Waccamaw Academy is located on thirty acres of beautiful, natural southeastern North Carolina woodlands in Whiteville, North Carolina. We are an independent, co-educational, non-discriminatory, state approved day school. The Academy offers rewarding and challenging opportunities for students beginning with a pre-school program for four year-olds and up through the twelfth grade.

We began operating as an independent school in September, 1968. The name “Waccamaw” was chosen because of its regional and historical significance referring to the Waccamaw Siouan Indian, Lake Waccamaw, and the Waccamaw River–all in beautiful Columbus County. The school mascot is the “Warrior”. The school colors are green and white. The Academy’s motto, “Prudence, Truth, and Fortitude”, gives direction and encouragement. The three words in the motto may be defined as follows:

Prudence — the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason, skill, and good judgment in the use of resources.
Truth — sincerity in action, character, speech, honesty; true, trustworthy, accurate, and correct.


Strength, courage, strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.

Waccamaw Academy strives to encourage mastery and requires competency in the basic skills of oral and written communication, reading, mathematics, and creative thinking. Our small school environment encourages parental, faculty, and community involvement demonstrating a sense of home and the family. Waccamaw Academy believes in a positive approach to learning in a disciplined, yet friendly atmosphere that encourages creative thinking, development of self-esteem, and nurturance of potentials. Moreover, Waccamaw Academy is committed to the well being of each student physically, socially, and emotionally through a program that promotes physical activity, encourages respect for others, and provides oportunities for healthy social growth and maturity. Our school is open to all students without discrimination as to race, color, creed, or national origin.

Waccamaw Academy's Board of Directors announced Thursday, March 1st the end of a 43 year tradition. The current economic situation, continued decline of student enrollment over the years, and lack of financial support have all contributed to the Board's decision to close the school.

The Board has worked diligently over the past few years to attract new students and keep its doors open by offering reduced tuition, seeking advice from consultants, pursuing a charter, reducing staff salaries, and cutting teaching positions. While the 2011/12 school year started with more students than the previous school year, all attempts at survival have failed.

In an effort to provide Columbus County with an educational alternative, the Waccamaw Academy Board reached out to Columbus Christian Academy as an option. While CCA has also struggled with enrollment in recent years, it currently has financial support that Waccamaw Academy no longer has. The Board feels that CCA's purchase will provide that opportunity for parents to continue to have a choice in education for their children.

The Waccamaw Academy Board of Directors wishes to thank its dedicated teachers and staff for unselfishly giving their time, talent, energy, love and money to benefit our children. We realize that these teachers have remained with us for the love of teaching and certainly not for financial gain.

The Board of Directors is very disheartened by the closing of the school yet remains optimistic about the future of educational choices for Columbus County. As the school year comes to an end, so will a tradition. Even though Waccamaw Academy itself will come to an end, Warrior Pride will forever remain.

Once a Warrior, always a Warrior.