Our History

Historical Timeline (continued)

1918  The Academy's first gymnasium (built with funds from the Sears family).

1920  Campus boarding program introduced (boys only).

1924  Sears Art Gallery (funded by Sears family); Athletic Fields on Franklin Boulevard were opened.

1939 (circa) 7th and 8th grades added.

1940  Sears Hall (built with funds from Sears family).

Sears Hall Opens 1940

1941 (circa) Girls accepted into the boarding program. The following description from a school publication of this era signifies an approach to the education of young people that is still true of Elgin Academy today:

"The Academy expects of its students a desire for self-education. Each student is challenged to develop discriminating judgment and independence of thought; and through varied work in literature, music, and the arts, creative as well as appreciative, Elgin tried to cultivate the imaginations and emotions of its students."

1940s-1950s  The postwar years were prosperous and stable years for the Academy as they were for the Midwest in general. The construction of Sears Hall dormitory in 1940 created an environment in which a traditional boarding school could flourish and the yearbooks of the time reflect the annual rituals of the homecoming games, social activities, and serious academic work, all pursued in conservative attire and hairstyles.

1950s-1960s  The decade from the late 1950s to the late 1960s brought many changes to the Academy's physical plant.

1958  New Gymnasium constructed

1962  North Hall built (as a girls' dormitory)

1969  Edwards Hall dedicated

1972  Old Main, the original Academy building, had fallen into disrepair and was closed to all school activities (also see 1978).

1975  Frank J. Hogan began a 10-year tenure as headmaster, launching a period of growth and renewal (after hitting an enrollment low of 85 students in 1973, enrollment has climbed steadily to more than 400 in the new millennium).

Athletic Program Grows as Enrollment Climbs

1978  Old Main is donated to the city of Elgin which completed extensive restoration of the beautiful landmark building. Old Main now houses the Elgin Area Historical Society as well as the Seigle Room (used for Upper School classes and school meetings; contains displays of Elgin Academy memorabilia).

1980  (circa) In the early 1980s, the Academy's Board of Trustees set the school on course to become a K-12 day school.

1984  Lower School is opened.

1987  Boarding program formally discontinued.

1980s-1990s  Parents, alumni, and friends have built and sustained a vigorous fundraising effort dedicated to strengthening the curriculum and improving teacher compensation, while ensuring long-term viability of the institution.

1994  Board of Trustees approved the Academy's first strategic plan.

1997  The City of Elgin recognized EA's campus improvements by awarding the school with its first of two  "Elgin Image Awards."

1999  The Academy opened an Early Childhood Education Program for 3- and 4-year-olds.

2001  The Academy was the first Preschool-12 independent school in greater Chicago to launch a specialized website for every class and teacher.

2004  Capital Campaign was begun to build the Media, Science, and Fine Arts Center and renovate other areas of campus.

2006  Elgin Academy announced plans to operate the former Summit Academy as the Elgin Academy-River Road Campus and then consolidate all students on the Hilltop Campus. The consolidation occurred the following year.

2007  Elgin Academy broke ground for the new Media, Science, and Fine Arts Center.  James J. "Jimmy John" Liautaud [EA Class of '82], chairman and CEO of Jimmy John's Franchise LLC, contributed $1 million to the Capital Campaign.

Rider Center Opens 2008

2008  Grand Opening of The Harold D. Rider Family Media, Science, and Fine Arts Center in October.

2009  Enrollment at the Academy thrives despite the nation's difficult economic downturn.

2014 The Academy celebrates it's 175th

2015 An updated website and branding, along with an new mission bring a fresh look to Elgin Academy

"Inspiring students to become our creative, courageous, and compassionate future."

2017 The The Hilltop Capstone Project is added to Upper School curriculum. The Hilltop provides seniors the opportunity to design their own curriculum that touches on one or more subject areas to answer their own essential question. 

2019 Elgin Academy celebrates 180 years. Upper School implements the J-Term program. An opportunity for students to expand their intellectual curiosity and geographic horizons by choosing a travel experience, studying a subject that sparks their interest, or investigating a career with an internship.

2020 In the face of a pandemic the flexibility and innovation of the Elgin Academy administrators, faculty, and staff enabled EA students to consistently continue in-person learning, augmented by high quality, on-line learning when needed. Elgin Academy continuously adapted and evaluated which learning environment was best for students and did not let the disruptive nature of the pandemic slow the pursuit to provide students more robust programs that enhance curriculum, increase support, and provide them with a personalized experience.

2022 Renovations to the Gym including a new weight room, updated bathrooms, locker rooms, and lobby are completed.

2023 The EA logo and branding are updated and a new website is launched. Paul Druzinski becomes Elgin Academy's Interim Head of School.