Harding Academy is a K-12

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in Searcy, Arkansas. It is affiliated with Harding University. Like that institution, it is associated with the Churches of Christ and named in honor of an early minister of that fellowship, James A. Harding. *James Gurchiek is the current headmaster. *Bradley Francis is the High School Principal. *Matthew Henderson is the Elementary Principal.

Student life

Harding Academy is accredited by the National Christian School Association. Many students take Advanced Placement (AP) courses and successfully gain college credit while still enrolled in high school. The

FIRST LEGO League The ''FIRST'' LEGO League Challenge (formerly known as ''FIRST'' LEGO League) is an international competition organized by '' FIRST'' for elementary and middle school students (ages 9–14 in the United States and Canada, 9–16 elsewhere). Each ...

(Mindsweepers) team won the state championship in 2017 and 2021. The

FIRST Robotics Competition FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is an international high school robotics competition. Each year, teams of high school students, coaches, and mentors work during a six-week period to build robots capable of competing in that year's game that weig ...

team (Team 3937 Breakaway) won the 2014 Arkansas Regional and Louisiana Bayou Regional as well as the 2015 and 2017 Louisiana Bayou Regional. Every school day the students and faculty meet for chapel followed by a 45-minute bible study period that all students grades 7-12 attend. The school also participates in various community events including hosting the Wildcat Road Mile, Micah Rine 5k, and the Breakaway 10k.

Athletics

Harding Academy's mascot is the

wildcat The wildcat is a species complex comprising two small wild cat species: the European wildcat (''Felis silvestris'') and the African wildcat (''F. lybica''). The European wildcat inhabits forests in Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus, while th ...

, and the

school colors School colors (also known as university colors or college colors) are the colors chosen by a school as part of its brand identity, used on building signage, web pages, branded apparel, and the uniforms of sports teams. They can promote connectio ...

are red and white. The Harding Academy Wildcats participate in the 3A Classification and 3A Region 2 Conference as sanctioned by the Arkansas Activities Association. Boys may participate in these sports: * Football: Harding Academy football won three consecutive state championships in 2019 and 2020 and 2021. The Wildcats won their first 3A Classification football state championship in 2012 with a 49–45 win over Glen Rose. They have previously won championships in 1976, 1977, 1983, and 2002. The

junior high A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school ...

football team had an undefeated season in 2007. They again had an undefeated season in 2012. In 2015, the Wildcats won their 6th State Championship. * Cross country running * Golf * Basketball: The boys basketball team won the 3A classification state basketball championship in 2013 and 2021

* Tennis: The boys tennis teams have won three state championships (1974, 1984, 1986). * Baseball: After just a few seasons the baseball team won the Arkansas AAA State Championship in 2008, the first time the school has won a state title in baseball (Bagley). They then followed with more championships in 2013, 2017, and 2018. The baseball team also won the state championship in 2021 * Track * Soccer: The boys soccer team won their first state championship in 2022. Girls may participate in these sports: * Volleyball: The volleyball team won a List of Arkansas state high school volleyball champions, state volleyball championship in 2011. * Basketball * Track: Won three consecutive state championships in 2011, 2012, and 2013. The team also won the state championship in 2019, 2021, and 2022. * Cross country running: The girls cross country teams are 5-time state cross country champions (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2011). * Tennis: state doubles winner and overall state runners-up in 2012 * Softball: * Golf * Cheerleading *Soccer: The girls soccer team won the state championship in 2021 and 2022.

Academics

Harding Academy offers AP and Honors classes. The school also requires all students (grades 7–12) to take a Bible class.

Notable alumni

* Michael Blue, investor *

Stephen Mark Brown Stephen Mark Brown is an American opera tenor. He has sung with Luciano Pavarotti on the television program "Pavarotti Plus," and has sung at La Scala. In 2005, Brown was described as "emerging as one of today's leading tenors in the French and I ...

, vocalist *

Jeb Huckeba Jeb Allen Huckeba (born May 20, 1982) is an American football defensive end. He played in the first ever U.S. Army All-American Bowl on December 30, 2000. Huckeba played at Harding Academy (Searcy, Arkansas) before choosing to play for the Arkan ...

, professional football player

References

Sources

*Anon. "Jordan Simpson."

The Daily Citizen (Searcy) ''The Daily Citizen'' is a newspaper which is published every day except Mondays and Saturdays in Searcy, Arkansas. It is owned by Paxton Media Group. The newspaper's circulation is 6,000. The newspaper was founded in September 1854 as the '' ...

. Online Edition. Education Section. May 31, 2008. Accessed June 1, 2008.

*Bagley, Quinton. "WILDCATS WIN!"

. Online Edition. Sports Section. May 17, 2008. Accessed May 28, 2008. (Report about H.A. the State Championship in baseball, filed from

Fayetteville, AR Fayetteville () is the second-largest city in Arkansas, the county seat of Washington County, and the biggest city in Northwest Arkansas. The city is on the outskirts of the Boston Mountains, deep within the Ozarks. Known as Washington until ...

, where the state finals were held.)

External links

Harding Academy
{{Authority control Educational institutions established in 1924 Schools in White County, Arkansas Private high schools in Arkansas Private middle schools in Arkansas Private elementary schools in Arkansas Harding University Buildings and structures in Searcy, Arkansas 1924 establishments in Arkansas