George Washington Carver Military Academy (formerly known as George Washington Carver Area High School) is a public 4-year military high school in the Riverdale neighborhood on Chicago’s far south side. It first opened in 1947. It is ranked 250th in the state of Illinois. Advanced Placement coursework and exams are available to students. Carver Military Academy High School has a 36% AP participation rate.
Carver Military Academy High School is one of 152 Chicago Public Schools high schools. The school, named after African-American scientist and educator George Washington Carver, is run by the Chicago Public Schools.
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History of Carver Military Academy
Back in 1947, the Chicago Public Schools district set up George Washington Carver Area High School as a local high school. It was specifically built to serve the high school students living in the Altgeld Gardens Homes, a public housing complex managed by the Chicago Housing Authority. Altgeld Gardens Homes had been established a few years earlier, in 1944, just west of the school. However, Carver High School faced challenges over time, such as poor academic performance and low attendance. As a result, the school had to be shut down by the 1997-1998 school year.
But things took a positive turn in 1998 when Creg E. Williams, the director of the Chicago Public Schools, along with Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, sought the help of Chaplain Lt. Colonel Antonio R. Daggett, Sr. from the United States Army. They asked for his community support to transform Carver High School into a military academy by the year 2000. The idea was to infuse military values and discipline into the school’s environment. Finally, in August 2000, Carver Military Academy High School opened its doors with an inaugural class of 250 freshmen. The first class to graduate from the newly established military academy was in June 2004.
Since its transformation, Carver Military Academy High School has provided its students with a unique educational experience, combining rigorous academic instruction with military principles and training. Students receive a comprehensive education and learn valuable life skills, leadership, and discipline. Carver Military Academy continues to be a respected institution, shaping the lives of young individuals and preparing them for successful futures.
Contributions of Antonio R. Daggett, Jr. to Carver High
Col. Daggett established the second public military high school in the United States and the first public military high school in the country that transitioned from an existing general public high school when he established a military academy. The initial graduating class of cadets referred to (and later named) the flag hall outside the auditorium “Daggett Domains” due to Col. Daggett’s decision to display all state flags there.
Chaplain Col. Daggett, a father of eight children and an Army Major, devoted himself to prayerfully securing community support and ensuring that the new Military Academy remained for, by, and through the community.
Carver Military Academy, Athletic Edge
Carver is an Illinois High School Association (IHSA) member and competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL). Carver sports teams are known as the Challengers. After finishing second in the state the previous season, the boys’ varsity basketball team won the 1962-1963 IHSA boys basketball championship.
Here are four of Carver’s High most notable alumni in sports;
Cazzie Russell
Russell was named the Chicago Sun-Times Boy’s Player of the Year in 1962 while attending Carver High School in Chicago. Russell attended the University of Michigan for his college basketball career.
Russell and Bill Buntin led the Wolverines to three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles (1964-66) and Final Four appearances in 1964 and 1965, losing to defending national champion UCLA and John Wooden in the final game 91-80 in 1965.
Russell was named College Basketball Player of the Year in 1966 after averaging 30.8 points per game. Crisler Arena opened in 1967 and is known as “The House that Cazzie Built.” 1964 Russell was also initiated into the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity – Sigma Chapter.
He was the first overall pick in the 1966 NBA draft and played for the New York Knicks for five seasons (1966-1971). He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1967 and won the NBA Finals in 1970 while playing for the Knicks.
Yolanda Griffith
She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended George Washington Carver High School. She was named to Parade Magazine’s All-American basketball team and first-team All-America in softball her senior year (1988-1989).
Yolanda was offered a scholarship to play for the University of Iowa’s women’s basketball team, but she had to decline after giving birth to her daughter, Candace.
She then transferred to Palm Beach Junior College in Lake Worth, Florida, where she was named Junior College All-America in 1990-91. She later transferred to Florida Atlantic University, a Division II school, where she graduated in 1993 as the Kodak Division II Player of the Year. She supported herself and her daughter in school by working for a car repossession company.
After playing professional basketball in Germany, she joined the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1997. Griffith was the first overall pick in the ABL players draft by the Long Beach Stingrays. Griffith led the Stingrays to the brink of the ABL title in their lone season, only to lose to the defending champions, the Columbus Quest. Griffith was named ABL Defensive Player of the Year and All-ABL first team in 1997-1998. She finished second in the ABL’s 1998 Most Valuable Player voting to Natalie Williams, who would go on to compete in the Summer Olympics in 2000.
Tim Hardaway
Hardaway grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Carver Military Academy. He played college basketball for the UTEP Miners, who were coached by Don Haskins, a future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
In 1987 and 1988, Hardaway was named MVP of El Paso’s Sun Bowl Invitational Tournament. He was a member of teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1988 and 1989. In 1989, he received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the best college player in the country, standing six feet (1.83 m) or less. Hardaway developed his crossover dribble move known as the “UTEP two-step” while playing for the Miners.
James Avant
Avant graduated from Carver Military Academy in Chicago, Illinois, in 2002. He attended MacArthur High School in Decatur, Illinois, for his freshman year. Avant played defensively as a free safety and offensively as a wide receiver in high school at Carver. He established school records for receptions, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions. He was named a High School All-American at free safety following his senior season. He took part in the 2002 US Army All-American Bowl.
Avant was a wide receiver and special teams player at the University of Michigan. As a freshman, he saw limited action, but as a sophomore, he emerged as the Wolverines’ number-two receiver, trailing only Braylon Edwards.
Typical Tuition / Boarding at Carver High
Carver Military Academy offers a demanding, inquiry-based college prep curriculum.
Along with personalized academic support, cadets develop leadership skills to help them in all aspects of their lives. It is frequently regarded as one of the best military schools in Illinois for leadership development.
Cadets are constantly reminded of the importance of self-awareness, respect, and integrity. Carver Military Academy students must participate in the Army JROTC program. Cadets must complete leadership, education, and training requirements from freshman through senior year.
Carver Military Academy has a strong college placement tradition for an inner-city public school, with an average placement rate of 80%. The military academy does not provide on-campus housing or dining. As a result, it is not a traditional boarding school where students live on campus full-time. However, because Carver Military Academy is tuition-free, it significantly affects cost.
Nonetheless, you must apply beforehand and ensure you meet the prerequisites. Carver Military Academy placement is contingent on qualifications as well as available seats in a class.
