Pace Academy was founded in Atlanta in 1959 in response to the successful challenge of Atlanta Public Schools' segregationist policies in federal court. Pace Academy was founded as a de facto all-white school and was among the private schools attended by white children whose parents did not want them going to public schools with African-Americans.[3][4] Although the school is not affiliated with a specific church or religion, it adheres to Judeo-Christian values and places a major emphasis on character development.[5]
Pace Academy is situated on 37 acres in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood. Pace Academy was incorporated on June 30, 1958, with an initial enrollment of 178 students, for the purpose of “training and educating children and operating a school and kindergarten.” Frank Kaley was hired as Pace's first headmaster in 1959.
In 1964, Pace graduated its first class, with 13 students receiving diplomas. Pace accepted its first African-American student, a kindergartener, in 1966.[6]
In 1972, George G. Kirkpatrick assumed leadership of the school. Although from its incorporation, Pace was accredited by the Georgia Accreditation Committee for its educational programs, 1973 saw the accreditation of Pace by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1976 the Randall property adjacent to Pace became available and a fundraising drive was launched to purchase the property.
Peter Cobb became headmaster in 1994, the same year the Castle was officially named Kirkpatrick Hall, in honor of George G. Kirkpatrick, who had led Pace through its greatest growth.
Following Cobb's resignation in 1996, Michael A. Murphy, who had served as head of Lower School for seven years, served as Interim Headmaster until February 1997 when he was named Headmaster.
In spring 1997, following a gift of $2 million by the Hugh M. Inman Foundation, the Educating for Life – Pace 2000 capital campaign was launched, with a goal of $16 million. During Murphy's tenure, Pace embarked on a campaign to build a new Middle School building.
In fall 2005 the fifth Head of School was appointed, Fred Assaf. In 2007 the school resolved longstanding issues with the neighborhood association and entered into an agreement which preserved the small size of Pace whilst expanding the facilities to accommodate a moderate increase in enrollment. As a part of this plan, Pace realized its need to acquire expanded athletic facilities and acquired two parcels, an eight-acre baseball/softball complex on Warren Road and a 23-acre tract on Riverview Road in Cobb County, which now has a stadium for soccer, lacrosse, and football with seating for 2000, a track & field facility, an additional soccer/lacrosse/football field, a baseball field and stadium, and a softball field and stadium. Development of the softball field and the renovation of the baseball field were funded by the sale of the Warren Road complex to The Galloway School in 2016.[7]
During summer 2012, Pace Academy launched a new capital campaign with a purpose of building a new high school. The campaign's lead donor was Arthur Blank, who was both the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and a Pace parent. The Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School officially opened on August 18, 2014.[8]
Pace Academy also has a robotics team for both Middle and Upper School, the Roboknights. The Middle School team participates in the FIRST Lego League, while the Upper School team participates in the FIRST Tech Challenge.[11]
The school's Isdell Center for Global Leadership runs global education programs.[12]
The boys' soccer team won the final three Fall Soccer League championships (2002 to 2004), and finished second nationally in the final NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches of America) poll during the fall of 2003.[14] In its first season in the GHSA Spring League in 2006, the team captured the Class AA/A State Championship and finished 19th nationally[15] and 5th in Region II in the Final NSCAA poll.[16]
In 2006, the school announced plans to add a football team, with varsity play scheduled to begin in 2009. For most of its existence, the school focused on its soccer and baseball programs, opting to take part in a smaller fall soccer season to allow players to play baseball in the spring. However, the cancellation of the fall soccer season left the spring season the only option, leading the school to develop a football program.[17]
In fall 2010, after a 9–1 regular season, the Pace Knights football team made its first GHSA playoff appearance.
^Purdy, Michelle A. (February 2016). "Blurring public and private: the pragmatic desegregation politics of an elite private school in Atlanta". History of Education Quarterly. 56 (1): 61–89. doi:10.1111/hoeq.12149. S2CID152265272.
^Michael Gannon, “From White Flight to Open Admissions: The Founding and Integration of Private Schools in the City of Atlanta, 1951–1967” (Master’s thesis, Georgia State University, 2004).
^"Barrett passes on Clemson, signs with Expos", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 10, 1995. Accessed November 9, 2007. "For most folks, the entire experience might be overwhelming, but when former Pace Academy shortstop Michael Barrett signed a professional contract Friday with the Montreal Expos, it seemed to his family like little more than the ordinary course of business."
^"SPEED READS", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 12, 2001. Accessed November 9, 2007. " Harrison, a 1996 graduate of Pace Academy in Buckhead, stars in Showtime's "Queer as Folk," which depicts the lives and loves of a group of gay men and lesbians."
^"FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 13, 1996. Accessed November 9, 2007. "Blessed with a lot of natural talent, a positive attitude and an unusual amount of inner strength, Pace Academy's Sarah-Elizabeth Langford used those qualities to become a two-sport standout for the Lady Knights."
