In the 2015–2016 school year, 955 of 1,221 students in grades 1-12 were white (78%).[3] In 2016, Little Rock was 48% white.
In 2006, Pulaski Academy purchased the campus of Fellowship Bible Church, on the corner of Hinson and Napa Valley, increasing the campus to 32 acres (13ha).[4]
In 2003, one of 102 graduating seniors was black.[5]
When busing was introduced in the early 1970s to counteract the effects of racially defined residential patterns, whites built private schools in the suburbs or fled the county altogether. In 1971, the segregationist businessman William F. Rector announced the construction of the private Pulaski Academy in the western suburbs of the city for those, he said, who "don't like busing."[6][7][8] Pulaski was the first school established after the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education decision (1971). Rector said, "I even hope we'll be allowed to play Dixie if we want to without having a riot about it."[9]
Pulaski Academy was named 2003 "Best of the Best" Private High School by the readers of an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette contest.
During the 2008–09 academic year, fifteen members of the Class of 2009 were named as National Merit Scholars, three as Commended Scholars and twelve as Finalists. Enrollment for the 2009–10 academic year was approximately 1,210 K-12 students, with a student–teacher ratio of 8.9:1.[1]
Extracurricular activities
The school's mascot is the Bruin and school colors are Navy blue and Vegas gold. For 2024-2026 the Pulaski Academy Bruins play in the 7A Central Conference administered by the Arkansas Activities Association. The school participates in baseball, basketball (boys/girls), cheer, cross country, Pom, football, soccer (boys/girls), softball, swimming and diving (boys/girls), tennis (boys/girls), golf (boys/girls) volleyball(girls), lacrosse (boys/girls), and wrestling.[11]
The school's football team has won nine state championships since 2003. The team was coached by Kevin Kelley until 2021, who gained notoriety for his strategies, which include the total rejection of punting and returning punts, as well as a reliance on the onside kick. The team is now coached by Anthony Lucas.[12][13][14][15]
Athletic state championships
The Pulaski Academy Bruins have won 80 state championships:[16]
↑Cope, Graeme (2019). ""A mockery for education"? Little Rock's Thomas J. Raney High School during the Lost Year, 1958-1959". The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 78 (3): 248–273. ISSN0004-1823. JSTOR26856263.
↑Kirk, John A. (2005). ""A Study in Second Class Citizenship": Race, Urban Development, and Little Rock's Gillam Park, 1934-2004". The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 64 (3): 262–286. doi:10.2307/40028048. ISSN0004-1823. JSTOR40028048. In 1971, when legal action threatened to circumvent the purpose of residential segregation by forcing cross-city busing of students to ensure integrated schools, Rector announced the construction of the private Pulaski Academy for those who "don't like bussing"
This list may be incomplete. Some parts of the county are in the East End School District though the district does not operate schools in Pulaski County.
