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History of French Camp Academy
In 1885, long before public schools, a group of Scotch-Irish Christians established a school at French Camp on the Natchez Trace in Mississippi. In that year, the Presbyterian Church officially opened the Central Mississippi Institute for girls and the French Camp Academy for boys. In 1915, after a fire destroyed the girls' institute, the schools were combined and named French Camp Academy.

The dedicated Christians who founded the school placed highest priority on spiritual growth and character development, and they wisely affirmed the authority and reliability of the Bible as the Word of God. Their commitment-as ours today-was to Christ and His Kingdom.

In 1950, French Camp Academy was reorganized and put under the ownership and operation of an incorporated Board of Trustees representing several denominations.

Today, as an independent boarding school institution, French Camp Academy is interdenominational and seeks to be a shelter for young people who come from broken homes.

Much has changed at French Camp Academy in 120 years, but our commitment remains the same-to create for our students the warm and nourishing environment of a Christian family.

A community within a community

French Camp Academy is a 900-acre community within a community. Approximately 300 young people and adults live and work here. They are directed by a Board of Trustees and supported by many who pray and give regularly.

The Academy is surrounded by the community of French Camp, Mississippi, and the roots reach back to the Natchez, Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians. Steeped in history, this southern community is 90 miles north of Jackson and 80 miles south of Tupelo.

Since 1885, French Camp Academy has been providing a home environment and private Christian school education, as well as the basic necessities of life for those who need it the most...nutritious meals, family-like homes, vocational training, and individual counseling to kids from unstable home environments. FCA is a 900 acre campus including a fully-accredited (9-12) private school, designed to accommodate more than 200 students. Through God's provisions, there is a full athletic complex, dining hall, performing arts center, twelve homes (6 for boys/6 for girls), staff accommodations, 3 barns housing up to 60 horses, an observatory, 100,000 watt radio station, camp and conference center with 30 acre lake, swimming pool, tennis courts, historical cafe', log cabin bed and breakfast program, blacksmith shop, and plenty of caring staff who love to see God work in the lives of young people.