Starkville Academy

Parents are very supportive of school activities, and the work the teachers do. The board and administration are working to help teachers and students, by implemented new programs, such as dual enrollment in college algebra and Fresh comp. New labs and slide projectors help the students and teachers. Most of the students are hard-working, goal-oriented, and self disciplined. Because the number of students in each class ranges from 15-22, teachers help each student more and know each one well. After attending since kindergarten, my child completed Calculus and Spanish 3. My child will be attending college on full academic and athletic scholarships. He or she had excellent opportunities for leadership in the band, drama, and athletics. The faculty are well-qualified, caring, and hard-working role models. Daily, each class says the pledge, has a devotion, and prayer. The same Christian youth leaders meet monthly with the same class from 7th thru 12th grade. All of our international students are doing well in class and extracurricular activities. Graduates are published authors, recognized scientists, and graduates of Notre Dame law school. Pre-k-12th faculty work together.
—Submitted by a parent

We were very disappointed with this SA and pulled our children out because they were not challenged at all. Moreover, we were concerned our kids would be super far behind academically if we were to move again (we moved to Starkville from another state). My kids had more challenging work the year before coming to the Academy, and therefore wasted a year. I supplemented my kids with extra work as the homework they were assigned was memorizing the spelling words they already knew how to spell or read the same no-challenging story 4 nights in a row. You basically choose this school over public schools to keep your kids around other middle class families, to play sports, and to have some religious education...not for the academics. Note there were many nice families and teachers...of course, many Starkville residents are warm and friendly.
—Submitted by a parent

this school has been an outstanding choice for my children. we moved from the starkville public schools because we wanted our children to be in a christian environment. what we did not expect was that the academy's standard of academics was about one full grade higher than the public school. my children were actually quite far behind academically coming from the public school. i have to admit getting them 'caught up' with the academy's standards was a challenge, but a challenge we happily undertook.
—Submitted by a parent

The Academy has just met our expectations for the two years our children have attended. Our children have lived in several other states other than Mississippi and the Academy's curriculem is well below that of other states. My daughter who is in 9th grade is using the same book that she was taught out of in 7th grade in Georgia. The faculty is excellent, however, the dean could be me more involved with communication with parents. Sports involvement is the Academy's strongpoint. The offer several different sports programs for all ages. My overall impression is that the Academy has self generated the impression that they are a great school. If you have attended other schools, you'll understand that they are an average school and not any better than that of a public school in other states. When they are no other options, Starkville Academy will have to do.
—Submitted by a parent

Starkville Academy offers the most outstanding learning opportunities for the children of the Starkville area. This is a safe, Christian environment with the academic success of each student as the central focus.
—Submitted by a parent

Starkville Academy offers students a wide range of academic and extra-curricula activities including classes for gifted students, drama, art, choir, band, AP courses, and sports such as tennis, golf, basketball, football, cheerleading, soccer, and baseball. It is a medium size school so students receive excellent academic supervision which allows special needs to be identitfied and met. Many teachers have master's degrees and surpass the minimum education requirements of the state. The Academy is a Christian school but has no affiliation with any denomination. There is a general acceptance among the faculty of Christian principals and ethics, but the learning atmosphere is tolerant and progressive. Our two daughters have excelled both academically and personally while attending the Academy.
—Submitted by a parent

I think that Starkville Academy is a great school. I think that it is wonderful to go to a school where I can pray and not be punished when thinking about or saying anything about God. The teacher's are also great because they want to get to know you and try to help you as much as possible. I am an athlete at Starkville Academy and i think that we have a wonderful acadmeic program as well.
—Submitted by a student

I feel that the Academy is overall a good school. The curriculum taught puts students on a level playing field with other Mississippi students. The highschool offers AP and honors subjects for most courses. In addition, remedial students can also find courses that fit their level. The teachers are interested in each student as an individual and encourage them to excell in not only the classroom, but also in social and sporting events. As for the religion based aspect, Starkville Academy encourages the moral values that are found in the Bible. I did not feel that at any time Christianity was forced on a student or parents. I was grateful to find a school where prayers can still be said and students are allowed to say 'God' when referring to a supreme being instead of only as a curse word.
—Submitted by a teacher

The Academy really did not live up to our expectations. After sending our child to K and 1st grade, we decided not to continue. Several factors led to this decision. Most importantly, during our child's 1st grade the school went through a sudden shift to become an extremely conservative religious school, which it was not when we enrolled in Kindergarden. Science textbooks are religion-based. I do not recommend anyone's children attend this school.
—Submitted by a parent