Harding Academy is a

K-12 K-1 is a professional kickboxing promotion established in 1993 by karateka Kazuyoshi Ishii. Originally under the ownership of the Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG), K-1 was considered to be the largest Kickboxing organization in the world. ...

private school A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a State school, public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their fina ...

Searcy, Arkansas Searcy ( ) is the largest city in and the county seat of White County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2019 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 23,767. It is the principal city of the Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statisti ...

. It is affiliated with

Harding University Harding University is a Private university, private Christian university with its main campus in Searcy, Arkansas, United States. Established in 1924, the institution offers Undergraduate education, undergraduate, Postgraduate education, gradu ...

, its parent institution, and both are associated with the

Churches of Christ The Churches of Christ, also commonly known as the Church of Christ, is a loose association of autonomous Christian congregations located around the world. Typically, their distinguishing beliefs are that of the necessity of baptism for salvation ...

, and named in honor of minister James A. Harding.

Student life

Harding Academy is accredited by the National Christian School Association. Many students take

Advanced Placement Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board. AP offers undergraduate university-level curricula and examinations to high school students. Colleges and universities in the US and elsewhere ...

(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, 9-15 elsewhere). Each y ...

(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 operated by ''FIRST''®. Each year, teams of high school students, coaches, and mentors work to build robots capable of competing in that year's game. Robots c ...

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 ...

s, and the

school colors School colors, also known as university colors or college colors, are the colors chosen by a school, academy, college, university or institute as part of its brand identity, used on building signage, web pages, branded apparel, and the uniforms ...

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 The Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) is the primary sanctioning body for high school sports in state of Arkansas. AAA is a member association of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA). Every public secondary s ...

. Boys may participate in these sports: * Football: Harding Academy football has won 10 state championships in divisions from B to 4A over the course of almost 50 years: 1976, '77, '83, '02, '12, '15, and three in a row (2019-2021), and a 4A championship in 2023. football state championship * 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, 2022, and 2023. * 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. * Track: The girls' team has twice won three consecutive state championships in 2001, 2002, & 2003, and again in 2011, 2012, & 2013. They also won in '05, '19, '21, & '22. The boys team also won the state championship in 1964. List of Arkansas state high school track and field champions * 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 The boys' team won the state championship in 2013 * Cheerleading *Soccer: The girls soccer team won the state championship in 2021 2022 and 2023

Academics

Harding Academy offers AP and Honors classes. The school requires all students (grades 7–12) to attend daily Bible classes.

Notable alumni

* Michael Blue, investor * Stephen Mark Brown, vocalist * Jeb Huckeba, 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. History The newspaper was founded in September 1854 ...

. 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 List of cities and towns in Arkansas, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Washington County, Arkansas, Washington County, and the most populous city in Northwest Arkansas. The city ...

, 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