Calhoun Academy (Mississippi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calhoun Academy |
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Calhoun Academy in 1984
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| Address | |
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9 County Road 406
, 38916
United States
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| Coordinates | 33°54′52″N 89°19′33″W / 33.914434°N 89.3259218°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1968 |
| Founders | Segregationists |
| NCES School ID | A9303329 |
| Headmaster | Donald Pendergrast |
| Grades | PK-12 |
| Enrollment | 105 (2018) |
| Nickname | Cougars |
| Accreditation | Midsouth Association of Independent Schools |
| Affiliation | Baptist |
| Website | https://www.calhounacademycougars.org |
Calhoun Academy (CA) is a private school in Pittsboro, Mississippi. It was founded in 1968. The school was created during a time when many schools in the United States were changing. These changes were happening to make sure all students, no matter their race, could attend the same schools.
Contents
School History
Why Calhoun Academy Started
In the 1960s, the United States government began to make sure that schools in Mississippi allowed students of all races to learn together. This was called desegregation. Many white parents did not want their children to attend schools with Black children.
Because of this, Calhoun Academy was started in 1968. It was created to offer a separate school for white students. A judge later described Calhoun Academy as a place formed to keep education separate based on race.
Changes to Tax Status
In 1970, Calhoun Academy lost its special tax-exempt status. This happened because the school did not share its rules about who could attend with the IRS. The IRS is the government agency that collects taxes.
Court Case and School Rules
In 1972, the school board in Calhoun County made a new rule. Public school teachers had to send their own children to public schools. Three teachers were fired because their children attended Calhoun Academy.
These teachers went to court. They said their rights were violated. However, a judge named William Keady ruled against them. He said Calhoun Academy was a school that separated students by race. He also said the school board's rule was fair. This rule helped to stop racial separation in schools. Higher courts agreed with this decision.
Later Connections and Changes
In 1999, a group called the Council of Conservative Citizens said they had raised a lot of money for Calhoun Academy. This group supports white supremacist ideas.
By 2011, the school decided to end its connection with this group. This happened after the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools encouraged them to do so. By 2016, Calhoun Academy had received its tax-exempt status back from the IRS.
School Campus
The school campus is located where Highway 9 and Academy Road meet.
Student Population
Student Demographics Over Time
In 2012, all the students at Calhoun Academy were white. In the 2015-2016 school year, there were 155 students, and all of them were white.
By the 2018 school year, the number of students was 105. Of these students, 104 were white, and 1 student was Hispanic.
