Who We Are

Mission

Heritage Academy is dedicated to providing progressive differentiated instruction for students who are pursuing an extra-curricular passion and to fostering within students a responsibility and a motivation for learning, a moral respect for personal dignity, and a commitment to accountable global citizenship.

Read about the Heritage Academy Philosophy.

History

Opening in 1993, the formerly named ESI International Academy was a single morning classes-only school for 17 international and non-local tennis players and golfers. The school was located on the Van der Meer Tennis University campus.

  • Co-ownership between Dennis Van der Meer and Ray Travaglione beginning 1997 enabled the International Academy student population to grow from 17 in 1993 to 72 in 2001 as the school became the academic complement to tennis, golf, and visual and performing arts training.
  • The school moved to new campus at 11 New Orleans Road November 2002 with 72 students and changed its name to Heritage Academy to better reflect its mission and philosophy.
  • From 2003 to 2006 Heritage Academy served US and international tennis players, golfers, visual and performing artists, equestrians, swimmers, and students with singleton passions. During the school year 2004-2005, there were 185 students.
  • In the fall of 2004, HA morphed into two campuses, one on HHI and one on DI. The Daufuskie campus was for high school and post grad golfers only.
  • In the fall of 2008, HA moved back to a single campus serving grades 6-12 in all passion areas with an a.m. program.
  • Heritage Academy evolved into the present model of a single campus for grades 6-PG for all-passions plus fast track academic acceleration in the fall of 2008. Grades 10-PG golfers attended classes in the p.m. program.

Heritage Academy today is still the top choice for serious scholar-athletes who need flexible course scheduling, individualized programming, freedom to attend tournaments, and to work alongside a faculty whose charge it is to challenge them academically and support their passion.