Madison-Ridgeland Academy Explained

Madison-Ridgeland Academy
Motto:Educating the Mind, Body & Spirit
Religious Affiliation:Christianity
Established:1969
Type:Independent
Gender:Coeducational
Affiliations:Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Principal:Greg Self (high school)
Ben Haindel (middle school)
Headmaster:"Termie" Land
Dean:Brent Cofield (high school)
Danny White (middle school)
Enrollment:1,500 (est.)
Grades:K3-12
Address:7601 Old Canton Road
City:Madison
State:Mississippi
Country:United States
District:6A
Pushpin Map:Mississippi
Accreditation:SACS, SAIS, MAIS
Campus:Suburban
Colors:MRA Red, White, Patriot Blue
Athletics:Basketball, Baseball, Football, Golf, Track & Field, Cross Country, Tennis, Soccer, Volleyball, and Archery
Mascot:Patriot
Rival:Jackson Prep, Jackson Academy
Newspaper:The Patriot Recap
Nickname:Patriots

Madison-Ridgeland Academy (MRA, Madison-Ridgeland) is a private, co-educational school in Madison, Mississippi, for students from K-3 through 12th grade. There are 4 divisions; the Kindergarten (K3-K5), the Elementary (1st–5th grade), the Middle School (6th–8th grade), and the High School (9th–12th).

History

MRA was housed in a Madison church for its first year as a school; the following year the school relocated to their first facility on their 25 acre campus.[1]

In 1970, MRA was one of 4 private schools accused by the NAACP of using state provided public funding for textbooks. M. A. Snowden, Executive Secretary of the State Textbook board, stated that Mississippi law requires the loaning of textbooks to all students, whether they attend public or private schools. [2]

In 2019, University of Mississippi chancellor Glenn Boyce was criticized because of his past affiliation with Madison-Ridgeland Academy.[3]

Dress code

The school has a strict dress code that requires uniforms.[4]

Demographics

As of 1986, the school had never enrolled a black student, although it had a nondiscrimination policy and had received several inquiries.[5] As of 2012, 95 percent of the students were white, 2 percent were Asian and 2 percent were black.[6]

In 2019, Nicolas Rowan became the school's first African-American salutatorian.[7]

Athletics

The school's sports programs have won multiple MAIS football championships, the most recent being in 2021. The school nickname is Patriots.[8]

Basketball coach, Richard Duease, was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2024. He is the winningest boys and girls high school coach in Mississippi, and the third winningest active high school basketball coach in the nation. [9]

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History - Madison-Ridgeland Academy | Independent School, Madison, MS.
  2. News: State NAACP hits private school books . Greenwood Commonwealth . September 2, 1970 . 1.
  3. Web site: New chancellor worked at three 'segregation academies' early in his career. 2020-06-16. The Daily Mississippian . October 5, 2009. Daniel . Payne.
  4. News: 2022-2023 Middle & High School Student/Parent Handbook . 25 August 2024 . Middle_High_School_Student_Handbook_2022.
  5. News: September 5, 1986. Hayes. Johnson. Academy Enrolls Black Student for First Time. 1B. Clarion-Ledger.
  6. Web site: Great Schools: Madison-Ridgeland Academy. 2 November 2017.
  7. News: Clark . Patrice . First African-American MRA salutatorian scores millions in scholarships, chooses to attend Naval Academy . 10 November 2019 . May 28, 2019.
  8. Web site: Madison-Ridgeland Academy's defense dominates in MAIS 6A championship win vs. Hartfield Academy .
  9. Web site: RICHARD DUEASE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE .
  10. Web site: Jack Carlisle.
  11. Web site: Official Website of the Atlanta Falcons Football Club.