American Academy Larnaca | Private School | Governance | History
Source: https://www.academy.ac.cy/governance/history
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:14
American Academy Larnaca | Private School | Governance | History
Classter
Alumni
History
Committee
Become an Alumni Member
Alumni Subscription Fee
Alumni Stories
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
Annual General Meeting 2025
Annual General Meeting 2024
Annual General Meeting 2023
Annual General Meeting 2022
Annual General Meeting 2021
Annual General Meeting 2020
Donate
Governance
History
MISSION, VISION & VALUES
Board of Directors
People
Health, Safety and Environmental Management System
Christmas Devotional
Easter Devotional
Senior School
Principal’s Welcome Message
Admissions
Year 1 (English)
Year 1 (Greek)
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 6
Admissions Results
2025-26 School Academic Calendar
Academics
Curriculum
Pastoral Support
Academic Counselling
Faculties
Gradstories
Our People
Student Life
Brotherhood Committee
Extra-Curricular Programme
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
Weir Camp
Student Life Stories
ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΣΧΟΛΗ
Newsletters
PTA
Policies
Tuition Fees and Payment Methods
Junior School
Headteacher’s Welcome Message
About The Junior School
History Of The Junior School
Meet the Team
Why Larnaca
Nursery & Pre-School
Facilities
Admissions
Library
ICT
Transition to Senior School
Learning & Teaching
Curriculum Overview
Homework
Early Years
Phase 1 (G1-3)
Phase 2 (G4-6)
Parent Information / PTA
Equipment
School Holidays
PTA
Policies
Tuition Fees and Payment Methods
The Institute
About the Institute
Principal’s Welcome Message
History, Mission & Vision
What We Offer
Our Teachers & Staff
Testimonials
Programmes of Study
Preparation for University Entrance Exams
Support Lessons – All Subjects
AAL Entrance & Placement Exams
Languages
Junior School Afternoon Programme (JSAP)
Προετοιμασια για τις Παγκυπριες Εξετασεις
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (SEN) Assessment Centre
Recreational Activities
Registration & Information
Certificate Online Courses
Payment Methods
Sports Centre
About us
Facilities
Sports Card
Indoor
Tennis Court
Futsal
Photo Gallery
Payment Methods
Summer School
About us
Welcoming Message
Why Choose Us
Facilities
Timetables
Ages 3-5.5
Ages 6-9
Ages 10-14
Admissions
General Information
Registration Forms
Photo Gallery
Payment Methods
Vacancies
Tenders
Visit Our School
Announcements
Online Payments
Bookshop
Calendar
CONNECT
STUDENTS
Webmail
Classter
PARENTS
Classter
History
IT STARTS IN 1908
In 1908, two visionaries began planning what would become the American Academy Larnaca
The American Academy Larnaca is one of the nine oldest schools in Cyprus. It was founded in 1908 by two missionaries of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, Rev. McCarroll and Mrs McCarroll, who had originally arrived on the island in charge of an elementary mission school. The McCarrolls secured permission to open a secondary school for boys and thus the American Academy Larnaca was founded. Within a year the school had 60 students enrolled.
The purpose of the Academy was to provide a Christian education , which encompassed not only academic training, but also a focus on a Christian way of living. Students graduating from the Academy were taught to be tolerant, respectful and to serve the community whilst upholding high ideals and morals. Similar values underpin our ethos today, with a strong focus on character building and conduct, embodied in our school motto “To Grow and To Serve”.
Although the Academy was originally intended as a boys’ school, a girls’ department was opened in 1916 using the mission chapel. The initial experiment was short-lived and the girls’ department closed in 1919 but re-opened ten years later. The boy’s section continued to grow as did the number of buildings on the present site. During the Second World War, the school was temporarily transferred to the village of Lefkara where it was housed in various buildings between 1941 and 1943.
The present school began to take shape in 1954 with the completion of the Weir Hall, with the auditorium added four years later. The original Memorial Hall was pulled down and the New Memorial Hall began to take shape from 1983 onwards.
In 1973 the control of the School, and all its facilities, was handed over to the American Academy Alumni Foundation, since which time it has been run as a non-profit making organisation with charitable status by its own graduates. Governance is undertaken by 11 elected members and two representatives of the original mission church.
Legacy of Excellence
Take a Tour
Centenary Building
Memorial Hall
Sports Centre
Junior School
Weir Hall
Classter
Alumni
History
Committee
Become an Alumni Member
Alumni Subscription Fee
Alumni Stories
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
Annual General Meeting 2025
Annual General Meeting 2024
Annual General Meeting 2023
Annual General Meeting 2022
Annual General Meeting 2021
Annual General Meeting 2020
Donate
Governance
History
MISSION, VISION & VALUES
Board of Directors
People
Health, Safety and Environmental Management System
Christmas Devotional
Easter Devotional
Senior School
Principal’s Welcome Message
Admissions
Year 1 (English)
Year 1 (Greek)
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 6
Admissions Results
2025-26 School Academic Calendar
Academics
Curriculum
Pastoral Support
Academic Counselling
Faculties
Gradstories
Our People
Student Life
Brotherhood Committee
Extra-Curricular Programme
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
Weir Camp
Student Life Stories
ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΣΧΟΛΗ
Newsletters
PTA
Policies
Tuition Fees and Payment Methods
Junior School
Headteacher’s Welcome Message
About The Junior School
History Of The Junior School
Meet the Team
Why Larnaca
Nursery & Pre-School
Facilities
Admissions
Library
ICT
Transition to Senior School
Learning & Teaching
Curriculum Overview
Homework
Early Years
Phase 1 (G1-3)
Phase 2 (G4-6)
Parent Information / PTA
Equipment
School Holidays
PTA
Policies
Tuition Fees and Payment Methods
The Institute
About the Institute
Principal’s Welcome Message
History, Mission & Vision
What We Offer
Our Teachers & Staff
Testimonials
Programmes of Study
Preparation for University Entrance Exams
Support Lessons – All Subjects
AAL Entrance & Placement Exams
Languages
Junior School Afternoon Programme (JSAP)
Προετοιμασια για τις Παγκυπριες Εξετασεις
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (SEN) Assessment Centre
Recreational Activities
Registration & Information
Certificate Online Courses
Payment Methods
Sports Centre
About us
Facilities
Sports Card
Indoor
Tennis Court
Futsal
Photo Gallery
Payment Methods
Summer School
About us
Welcoming Message
Why Choose Us
Facilities
Timetables
Ages 3-5.5
Ages 6-9
Ages 10-14
Admissions
General Information
Registration Forms
Photo Gallery
Payment Methods
Vacancies
Tenders
Visit Our School
Announcements
Online Payments
Bookshop
Calendar
CONNECT
STUDENTS
Webmail
Classter
PARENTS
Classter
History
IT STARTS IN 1908
In 1908, two visionaries began planning what would become the American Academy Larnaca
The American Academy Larnaca is one of the nine oldest schools in Cyprus. It was founded in 1908 by two missionaries of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, Rev. McCarroll and Mrs McCarroll, who had originally arrived on the island in charge of an elementary mission school. The McCarrolls secured permission to open a secondary school for boys and thus the American Academy Larnaca was founded. Within a year the school had 60 students enrolled.
The purpose of the Academy was to provide a Christian education , which encompassed not only academic training, but also a focus on a Christian way of living. Students graduating from the Academy were taught to be tolerant, respectful and to serve the community whilst upholding high ideals and morals. Similar values underpin our ethos today, with a strong focus on character building and conduct, embodied in our school motto “To Grow and To Serve”.
Although the Academy was originally intended as a boys’ school, a girls’ department was opened in 1916 using the mission chapel. The initial experiment was short-lived and the girls’ department closed in 1919 but re-opened ten years later. The boy’s section continued to grow as did the number of buildings on the present site. During the Second World War, the school was temporarily transferred to the village of Lefkara where it was housed in various buildings between 1941 and 1943.
The present school began to take shape in 1954 with the completion of the Weir Hall, with the auditorium added four years later. The original Memorial Hall was pulled down and the New Memorial Hall began to take shape from 1983 onwards.
In 1973 the control of the School, and all its facilities, was handed over to the American Academy Alumni Foundation, since which time it has been run as a non-profit making organisation with charitable status by its own graduates. Governance is undertaken by 11 elected members and two representatives of the original mission church.
Legacy of Excellence
Take a Tour
Centenary Building
Memorial Hall
Sports Centre
Junior School
Weir Hall