George Washington Carver Military Academy (formerly known as George Washington Carver Area High School) is a public 4–year military high school located in the Riverdale area on the far south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1947, The school is operated by the Chicago Public Schools. Carver is named for African-American scientist and educator George Washington Carver. History The school was founded in 1947 by the Chicago Public Schools district as George Washington Carver Area High School, a neighborhood high school. Carver was established to accommodate high school-age residents of the Chicago Housing Authority's Altgeld Gardens Homes public housing complex, which opened in the area west of the school's location in 1944. By the 1997–1998 school year, Chicago Board of Education decided to phase out the school due to poor academic performance and low attendance. In 1998, Chaplain Lt. Colonel Antonio R. Daggett, Sr. of the United States Army was called upon by Chicago Public Schools director Creg E. Williams, Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas and Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley with community support to begin the transition into becoming a military academy by the year 2000. In August 2000, the school opened as Carver Military Academy High School with a class of 250 freshmen. The first graduating class of the military school occurred in June 2004. Col. Antonio R. Daggett, Sr. In establishing a military academy, Col. Daggett founded the second public military high school in the United States, and the first public military high school in the country that was transitioned from an existing general public high school. The initial graduating class of cadets referred to (and then named) the flag hall outside the auditorium " Daggett Domains" as a result of Col. Daggett's decision to display all state flags there. Chaplain Col. Daggett, who at that time was an Army Major in rank and a father of eight children, devoted himself to prayerfully securing community support, and ensuring that the new Military Academy remained for the community, by the community, and through the community. Athletics Carver competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Carver sport teams are nicknamed Challengers. The boys' varsity basketball team won the 1962–1963 IHSA boys basketball championship after being the state runner-up the previous season. Notable alumni Jason Avant – (Class of 2002), football player for NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and