Benton Academy

Benton Academy is an independent, co-educational college preparatory school in Benton, Mississippi (United States). It is a member of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools. It was founded as a segregation academy in 1969,[2] and still did not enroll a single black student as of 2010.[3] The school is located in Yazoo County, Mississippi.

Benton Academy
Address
216 Academy Drive, P.O. Drawer 308

Benton
,
Mississippi
39039
Coordinates32°49′10″N 90°15′24″W
Information
Established1969
NCES School ID00736017[1]
HeadmasterMike Beagle
Teaching staff19.1 (FTE)
GradesPK-12
Enrollment216 (2019–2020)
Student to teacher ratio11.3
NicknameRaiders
AccreditationMississippi Association of Independent Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Websiteschool website

History

Benton Academy was founded in 1969 as a segregation academy in response to the court ordered racial desegregation of public schools. [3] The school opened in January 1970 in the middle of the school year.[4]

In 1977, the NAACP called for the principal of Benton High School to resign since he was perceived to condone segregation by sending his children to Benton Academy.[5][6]

When the school opened in 1969, it enrolled 460 students, but attendance fall to about 210 students in the 1970s and 1980s. In the early 1990s, the headmaster looked forwards to increasing enrollment after the opening of the Yazoo City federal prison.[7]

Demographics

For the 2019–2020 school year, the school enrolled 216 students in grades PK-12, all of whom were white.[8]

Athletics

Benton Academy athletic teams compete in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools league.[9]

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for Benton Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  2. McGee, Meredith (March 21, 2013). James Meredith : warrior and the America that created him. Santa Barbara, California. p. 40. ISBN 9780313397400. OCLC 768800260.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. "Private academies keep students separate and unequal 40 years later – The Hechinger Report". The Hechinger Report. December 13, 2012. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2017. not a single black student attended in 2010
  4. "Private school in Yazoo county reveal schedules". Jackson Clarion-Ledger. January 5, 1970. p. 14.
  5. Flynn, Pat (September 9, 1977). "Boycotters present grievances". Yazoo City Herald. p. 1.
  6. "Boycotting Yazoo Blacks demand firing of Principal". Clarion Ledger. September 10, 1977. p. 5.
  7. Frederick, Gordon (April 29, 1992). "Growth expands horizons for Benton Academy". Yazoo Herald. p. 6E.
  8. "Private school universe survey". Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  9. "Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Home Page". msais.org. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  10. "MSU trio wins SEC, national awards".
  11. Jacome, Michael (October 28, 2009). "Saved By Grace". Jackson Free Press. Retrieved January 24, 2019.



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