The academy was one of many such schools which lost tax-exempt status in the early 1970s because of racially discriminatory admissions policies. During the 1980s enrollment began to decrease. After briefly losing its tax-exempt status again in 1985 it finally regained it June 1987. In 1988, The school enrolled three African-American students out of 300, and in 1989 one. Headmaster Don Deaton told the "Richmond Times-Dispatch" that "We would like to have more African-American students but it's hard to attract them." The early 1990s saw a reversal of fortune for the school. Enrollment began a steady increase and more programs began to be offered to the growing student body. Enrollment now stands at approximately 650 students, the most ever enrolled at the Academy.