate columns at entrances. It was modeled after the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, and was designed by Cherry Huffman architects of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Middle school
The middle school curriculum includes required course sequences in science, math, social studies, English, foreign language, and PE . In addition, students are also required to choose an elective in the arts. Almost all classes meet each day; the exception is art classes in sixth grade, since sixth-graders choose one class to have three days a week and are rotated through the other arts on the other two days to expose them to different disciplines.Math levels offered are Math 6 and Math 7 (more or less based on the standard North Carolina curriculum ), Transitional Math (i.e. Pre-Algebra), Algebra I, and Geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
. Students are initially placed into either Math 6 or Transitional Math, based on previous grades and entry test scores. The math courses taken in middle school will also determine what courses the student will take in the Upper School. For example, a student that has taken Transitional Math in Eighth Grade will begin with Algebra in the Ninth Grade, whereas a student who has taken Algebra in Eighth Grade will begin with Geometry in the Upper School.
Foreign language classes are emphasized more than is generally the case in middle schools; levels from Novice to Intermediate-Low on the ACTFL scale are offered in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, and Mandarin Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
.
Science, History (officially referred to as World Cultures in 6th grade), and English (officially referred to as Language Arts) consist of three-year integrated sequences, though English and social studies emphasize ancient civilizations in the sixth grade, Europe in the seventh, and the United States in the eighth.
Upper school
The high school (referred to as the Upper School) offers an extensive range of required and elective courses. These include many corresponding AP classes, for which college credit can be earned. Most students take at least one or two of these in their junior and senior years, and some take as many as five each year; there are enough AP classes to offer an AP option in nearly every subject for juniors and seniors.The Upper School operates on a double block
Block scheduling
Block scheduling is a type of academic scheduling in which each student has fewer classes per day but each class is scheduled for a longer period of time . A student might be taking 7 different classes, but only 4 per day, and the specific daily classes would rotate through a changing daily cycle...
daily schedule. Two days of the week, only half the classes meet (the other half meeting on the other day), but they meet for twice as long. This feature is meant to accommodate longer in-class activities, as well as to reduce the time taken to move between classes.
English
Four years of English are required, including two years of World Literature (in 9th and 10th grade) and one of American Literature (in 11th Grade). As with other core subjects, there are also various elective English courses offered to 11th and 12th graders.Foreign languages
The foreign language program is, as with the Middle School, a particular emphasis, with comprehensive instruction offered from the novice to the most advanced level. Students who began taking German, French, or Chinese in the Middle School continue through the Upper School, though all new Upper School students start with the appropriate level of their chosen language. In most cases 3 years of the same language are also required in the high school curriculum. The school organizes a two- to three-week exchange program with schools in countries with these native languages. The program usually takes place in the sophomore year, and approximately 90% of students participate.History
Three years of history and/or social sciences are required, including two years of World History (in 9th and 10th grade) and one of American History (in 11th Grade).Math
Three years of math are required, including Geometry (usually in 9th grade) and Algebra II (usually in 10th grade). Later, in junior and senior years, they choose from an array of other options ranging from Probability and Statistics to Advanced Topics in Calculus. The school does not offer multivariate calculus although a few students take advanced math courses at North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
.
Science
Three years of science are required, including Biology (9th Grade), Chemistry (10th Grade), and Physics (11th Grade). Several year-long and single-term courses ranging from Anatomy and Physiology to AP Biology to Forensics are offered in addition to these requirements.Other courses
There are a few other requirements such as PE (which is generally waived for athletes participating in one or more varsity sports), an Emotional Health program for 10th Graders, and a World Arts program in 9th and 10th grade. A large range of elective courses are offered as well, though the majority of them are available exclusively to 11th and 12th graders.Technology
From its inception, Cary Academy has placed a heavy emphasis on technology. From 1997 until 2006, Cary Academy featured desktop computers in every classroom, as per the "one-computer-per-student" policy in use at the time. For the 2006-2007 school year, these were replaced with Tablet PCTablet computer
A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen...
s (model HP Compaq tc4400) issued to every student. For the 2010-2011 school year, these were replaced with newer Lenovo ThinkPad
ThinkPad
ThinkPad is line of laptop computers originally sold by IBM but now produced by Lenovo. They are known for their boxy black design, which was modeled after a traditional Japanese lunchbox...
X201s, using the Windows 7 operating system.
The school issues these computers to students in their first year, and are collected and reissued when the student graduates or leaves Cary Academy. Students are not required to purchase these computers as they are included in the annual tuition. Various types of technology support for the computers are also included, with a computer "help desk" located in both the middle school and upper school.
The Tablet PC program is one of the first of its kind in the country; it was financed by school founder Dr. Jim Goodnight.
Nearly all classes make use of the tablet in some form. Main uses include taking notes via the electronic stylus in Microsoft OneNote, using Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
to type papers, and viewing homework assignments and projects through the school's extensive internal network.
All students, faculty, and staff receive Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available both as a separate application as well as a part of the Microsoft Office suite...
E-Mail accounts, which are used both for communication, and for submitting assignments (which can be done from home as well as during school). Students can also check their current grades through a database, which is available through the school's website and can be accessed at any time.
Athletics
Cary Academy has an expansive athletic program, and is a member of the Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference (TISAC) and the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA). Cary Academy has seventeen different athletic teams participating in a diverse range of sports, which include:Boys: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling
Girls: Basketball, Cross Country, Cheerleading, Field Hockey, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
Achievements
In 2005, the Varsity Girls Cross Country team won the State Championship, and the Varsity Girls BasketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team came in second.
In 2008 and 2009, the Varsity Boys Tennis Team won State Championships.
The Varsity Boys Cross Country Team won State Runner-up honors in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
In 2009 and 2010, the Varsity Volleyball team was State Runner-up.
Arts
Cary Academy has a diverse Arts Department. In the Middle School, arts offered are visual artsVisual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
, band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, chorus
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, and modern dance
Modern dance
Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. Although the term Modern dance has also been applied to a category of 20th Century ballroom dances, Modern dance as a term usually refers to 20th century concert dance.-Intro:...
. The Upper School offers a much wider range of fine, performing and computer arts, and at least one arts credit (usually one full year of an arts class) is required to graduate.
In addition to frequent Instrumental, Choral, Dance and Art shows, Cary Academy's Fine and Performing Arts department has produced the following school-wide productions since its beginning:
- Into the WoodsInto the WoodsInto the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim...
by James LapineJames LapineJames Lapine is an American stage director and librettist. He has won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times, for Into the Woods, Falsettos, and Passion. He has frequently collaborated with Stephen Sondheim and William Finn.-Biography:Lapine was born in Mansfield, Ohio and graduated...
(2011) - The Water EngineThe Water EngineThe Water Engine is a play by David Mamet that highlights the sometimes violent suppression of a disruptive alternative energy technology. The storyline setting of 1934 likely coincides with the real-life experiences of Texans Henry "Dad" and Charles H. Garrett who, in 1935, received a U.S. Patent...
by David MametDavid MametDavid Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
(2010) - A Thousand Cranes (based on Sadako and the Thousand Paper CranesSadako and the Thousand Paper CranesSadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is a non-fiction children's book written by American author Eleanor Coerr and published in 1977.This true story is of a girl, Sadako Sasaki, who lived in Hiroshima at the time of the atomic bombing by the United States...
by Eleanor CoerrEleanor CoerrEleanor Coerr was a Canadian-born American writer of children's books, including Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes....
) (2010) - Les Misérables - The School Concert Version (2009)
- Wiley and the Hairy Man by Susan Zeder (2008)
- The Secret GardenThe Secret GardenThe Secret Garden is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was initially published in serial format starting in the autumn of 1910, and was first published in its entirety in 1911. It is now one of Burnett's most popular novels, and is considered to be a classic of English children's...
by Francis Hodgson Burnett (2007) - StruwwelpeterStruwwelpeterDer Struwwelpeter is a popular German children's book by Heinrich Hoffmann. It comprises ten illustrated and rhymed stories, mostly about children. Each has a clear moral that demonstrates the disastrous consequences of misbehavior in an exaggerated way. The title of the first story provides the...
: A Haunting by Dr. Heinrich HoffmannHeinrich HoffmannHeinrich Hoffmann was a German photographer best known for his many published photographs of Adolf Hitler.-Early life and career:...
(2006) - Peter PanPeter PanPeter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
by J. M. BarrieJ. M. BarrieSir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, OM was a Scottish author and dramatist, best remembered today as the creator of Peter Pan. The child of a family of small-town weavers, he was educated in Scotland. He moved to London, where he developed a career as a novelist and playwright...
(2006) - RhinocerosRhinocerosRhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
by Eugène IonescoEugène IonescoEugène Ionesco was a Romanian and French playwright and dramatist, and one of the foremost playwrights of the Theatre of the Absurd...
(2005) - Monkey (based on Journey to the WestJourney to the WestJourney to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It was written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century. In English-speaking countries, the tale is also often known simply as Monkey. This was one title used for a popular, abridged translation by Arthur Waley...
) by Colin TeevanColin TeevanColin Teevan is an Irish playwright, radio dramatist, translator and academic.Teevan has premiered works in the National Theatres of Ireland, Scotland and the Royal National Theatre in London, He has been a regular collaborator of directors Hideki Noda, Sir Peter Hall, and actors Greg Hicks, Clare...
(2005) - The Wizard of Oz (stage) by L. Frank BaumL. Frank BaumLyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
(2004) - Bang Bang You're DeadBang Bang You're DeadBang Bang You're Dead is a one act play written by William Mastrosimone in 1999 to raise awareness of school violence and its causes. According to Mastrosimone, it “is a drama to be performed by kids, for kids” for free. The plot focuses on Josh, a high school student who murders his parents and...
by William MastrosimoneWilliam MastrosimoneWilliam Mastrosimone is an American playwright and screenwriter from Trenton, New Jersey. He attended high school at The Pennington School and received a graduate degree in playwrighting from Mason Gross School of the Arts, a part of Rutgers University....
(2004) - The King and IThe King and IThe King and I is a stage musical, the fifth by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The work is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon and derives from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in...
by Rodgers & Hammerstein (2003) - Little Shop of Horrors (2002)
- Crow and Weasel by Barry LopezBarry LopezBarry Holstun Lopez is an American author, essayist, and fiction writer whose work is known for its environmental and social concerns.-Biography:...
(2002); - Fiddler on the RoofFiddler on the RoofFiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem...
(2001); - OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
by Rodgers & Hammerstein (2000) - The TempestThe TempestThe Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place,...
(2001) - The FantasticksThe FantasticksThe Fantasticks is a 1960 musical with music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones. It was produced by Lore Noto. It tells an allegorical story, loosely based on the play "The Romancers" by Edmond Rostand, concerning two neighboring fathers who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into...
(2000) - A Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
(2000) - WorkingWorking (musical)Working is a musical with a book by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, music by Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers, and James Taylor, and lyrics by Schwartz, Carnelia, Grant, Taylor, and Susan Birkenhead....
(2000) - RecklessReckless-In film, television and stage:* Reckless , directed by Victor Fleming* Reckless , a 1951 Spanish film* Reckless , starring Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah* Reckless , featuring Mia Farrow...
(1999) - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible's Book of Genesis. This was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly...
(1999) - Our TownOur TownOur Town is a three-act play by American playwright Thornton Wilder. It is a character story about an average town's citizens in the early twentieth century as depicted through their everyday lives...
(1998)
Speech and debate
Cary Academy features a Speech and Debate Team, participation in which is available to Upper School students. The school participates in competitions of the National Forensic LeagueNational Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
. Main Speech and Debate events offered at Cary Academy include:
- Public Forum DebatePublic forum debatePublic forum debate, also known as crossfire debate, PFD , is a style of debate practiced in National Forensic League, Texas Forensics Association, and National Catholic Forensic League competitions....
- Extemporaneous SpeakingExtemporaneous speakingExtemporaneous Speaking, also known as extemp, is a competitive event popular in United States high schools and colleges, in which students speak persuasively or informatively about current events and politics...
- Congressional Debate
- Lincoln-Douglas DebateLincoln-Douglas debateLincoln–Douglas debate is sometimes also called values debate because it traditionally places a heavy emphasis on logic, ethical values, and philosophy...
Cary Academy has earned many titles, including the 2003 & 2004 Tarheel East District Tournament Sweepstakes Winner , 2004 Tarheel Forensic League State Tournament Sweepstakes Champions, and 2003 Tarheel Forensic League State Tournament Sweepstakes Runner-Up.
Cary Academy has also won state championships in Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Lincoln-Douglas debate
Lincoln–Douglas debate is sometimes also called values debate because it traditionally places a heavy emphasis on logic, ethical values, and philosophy...
(in 2004, 2007, and 2008) , Extemporaneous Speaking
Extemporaneous speaking
Extemporaneous Speaking, also known as extemp, is a competitive event popular in United States high schools and colleges, in which students speak persuasively or informatively about current events and politics...
(in 2003 and 2004) and Varsity Team Public Forum Debate
Public forum debate
Public forum debate, also known as crossfire debate, PFD , is a style of debate practiced in National Forensic League, Texas Forensics Association, and National Catholic Forensic League competitions....
(in 2008).
The school has sent debaters to the National Forensics League National Tournament. Debaters representing Cary Academy have also performed well at other national tournaments, including the Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
Tournament, and the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
Blue Key Tournament as well as the Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions and the George Mason Patriot Games.
In 2009, Cary Academy debaters competed for the first time at the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
Debate Tournament. At this tournament, Cary Academy's Varsity Public Forum team took First Place, and the school also garnered several quarter-finalists.
In 2010, Cary Academy debaters competed at the University of Florida Blue Key Tournament. At this tournament, Cary Academy placed first in International Extemporaneous Speaking and second in Lincoln Douglas Debate.
Cary Academy is the first and only team in state history to win both Varsity Lincoln Douglas and Varsity Public Forum in a single year.