| False River Academy | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1969 |
| Type | Private School |
| Principal | Kenneth R. LeBeau |
| Students | app. 472 |
| Grades | Pre-K–12 |
| Location | 201 Major Parkway, New Roads, Louisiana, U.S.A. |
| Colors | Maroon & Gold |
| Mascot | Gators |
| Website | [1] |
False River Academy is a private school located in New Roads, Louisiana. It was founded in 1969, and is one of two private schools located in Pointe Coupee Parish.
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False River Academy (also known on its incorporation documents as Pointe Coupee Preparatory Academy) was formed in the summer of 1969. It was established by a number of like-minded parents who joined together to create an institution of learning that they believed would excel in academics and instill moral values and ethics in its students. The group of founding parents were upset by what they believed to be the deterioration of the local neighborhood schools. These founding members asserted the desegregation programs being instituted in the local public schools led to this deterioration.[1][2]. As a result, the school's student body had an exclusively white racial make-up until the late 1990s[2].
When the school was first formed, it operated out of temporary buildings which were set up on the edge of a sugar cane field, a short distance from False River. Permanent brick buildings and a gymnasium were later added as the school grew. The temporary buildings were slowly phased out and torn down, with only about two or three of the original temporary buildings remaining.
The school faculty is made up of approximately 60 teachers who instruct in a wide array of disciplines. Courses include: Physical Science, Mathematics, Reading, Civics, World History, U.S. History, Physics, Science, English, French, Spanish, Geometry, Calculus, Algebra, Advanced Math, Computer Science, Journalism, Western Civilization, World Geography, Louisiana History, American History, ACT Prep, Language Arts, Health & Physical Education, Social Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Typing, and Accounting.
False River Academy maintains a close knit community of alumni and former faculty members that are still involved in the day to day operations of the school. [3]
While the student body at False River Academy is currently composed of only 3% ethnic minority students[4] the students as a whole come from a variety of diverse backgrounds. Besides enrolling students from the local New Roads area, many students from throughout Pointe Coupee Parish and surrounding parishes attend this school. The school enrolls students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. During the 2005 and 2006 school years, the school had an influx of students from Hurricane Katrina destroyed schools in the New Orleans area. During this time frame the school had its largest number of ethnic minority students[2].
False River Academy has a wide array of sports, including football, power lifting, baseball, softball, basketball, cross-country, track, volleyball, dance (Gatorettes), and cheerleading. In 1989, the school's football team won the State Championship while still a member of the Louisiana Independent School Association (LISA). The school also won a state championship in baseball in 1991, as well as a state championship in basketball in 1977. False River Academy is now a member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association[5] (LHSAA), and has been competing in this league since 1991. It is a Class single 'A' member of the LHSAA and competes in District 6.[6]
On September 11, 2009, the school was featured on the Baton Rouge, Louisiana channel 9 television show, 9News This Morning[7]. The episode, which was part of the show's Game Day Series, was filmed on location at the school's pep rally prior to a football game against the Oberlin High School Tigers[8].