Marshall Academy

Marshall Academy is a private school in Holly Springs, Mississippi that opened in 1968. The school's teams compete as the Patriots and Lady Patriots.[1]

History

In 1965, Marsall Academy was the first private school in Mississippi to receive a charter according to the school's website. It opened in 1968 with 150 students in grades 1 through 8 in temporary facilities leased from the First Baptist, First Methodist, and Christ Episcopal Churches. High School, a pre-school, and kindergarten were added in 1969.[2]

Marshall Academy opened in the 1960s during the era of desegregation when many segregation academy schools opened catering to families that opposed integration and did not want their children to go to school with African Americans. The school is now open to "students desiring a college preparatory education of any race, color, creed, religion, gender, or ethnic origin" and does not disciminate according to the school's website.

The school's website says it is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS).

Sports

In 1969 it joined The Northern Division of an athletic conference with Fayette Academy of Somerville, Tennessee, Tunica Institute of Learning of Tunica, Mississippi, Kirk Academy of Grenada, Mississippi, Bayou Academy of Skene, and Pillow Academy in Leflore County, Mississippi.[3]

In 2017 the school's softball team coached by Carlton Gibson became Class AA state champions. The team also won state championships in 2007 and 2008.[1][4] In 2017 the school's football team competed in the Southeastern Commission of Independent Schools Kickoff Classic in Montgomery Alabama.[5] In 2017 alumnus Traci Rodgers became coach of the Lady Patriots basketball team.[6]

In 2018 a volunteer assistant softball coach at the school was arrested for an assault on a child in his family.[7] Bruce Branch was named the school's head baseball coach in 2018.[8] A fourth grader from the school won a state spelling bee that ended in a two-way tie.[9]

Alumni

Fox News reporter Shepard Smith went to Marshall Academy and graduated in the class of 1982.[10] In a 2005 interview he said his class was the largest in the school's history when he graduated with about 60 others.[11] After high school he moved to Florida with his mom before returning to Mississippi to study journalism at the University of Mississippi.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "State champions!". 11 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "History". marshallacademy.com.
  3. ↑ "Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress - Google Books". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  4. ↑ "State championship rings for Lady Patriots". 31 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "MA opening season in Montgomery". 21 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Rodgers new MA girls coach". 12 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "Marshall County softball coach charged with molesting family member". 1 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "Branch new MA baseball coach". 23 May 2018.
  9. ↑ "State champion speller". 28 February 2018.
  10. ↑ "Here's the good news: Fox anchor Shepard Smith talks about his home state, Mississippi". www.lareecarucker.com.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ John, Warren St. "News Reports For Ultra-Short Attentions".
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