Porter-Gaud School
Encyclopedia
Porter-Gaud School is an independent
coeducational college preparatory day school
in Charleston
, South Carolina
. Porter-Gaud has an enrollment of some 870 students in grades 1–12 and located on the banks of the Ashley River
. The school has historic ties to the Episcopal Church
.
Porter-Gaud was formed in July 1964 from the merger of three schools: The Porter Military Academy (founded 1867), the Gaud School for Boys (founded 1908), and the Watt School (founded 1931). The legal name of the institution remains The Porter Academy.
The Porter Military Academy was formed in 1867 by the Reverend Dr. Anthony Toomer Porter, an Episcopal priest, to educate children orphaned during the Civil War
. Established as the Holy Communion Church Institute in 1867, the school was later known as Porter Academy and eventually Porter Military Academy. William Steen Gaud established the Gaud School in 1908. In 1948, Berkeley Grimball purchased the school from Gaud and over the course of 16 years increased the enrollment to nearly 150 as the Gaud School attained a position of eminence among Southern
preparatory schools. Ann Carson Elliott, Berkeley Grimball's mother, founded the Watt School in 1931, a coeducational primary school, which served as a feeder school
for the Gaud School.
In 1964, the original Porter Military Academy campus in downtown Charleston was sold to the Medical University of South Carolina, and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
(now CSX) donated the current 88 acres (356,123.7 m²) campus on Albemarle Point. In July 1964, the three schools merged and dropped the military program. The new entity, Porter-Gaud School, opened its doors to 435 male students in grades 1–12. As modern school facilities began taking shape across the Ashley River on the property donated by the railroad, classes met at the old Porter campus.
Porter-Gaud opened its new campus in September 1965 with an enrollment of 469 day students. In the following year it became one of the first schools in the South to adopt an open admissions policy. In 1972, the school admitted female students into the first three grades. By the fall of 1976 the program had been accelerated to include girls at all levels of the school, although Porter-Gaud has retained close ties to its sister school, Ashley Hall
.
In May 2008, Porter-Gaud acquired The O'Quinn Schools, a local preschool that dates back to the early 1970s, with the intention of maintaining the names of the schools, faculties, programs, and tuition policies.
Porter-Gaud School graduates an average class size of 83 per year. The four-year average SAT
score is 1310 (the average for the state of South Carolina
is 1023). Porter-Gaud offers 21 Advanced Placement and 11 Honors courses, in addition to a variety of specialty trimester
courses. Porter-Gaud School currently offers French, German, Spanish and Latin. The German program, however, is to be phased out in favor of other languages such as Japanese
and Mandarin Chinese.
Porter-Gaud School is a member of the South Carolina Independent School Association. Porter-Gaud offers over 38 Varsity and Junior Varsity sports. The school mascot is the Cyclone
.
On October 25, 1867, while in Magnolia Cemetery, mourning the death of one of his sons, Anthony Toomer Porter, rector of Holy Communion Church, became convinced that he should start a school. Many of his son's friends could no longer attend school, as their families had been impoverished by the war. By December of that year, Porter had founded the Holy Communion Church Institute, using church facilities.
In 1879 the old Federal Arsenal on Ashley Avenue, a block from the church, was put up for sale. Porter went to Washington and secured the help of President Hayes and Gen. Sherman (Porter had saved the life of Sherman's nephew during the war) to convince Congress to lease the property to the school for $1.00 a year.
Adapting the military buildings to school use, it was fitting that the school became known as Porter Military Academy. Both boarding school and day school, students came from towns and farms throughout the Low Country, and eventually from upper South Carolina, other states, and even other countries. From its beginning, the school accepted students from all faiths. It was and is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, but is owned by its Board of Trustees, with the Bishop as an ex officio member. One of the primary goals of the school was, and is, character development, summarized in the motto on the PMA crest: WATCH: Words, Actions, Thoughts, Character, and Habits.
Porter developed a broad curriculum, ranging from Greek to woodworking to athletics. The school day began with bugle call, breakfast, and chapel. Facilities ranged from a dormitory, an infirmary, library, classroom buildings, rifle range, tennis courts, a parade ground, and the notorious "bull ring" where detention students were made to march. Porter Military Academy boasted a naval program, including several surplus Navy vessels. The "Porter Navy" was discontinued, however, after a fire destroyed the ships. Porter also claimed one of the first high school football teams, one of which in a 1913 scrimmage held the Citadel to a 0 to 0 score.
, and had been headmaster of Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts. After marrying a Charleston girl, he founded the Gaud School in 1908 with 34 students. In 1912 he turned the school over to others in order to teach at Phillips Exeter and then to serve during World War I. He returned to Charleston in 1919 and again took over his school.
Last Graduating Class of 1964 The school was first located in a building behind his home at 29 Legare Street, but in 1920 it relocated to 77 Church Street. From 1928 until 1941 and again from 1957–1961, the school was located at 90–92 East Bay Street on the corner of Adger's Wharf. The school had also been located for a time at 77 Church Street and at 79–81 East Bay Street.
Upon Mr. Gaud's return to Charleston in 1919, his school essentially became a school to ready Charleston boys for successful entry into New England boarding schools. Its high academic standards meant that Mr. Gaud often had a waiting list of applicants. The number of his students ranged from ten to eighteen, and these were divided into two grade levels in his one schoolroom, one class studying while the other recited. After Mrs. Watt's school began in 1931, it was customary for boys to attend her school through the third grade, and then fit in to Mr. Gaud's school, which went through the eighth grade. Mr. Gaud would let his students take a break in the school day and go to the nearby playground, where one of the games was called "Gaud ball" – rather like baseball without a bat.
In 1948 Mr. Gaud retired at age 82 and his equity in the school was purchased by Mr. Berkeley Grimball for $125.00. Mr. Grimball began to build his school, a grade at a time, until he had some 180 students. The building on East Bay Street became too small for the growing school. In 1961 Mr. Grimball bought the Rutledge mansion on Broad Street where the students had classes until 1964. Mr. Grimball continued the high academic standards of Mr. Gaud, at first teaching many of the subjects himself. As the school grew, he added fine teachers such as Mr. Maurice McLaughlin, who taught Latin and Spanish, and Admiral Florence, who taught math. Mr. Grimball was a particularly fine teacher of literature and history. The school lacked athletic facilities, but Mr. Grimball at first used the East Bay Street playground and later took boys out to practice on his tennis courts on James Island; soccer was also added to the activities.
Porter-Gaud participates in the South Carolina Independent School Association or SCISA.
Sports Offered
Rivals
Early Football Teams
During the early 20th century, Porter Military scrimmaged several University Football teams:
Student Publications
Development Publications
Unofficial Publications
Stephen T. Colbert Debate Tournament : An annual debate tournament on the SC Forensics circuit, hosted by the speech & debate team at Porter-Gaud.
Halloween Carnival : An annual carnival held by the Student Council and Parents Guild. It is the primary fund raiser for all school clubs. It has been consistent festivity for several decades. Granted satisfactory weather, the carnival is spread across much of the 88 acres (356,123.7 m²) campus. During inclement weather the carnival is spread through The Wendell Center, Fishburne Gym, Washington Hall and Breeze Ways.
Halloween Parade : An annual parade involving the first grade and senior class. Both classes dress up in their Halloween costumes to march little-hand in big-hand along a traditional route around campus. It is viewed as a right of passage for the seniors in the run-up to graduation.
Thanksgiving Play : An annual play performed completely by the first grade with the guidance and leadership of their teachers. The play and accompanying music, delivering the traditional story of Thanksgiving, were written entirely by first grade teachers in the 1970s. There are typically several performances, the most popular of which is for the high schoolers, who enjoy spotting their old part in the play.
Founders' Day Concert : An annual concert held on October 21 featuring a revolving theme to celebrate the school's establishment. The concert's origins can be traced back to 1978.
Holiday Market : Held in the Wendell Center during the weeks preceding Christmas, the Holiday Market is an annual holiday centric venue for Charleston area artisans to sell their goods. It is hosted by the Parents Guild, which puts the proceeds towards the annual fund.
Simple Gifts of Christmas : An annual play performed completely by the second grade.
Holiday Assembly : A tradition that has become a sort of phenomenon within the community. Occurring on the last day before Christmas Vacation, the assembly features a massive singing competition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" between the grades. Typically the music is performed live by the Porter-Gaud Jazz Ensemble. In the past years, it has been held in the Wendell Center.
Porter-Gaud Holiday Classic : An annual basketball invitational tournament held on the Porter-Gaud Campus at the Wendell Center and Fishburne Gym.
Winter Semi-Formal : An annual dance held during the winter months and organized by the students. In the past, the Winter Semi-Formal has been held at the South Carolina Aquarium
.
The Baccalaureate : Held in the closing days of the school year before graduation, the Baccalaureate is the closing sermon to the graduating class and is held at Rev. Anthony Toomer Porter's home parish, the Church of the Holy Communion.
The Quarter Pounders : Porter-Gaud's male quartet group that consists of four upper school students, two tenors and two basses. This group is by invitation only and represents some of the top male vocalists in the Upper School.
Media
Fine Arts
Athletics
Misc.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
coeducational college preparatory day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Porter-Gaud has an enrollment of some 870 students in grades 1–12 and located on the banks of the Ashley River
Ashley River (South Carolina)
The Ashley River is a blackwater / tidal river in South Carolina, rising from the Wassamassaw and Great Cypress Swamps in western Berkeley County. It consolidates its main channel about five miles west of Summerville, widening into a tidal estuary just south of Fort Dorchester...
. The school has historic ties to the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
.
The Porter Military Academy was formed in 1867 by the Reverend Dr. Anthony Toomer Porter, an Episcopal priest, to educate children orphaned during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Established as the Holy Communion Church Institute in 1867, the school was later known as Porter Academy and eventually Porter Military Academy. William Steen Gaud established the Gaud School in 1908. In 1948, Berkeley Grimball purchased the school from Gaud and over the course of 16 years increased the enrollment to nearly 150 as the Gaud School attained a position of eminence among Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
preparatory schools. Ann Carson Elliott, Berkeley Grimball's mother, founded the Watt School in 1931, a coeducational primary school, which served as a feeder school
Feeder school
Feeder school is a name applied to schools, colleges, universities, or other educational institutions that provide a significant number of graduates who intend to continue their studies at specific schools, or even in specific fields....
for the Gaud School.
In 1964, the original Porter Military Academy campus in downtown Charleston was sold to the Medical University of South Carolina, and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad...
(now CSX) donated the current 88 acres (356,123.7 m²) campus on Albemarle Point. In July 1964, the three schools merged and dropped the military program. The new entity, Porter-Gaud School, opened its doors to 435 male students in grades 1–12. As modern school facilities began taking shape across the Ashley River on the property donated by the railroad, classes met at the old Porter campus.
Porter-Gaud opened its new campus in September 1965 with an enrollment of 469 day students. In the following year it became one of the first schools in the South to adopt an open admissions policy. In 1972, the school admitted female students into the first three grades. By the fall of 1976 the program had been accelerated to include girls at all levels of the school, although Porter-Gaud has retained close ties to its sister school, Ashley Hall
Ashley Hall
Ashley Hall is an all girls' school in Charleston, South Carolina, founded in 1909 by Mary Vardrine McBee, who headed the institution for many years. It is the only girls college-preparatory school in the state. Ashley Hall's pre-school is the only coed part of the school...
.
In May 2008, Porter-Gaud acquired The O'Quinn Schools, a local preschool that dates back to the early 1970s, with the intention of maintaining the names of the schools, faculties, programs, and tuition policies.
Porter-Gaud School graduates an average class size of 83 per year. The four-year average SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
score is 1310 (the average for the state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
is 1023). Porter-Gaud offers 21 Advanced Placement and 11 Honors courses, in addition to a variety of specialty trimester
Academic term
An academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms...
courses. Porter-Gaud School currently offers French, German, Spanish and Latin. The German program, however, is to be phased out in favor of other languages such as Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
and Mandarin Chinese.
Porter-Gaud School is a member of the South Carolina Independent School Association. Porter-Gaud offers over 38 Varsity and Junior Varsity sports. The school mascot is the Cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
.
Heads of School
| Porter Military Academy (1867–1964) | The Gaud School (1908–1964) | The Watt School (1931–1964) | Porter-Gaud School |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Porter Military Academy
In 1879 the old Federal Arsenal on Ashley Avenue, a block from the church, was put up for sale. Porter went to Washington and secured the help of President Hayes and Gen. Sherman (Porter had saved the life of Sherman's nephew during the war) to convince Congress to lease the property to the school for $1.00 a year.
Adapting the military buildings to school use, it was fitting that the school became known as Porter Military Academy. Both boarding school and day school, students came from towns and farms throughout the Low Country, and eventually from upper South Carolina, other states, and even other countries. From its beginning, the school accepted students from all faiths. It was and is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, but is owned by its Board of Trustees, with the Bishop as an ex officio member. One of the primary goals of the school was, and is, character development, summarized in the motto on the PMA crest: WATCH: Words, Actions, Thoughts, Character, and Habits.
Porter developed a broad curriculum, ranging from Greek to woodworking to athletics. The school day began with bugle call, breakfast, and chapel. Facilities ranged from a dormitory, an infirmary, library, classroom buildings, rifle range, tennis courts, a parade ground, and the notorious "bull ring" where detention students were made to march. Porter Military Academy boasted a naval program, including several surplus Navy vessels. The "Porter Navy" was discontinued, however, after a fire destroyed the ships. Porter also claimed one of the first high school football teams, one of which in a 1913 scrimmage held the Citadel to a 0 to 0 score.
The Gaud School for Boys
Mr. Gaud, born in Canada, had a master's degree from the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, and had been headmaster of Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts. After marrying a Charleston girl, he founded the Gaud School in 1908 with 34 students. In 1912 he turned the school over to others in order to teach at Phillips Exeter and then to serve during World War I. He returned to Charleston in 1919 and again took over his school.
Last Graduating Class of 1964 The school was first located in a building behind his home at 29 Legare Street, but in 1920 it relocated to 77 Church Street. From 1928 until 1941 and again from 1957–1961, the school was located at 90–92 East Bay Street on the corner of Adger's Wharf. The school had also been located for a time at 77 Church Street and at 79–81 East Bay Street.
Upon Mr. Gaud's return to Charleston in 1919, his school essentially became a school to ready Charleston boys for successful entry into New England boarding schools. Its high academic standards meant that Mr. Gaud often had a waiting list of applicants. The number of his students ranged from ten to eighteen, and these were divided into two grade levels in his one schoolroom, one class studying while the other recited. After Mrs. Watt's school began in 1931, it was customary for boys to attend her school through the third grade, and then fit in to Mr. Gaud's school, which went through the eighth grade. Mr. Gaud would let his students take a break in the school day and go to the nearby playground, where one of the games was called "Gaud ball" – rather like baseball without a bat.
In 1948 Mr. Gaud retired at age 82 and his equity in the school was purchased by Mr. Berkeley Grimball for $125.00. Mr. Grimball began to build his school, a grade at a time, until he had some 180 students. The building on East Bay Street became too small for the growing school. In 1961 Mr. Grimball bought the Rutledge mansion on Broad Street where the students had classes until 1964. Mr. Grimball continued the high academic standards of Mr. Gaud, at first teaching many of the subjects himself. As the school grew, he added fine teachers such as Mr. Maurice McLaughlin, who taught Latin and Spanish, and Admiral Florence, who taught math. Mr. Grimball was a particularly fine teacher of literature and history. The school lacked athletic facilities, but Mr. Grimball at first used the East Bay Street playground and later took boys out to practice on his tennis courts on James Island; soccer was also added to the activities.
The Watt School
Mrs. Watt was Mr. Grimball's mother, so running a school came naturally for him. After her husband died, she began her school in 1931 in the depth of the Great Depression. Her first classes were held in the dining room of her Broad Street home, but she had a small classroom building constructed at the rear of her property. The reputation of her school grew among her neighbors and among those living south of Broad Street. Many of her graduates went on to the Gaud School, particularly after Mr. Grimball became headmaster there. Most of the children would walk to school and then walk home for the traditional 2:00 p.m. dinner. It was a homey and welcoming school and very “Charlestonian.”The O'Quinn Schools
Founded in the early 1970s by Linda O'Quinn and her daughter Anna, the pre-school quickly became known for its personality and southern charm. The School quickly rose to prominence as the regions major feeder for many private schools and expanded to a second campus. Today The O'Quinn School is a subsidiary of Porter-Gaud, maintaining two campuses on James Island and in Mt. Pleasant.Athletics
Sports Offered
- Fall Sports: Cheerleading (State Champions 2007), Cross Country(State Champions 2010)(Boys), Football, Sailing, Swimming(State Champions 2007, 2010, 2011)(Boys), Tennis (Girls'), Volleyball
- Winter Sports: Cheerleading, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Strength and Conditioning
- Spring Sports: Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis (State Champions 2009)(Boys'), Track(State Champions 2011)(Boys)
Rivals
- Bishop England High SchoolBishop England High SchoolBishop England High School is the largest diocesan Catholic four-year high school in South Carolina. Until 1998, the school was located on Calhoun Street in downtown Charleston.It is now located on Daniel Island in the city of Charleston...
– Bishop England is Porter-Gaud's biggest rival and the rivalry is one of Charleston's oldest and most prominent. Porter-Gaud and Bishop England trace the rivalry back to Football in the 1920s, when both schools were located in Downtown Charleston. The rivalry has spread to other sports including Basketball and Volleyball. However, after incidents on both campuses, the Bishops and the Cyclones were unable to battle on their fields for years.- Note: In the fall of 2006, historic rivals PG and BE merged their respective ice hockey teams, marking the first time such a merger has taken place in the school's history.
- Pinewood Preparatory SchoolPinewood Preparatory SchoolFounded in 1952, Pinewood Preparatory School is an independent, co-educational, college-preparatory day school located in Summerville, South Carolina....
– Porter-Gaud and Pinewood have become rivals primarily on the basketball court,as well as, on the soccer field in the past decade. - Ashley HallAshley HallAshley Hall is an all girls' school in Charleston, South Carolina, founded in 1909 by Mary Vardrine McBee, who headed the institution for many years. It is the only girls college-preparatory school in the state. Ashley Hall's pre-school is the only coed part of the school...
– Shortly after the merger, Porter-Gaud began to accept female students. As a result, the historical sister school of PMA, Ashley Hall, became an instant rival, primarily in girls' Volleyball and Basketball. Both girls' volleyball teams have won state championships, and the rivalry is limited to the court. - Augusta Christian School – Porter-Gaud and Augusta Christian have built up a sort of "mini-rivalry" in the past few years. This establishment is due to Porter-Gaud's loss to Augusta Christian in the 2005 State Championship Football Game.
- Charleston Day School – Porter-Gaud and Charleston Day's lower and middle schools have developed a rivalry in the sports of basketball, volleyball and, as of late, bantam football.
Early Football Teams
During the early 20th century, Porter Military scrimmaged several University Football teams:
- 1905 – @ The CitadelThe Citadel (military college)The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
(PMA: 0, Citadel: 0) – This was the first football game the Citadel ever played. - 1905 – @ The CitadelThe Citadel (military college)The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
(PMA: 0 Citadel: 17) – This was the second football game the Citadel ever played. - 1905 – @ The CitadelThe Citadel (military college)The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
– This was the third football game the Citadel ever played. - Oct 16, 1909 – @ The CitadelThe Citadel (military college)The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
- Nov 18, 1911 – @ The CitadelThe Citadel (military college)The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
(PMA: 0, Citadel: 6) - Oct 19, 1912 – @ The CitadelThe Citadel (military college)The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
(PMA: 0 Citadel: 66)
- Nov 16, 1912 – @ University of South CarolinaUniversity of South CarolinaThe University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
(PMA: 0 USC: 66) - Oct 11, 1913 – @ The CitadelThe Citadel (military college)The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
(PMA: 0, Citadel: 0) - Sep 26, 1914 – @ Newberry CollegeNewberry CollegeNewberry College is a liberal-arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located on a historic campus in Newberry, South Carolina.The college has 1,025 students and a 19:1 student-teacher ratio...
(PMA: 0, NC: 20) - Oct 10, 1914 – @ The CitadelThe Citadel (military college)The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
(PMA: 0, Citadel: 12) - Oct 17, 1914 – @ Newberry CollegeNewberry CollegeNewberry College is a liberal-arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located on a historic campus in Newberry, South Carolina.The college has 1,025 students and a 19:1 student-teacher ratio...
(PMA: 7, NC: 20) - Oct 09, 1915 – @ The CitadelThe Citadel (military college)The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
(PMA: 0, Citadel: 54) - 1916 – @ University of South CarolinaUniversity of South CarolinaThe University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
(PMA: 34 USC: 32)
School Publications
Porter-Gaud has six student produced publications. Each is funded by the school and supervised by a faculty member. Porter-Gaud's Development Office also produces two regular publications. In addition to the eight aforementioned official publications, unofficial student produced and funded weekly newspapers can be found on campus.Student Publications
- Polygon – School Yearbook
- The Porter Grits – Upper School Newspaper, est. 1920
- Watch – Upper School Literary Magazine, merged with and took over "The Porter Grits" in 2010.
- The Porter Gaudzette (inactive)– Middle School Newspaper, est. 2004
- Daze Between – Middle School Literary Magazine
- The Paper Clip – Lower School Literary Magazine
Development Publications
- Gaudeamus – annual summer magazine, distributed to all alumni, families, students and faculty
- Gaudeamus Online – weekly electronic publication
Unofficial Publications
- The Frog Weekly (inactive)- a weekly newspaper produced and funded entirely by students, est. Aug. 2004 by five members of the senior class.
- The Weekly (inactive)– a weekly newspaper produced and funded entirely by students.
Traditions
Halloween Carnival : An annual carnival held by the Student Council and Parents Guild. It is the primary fund raiser for all school clubs. It has been consistent festivity for several decades. Granted satisfactory weather, the carnival is spread across much of the 88 acres (356,123.7 m²) campus. During inclement weather the carnival is spread through The Wendell Center, Fishburne Gym, Washington Hall and Breeze Ways.
Halloween Parade : An annual parade involving the first grade and senior class. Both classes dress up in their Halloween costumes to march little-hand in big-hand along a traditional route around campus. It is viewed as a right of passage for the seniors in the run-up to graduation.
Thanksgiving Play : An annual play performed completely by the first grade with the guidance and leadership of their teachers. The play and accompanying music, delivering the traditional story of Thanksgiving, were written entirely by first grade teachers in the 1970s. There are typically several performances, the most popular of which is for the high schoolers, who enjoy spotting their old part in the play.
Founders' Day Concert : An annual concert held on October 21 featuring a revolving theme to celebrate the school's establishment. The concert's origins can be traced back to 1978.
Holiday Market : Held in the Wendell Center during the weeks preceding Christmas, the Holiday Market is an annual holiday centric venue for Charleston area artisans to sell their goods. It is hosted by the Parents Guild, which puts the proceeds towards the annual fund.
Simple Gifts of Christmas : An annual play performed completely by the second grade.
Holiday Assembly : A tradition that has become a sort of phenomenon within the community. Occurring on the last day before Christmas Vacation, the assembly features a massive singing competition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" between the grades. Typically the music is performed live by the Porter-Gaud Jazz Ensemble. In the past years, it has been held in the Wendell Center.
Porter-Gaud Holiday Classic : An annual basketball invitational tournament held on the Porter-Gaud Campus at the Wendell Center and Fishburne Gym.
Winter Semi-Formal : An annual dance held during the winter months and organized by the students. In the past, the Winter Semi-Formal has been held at the South Carolina Aquarium
South Carolina Aquarium
The South Carolina Aquarium, located in Charleston, South Carolina, opened in May 2000 on the historic Charleston Harbor. It is home to over 10,000 plants and animals including river otters, loggerhead sea turtles, alligators, Venus flytraps, great blue herons, hawks, owls, sea horses, jellyfish,...
.
The Baccalaureate : Held in the closing days of the school year before graduation, the Baccalaureate is the closing sermon to the graduating class and is held at Rev. Anthony Toomer Porter's home parish, the Church of the Holy Communion.
The Quarter Pounders : Porter-Gaud's male quartet group that consists of four upper school students, two tenors and two basses. This group is by invitation only and represents some of the top male vocalists in the Upper School.
Campus and Facilities
The school sits on an 88 acres (356,123.7 m²) campus, located at the banks of the Ashley River in Charleston, SC. The tract was donated to the newly merged entity by CSX Railroad in 1965.Media
- 3 computer labs
- multimedia production lab
- dedicated server room
- 2 Libraries
- 32,000 volumes
Fine Arts
- 3 art galleries
- 3 art studios
- 3 music studios
- recording studio
- auditorium (capacity 414)
Athletics
- football and soccer stadium
- 8 lane paved track
- baseball field
- softball field
- 6 tennis courts
- 2 practice fields
- 2 gymnasiums
- fitness center
- health classroom
Misc.
- 14 science labs
- 150+ Classrooms
- 2 archive rooms
- 4 workrooms
- 5 conference rooms
- boardroom
- dining hall
- Head of School's Residence
- Head of Ground's Residence
Business and media
- Octavus Roy CohenOctavus Roy CohenOctavus Roy Cohen was an American author, born in South Carolina where he received his secondary education at the Porter Military Academy, now the exclusive Porter-Gaud School. He went on to receive a college education at the Clemson University...
– Editor, writer - Stephen ColbertStephen ColbertStephen Tyrone Colbert is an American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits.Colbert originally studied to be an...
– comedian, host of The Colbert Report - Shepard FaireyShepard FaireyFrank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his "André the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His...
– artist (did not graduate) - Jack HittJack HittJack Hitt is an American author. He is a contributing editor to The New York Times Magazine, Harper's, and This American Life. He served previously as a contributing editor to the now-defunct magazine Lingua Franca. He also frequently appears in places like Rolling Stone, Wired, and Outside Magazine...
– writer - Sallie KrawcheckSallie KrawcheckSallie L. Krawcheck , is the former president of the Global Wealth & Investment Management division of Bank of America. GWIM includes Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust, the largest wealth management business in the world at $2.3 trillion in client assets...
– Former CFOChief financial officerThe chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
of Citigroup Inc.CitigroupCitigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate...
, Former CEOChief executive officerA chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Smith BarneySmith BarneyMorgan Stanley Smith Barney is a retail brokerage joint venture between Morgan Stanley and Citigroup.On January 13, 2009, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup announced that Citigroup would sell 51% of Smith Barney to Morgan Stanley, creating Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, which was formerly a division of...
and a Member of the Board of Directors at Dell Computers, Head of Bank of AmericaBank of AmericaBank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
's Global Wealth Management division. - Archibald RutledgeArchibald RutledgeArchibald Hamilton Rutledge was an American poet and educator, the first South Carolina poet laureate from 1934 to 1973. He wrote over 50 books and many poems, usually about his hunting and life experiences in South Carolina.-Biography:...
– South Carolina poet laureate - Sonny SeilerSonny SeilerFrank W. "Sonny" Seiler is a Savannah, Georgia, attorney who, despite success in the courtroom and a prominent role in the bestselling book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, is best known as the owner of perhaps the world's most famous dynasty of bulldogs...
– attorney, owner of UgaUga (mascot)Uga is the name of a lineage of English Bulldogs owned by Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler, which have served as the mascot of the University of Georgia since 1956...
, the University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
bulldogBulldogBulldog is the name for a breed of dog commonly referred to as the English Bulldog. Other Bulldog breeds include the American Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge and the French Bulldog. The Bulldog is a muscular heavy dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose...
mascot - Henry LaurensHenry LaurensHenry Laurens was an American merchant and rice planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. A delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Laurens succeeded John Hancock as President of the Congress...
Politics and military
- George Swinton LegaréGeorge Swinton LegaréGeorge Swinton Legaré was a politician from South Carolina; born in Rockville, S.C. Shortly after birth moved to Charleston, S.C. At Charleston, he graduated from the Porter Military Academy, now the exclusive Porter-Gaud School, in 1889...
– politician - Burnet R. MaybankBurnet R. MaybankBurnet Rhett Maybank was a U.S. Senator, the 99th Governor of South Carolina, and Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina. Maybank was the direct descendant of six former South Carolinian governors. He was the first governor from Charleston since the Civil War...
– Depression era mayor of CharlestonCharleston, South CarolinaCharleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, Governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South CarolinaThe Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
and United States Senator - Charles P. Summerall – United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
generalGeneral (United States)In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
, Army Chief of StaffChief of Staff of the United States ArmyThe Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in... - Kurt W. TiddKurt W. TiddKurt W. Tidd is a United States Navy officer. He currently holds the rank of rear admiral.Tidd is the son of now-retired Navy Vice Admiral Emmett H. Tidd and is a second-general surface warfare officer. He grew up in various cities on the East and West coasts before graduating in 1974 from the...
– United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
rear admiralRear admiral (United States)Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :... - Vic RawlVic RawlA. Victor Rawl is a member of the Charleston County council in Charleston, South Carolina. Rawl was a candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina in 2010; he lost the Democratic primary to Alvin Greene in a surprise upset and unsuccessfully protested the outcome of the race.-Personal:Rawl grew up...
- Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate, received national attention after losing to Alvin GreeneAlvin GreeneAlvin Michael Greene is a Democrat from South Carolina. He was the Democratic Party's nominee in the 2010 United States Senate election in South Carolina. He was defeated by incumbent Republican Sen. Jim DeMint by a margin of 61.46% to 27.65%, with the remaining votes going to third-party and...
Notable faculty
- Benjamin HuttoBenjamin HuttoBenjamin Hutto is an American musician who has specialized in writing, producing and directing choral music. He is currently Director of Choral Activities at St. Albans School for Boys, and National Cathedral School for Girls in Washington DC....
served as music director and choirmaster at the school during the 70s through the 90s, during which time the Porter-Gaud Choir recorded several albums. - Fernando RivasFernando RivasFernando Rivas is a Cuban-born composer, pianist, arranger and producer.He graduated from the Juilliard School of Music where he studied with National Arts Award recipient David Diamond. He has worked extensively in film and theater, as well as in broadcast media and advertising. Mr...
is a graduate of the Juilliard School and winner of a Grammy Award and two Emmy Awards for songs he wrote for PBS' "Sesame Street." In 2006, Rivas scored the Disney Channel show Handy Manny. He was the subject of a "High Profile" interview published in The Post and Courier in July, 2003, and has been with Porter-Gaud's Fine Arts Department since 2002. - Hervey AllenHervey AllenWilliam Hervey Allen was an American author.-Biography:He graduated from University of Pittsburgh in 1915, where he also became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity....
was a famous author from Pennsylvania. His work's include: Anthony AdverseAnthony AdverseAnthony Adverse is a 1936 American drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy. The screenplay by Sheridan Gibney is based on the sprawling 1,224-page novel of the same title by Hervey Allen.-Plot:...
, Israfel, Action at Aquila, and The Forest and the Fort. - DuBose HeywardDuBose HeywardEdwin DuBose Heyward was a white American author best known for his 1925 novel Porgy. This novel was the basis for the play by the same name and, in turn, the opera Porgy and Bess with music by George Gershwin.-Life and career:Heyward was born in 1885 in Charleston, South Carolina and was a...
was an American author best known for his 1924 novel Porgy. He was also co-author of the non-musical play adapted from the novel, which became the foundation of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. - Wyndham Meredith ManningWyndham Meredith ManningWyndham Meredith Manning was a South Carolina politician and the scion of a political dynasty in that U.S. state. Manning served in the South Carolina House of Representatives and was appointed Superintendent of the state's prison system by then-Governor Strom Thurmond in 1947, serving in that...
was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, after which he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. Later he took up a teaching position at Pinopolis School in South Carolina resulting in his resignation from the army. Two years later he was elected Commandant of Cadets at Porter Military. He went on to take military other positions, but made three attempts to follow in the foot steps of his father as Governor. He was never successful. He did, however, manage to join the South Carolina House of Representatives with two consecutive victories.
Guest Writer Program
- Billy CollinsBilly CollinsBilly Collins is an American poet, appointed as Poet Laureate of the United States from 2001 to 2003. He is a Distinguished Professor at Lehman College of the City University of New York and is the Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Winter Park Institute, Florida...
- Pat ConroyPat ConroyPat Conroy , is a New York Times bestselling author who has written several acclaimed novels and memoirs. Two of his novels, The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini, were made into Oscar-nominated films.-Early life:...
- Dori SandersDori SandersDori Sanders is an African American novelist. Her first novel, Clover , was a bestseller. She has also written a cookbook, Dori Sanders' country cooking, which mixes recipes and anecdotes.-Works:...
- Ashley Warlick
- Larry BakerLarry BakerLarry Baker is a former American college and professional football player. An offensive tackle, he played college football at Bowling Green State, and played professionally in the American Football League for the New York Titans in 1960.-See also:...
- Cassandra King
- Peter MeinkePeter MeinkePeter Meinke is an American poet and author. He has published 17 books of poems and short stories. The Piano Tuner, won the 1986 Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction. His poetry has received many awards, including 2 NEA Fellowships and 3 prizes from the Poetry Society of America...
- Starkey Flythe, Jr.
- Joanna Hershon
- Jack WeatherfordJack WeatherfordJack Weatherford is a former professor of anthropology at Macalester College in Minnesota. He is best known for his 2004 book, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World...
- Jeannette WallsJeannette WallsJeannette Walls is a writer and journalist widely known as former gossip columnist for MSNBC.com — and author of The Glass Castle, a memoir of the nomadic family life of her childhood, which stayed on the New York Times Best Seller list for 100 weeks.-Early life and education:Walls was born...
(A visiting writer, but not part of the program) - Elizabeth SpiresElizabeth Spires-Life:She was raised in Circleville. She graduated from Vassar College and Johns Hopkins University.Her poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, American Poetry Review, The New Criterion, The Paris Review, and in many other literary magazines and anthologies, She lives in Baltimore with her...
- Jonathan TropperJonathan TropperJonathan Tropper is an American writer and a Professor of English at Manhattanville College.Tropper's book, How To Talk To A Widower, was the 2007 selection for the Richard and Judy Show in the United Kingdom. Everything Changes was a Booksense selection. Three of Tropper's books are currently...
- Cathy Smith Bowers