Columbia Academy (Mississippi) Explained

Columbia Academy
Mottoes:-->
Address:1548 Hwy 98 E
City:Columbia
State:Mississippi
Zipcode:39429
Country:United States
Coordinates:31.2534°N -89.7793°W
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Type:Private school
Religious Affiliation:Christian (no specific denomination)
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Head Of School:Angie Burkett[1]
Teaching Staff:42.9
Grades:PK–12
Gender:Co-educational
Enrollment:460 (2017–2018, excluding PK)
Ratio:10.7
Colors:Orange, white, and royal blue
Nickname:Cougars
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Columbia Academy is private school in Columbia, Mississippi, that was founded as a segregation academy in 1969 to provide white-only education.

History

Columbia Academy was created in September 1969 for white students in grades 1-8 as an alternative to attending public schools with black students.[2] [3] Grades 9-12 were added in January 1970, after a meeting at the Marion County Annex.[4] The first headmaster was Thomas Blakeney.

While the school has a non-discriminatory admissions policy, over 99% of the student body are white.[5] As of 2018, the school had 460 students, 457 of whom were white, and designates itself a Christian school. Of the three non-white students, one was Asian, one was Hispanic, and one was black.

Admissions policy excludes married or pregnant students, and any student who becomes married or pregnant is not allowed to continue.

In 2019 Columbia Academy was one of several segregation academies awarded money by the Mississippi State Legislature through a program for students with disabilities, even though the school does not provide services for those students.[6]

Notable people

Logan Cooke, NFL punter[7]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.cacougars.com/editoruploads/files/Handbooks/2020-2021_Student_Handbook__Final_-_Uploaded_.pdf
  2. News: Batten . James K . Integration comes quietly along the Pearl . 28 March 2021 . Miami Herald . January 7, 1970.
  3. News: 1970-01-15. City, County, Private School Attendance Nears Old Total. 1. Columbian-Progress. 2022-02-09.
  4. News: Columbia Academy to establish high school . 28 March 2021 . Hattiesburg American.
  5. Web site: Admissions - Columbia Academy. 2022-02-09. www.cacougars.com.
  6. News: "Voucher Program Helping Seg Schools Should Go, Education Advocates Say" . February 21, 2019.
  7. Web site: Logan Cooke - Football Recruiting - Player Profiles - ESPN.