History

Briarwood Academy was established in the spring of 1970. The Academy consisted of sixteen classrooms built on twenty acres of land donated by Mrs. Ruby Evans Felt, Mrs. Carwee Davis Grant, and Mrs. Gretchen Davis Mitchell. The school opened in the fall of 1970 with approximately 200 students. Clinton H. Grant was named as the first Headmaster of Briarwood Academy. During the second year a gymnasium was constructed and a Montessori kindergarten was added to the instructional program. During the third year of operation, six additional classrooms were added to take care of the increased enrollment. In May of 1973, Headmaster Clinton Grant passed away. Barry W. Hemphill of Norwood became the second Headmaster and remained in that position for twelve years. He was followed by J. Wesley Ward as Headmaster between 1985-1990. Ron Drummonds followed for the 1990-1991 school year. Dennard Scoggins served the following two years. John T. Hammond became Briarwood’s sixth Headmaster in June 1993. Briarwood Academy is rich in heritage. Its motto, “Committed to Excellence,” expresses the purpose for the Academy, seeking always to provide an environment that enables each student to achieve the greatest scholastic, social, and moral growth.