Founded in 1774 by a group of civic leaders led by a Presbyterian cleric, Newark Academy has always been a unique college preparatory school in that it opened its doors to students from a wide range of backgrounds, offered courses in trades and business skills, and even maintained a division for young women for a time.  Today it continues to uphold its original motto Ad Lumen (Toward Enlightenment), offering a robust educational program to middle and high school co-ed students, grades 6-12, coming from 85 different communities. With a current enrollment of 667, of whom 63 percent are students of color (as defined by the National Association of Independent Schools), Newark Academy was the first school in New Jersey to be authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.  The Academy boasts a rigorous academic program, including AP and the IBDP, complemented by strong offerings in athletics and the arts, service opportunities, and experiential learning, both on and off campus.