False River Academy

False River Academy
Address
201 Major Parkway
New Roads, Louisiana, 70760
United States
Information
Type Private School
Established 1969
Principal Melanie Ezell
Grades Pre-K–12
Enrollment app. 608[1] (2013)
Color(s) Maroon & Gold         
Mascot Gators
Website School website

False River Academy is a nonsectarian private school located in New Roads, Louisiana in Pointe Coupee Parish. It was originally founded as a segregation academy in 1969, but has since become a more diverse school. It is one of only two private schools, and one of the only three high schools currently located in the parish.

History

False River Academy Campus in 1969

False River Academy was founded in the summer of 1969 as a segregation academy.[2] The founders were upset by what they believed were the negative effects of desegregation.[3][4] As a result, the school's student body had an exclusively white racial make-up until the late 1990s.[4] As part of an effort to increase diversity, the school offers several minority scholarships.[5]

When the school was founded it operated out of temporary buildings on the edge of a sugar cane field in New Roads a short distance from False River. The school took its name from this nearby ox-bow lake. Permanent brick buildings and a gymnasium were added as the school grew.

The school is accredited by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), and holds membership in Louisiana Citizens for Educational Freedom.[6] In 2012, the school became accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).[7]

Student body

Aerial photo of False River Academy in October 2013

The co-educational student body at False River Academy is currently composed of 3% ethnic minority students. 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.[4] The school's ethnic make-up is currently 97% white, 1.25% black, 1,25% Hispanic, and 0.5% Asian. According to a 2010 Pointe Coupee Parish Chamber of Commerce Report, which was based on Louisiana Department of Education data, the average composite ACT score for the school was a 21.6. This ranked the school second among the four high schools of the parish.[8]

Extracurriculars

The school has several student body civic, service organizations.[9] These include: Beta Club, Junior Beta Club, Key Club, Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Spanish Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and 4-H Club.

Other extracurricular activities include cheerleading and a dance team known as the Gatorettes.

Journalism students produce and edit a school newspaper, the Gator Gazette, and the school yearbook the Gator Tale.

Athletics

The school competes in the following sports:

In 1989, the school's football team won the State Championship while still a member of the Louisiana Independent School Association (LISA).[10][11] At the time, it competed in District 2 of the AA classification. The school also won a state championship in baseball in 1991, as well as state championships in basketball in 1977, and softball in 1987 and 1989. False River Academy is now a member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association[12] (LHSAA), and has been competing in this league since 1991. It is a Class single 'A' member of the LHSAA and competes in District 5.[13][14] Since joining the LHSAA, the school has achieved a state championship in cross-country in 1995.

References

  1. ↑ False River Academy School in New Roads LA - SchoolDigger.com
  2. ↑ Thomas A. Klingler (2003). If I Could Turn My Tongue Like That: The Creole Language of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Louisiana State University Press. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-8071-2779-7. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "p.97" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Roy, Brent, "False River Academy celebrates 40th anniversary", The Pointe Coupee Banner, September 24, 2009, p. 4
  5. ↑ False River Academy | Where Excellence meets Honor and Tradition
  6. ↑ LA CEC Member Roster 2011-2012
  7. ↑ False River Academy | Where Excellence meets Honor and Tradition
  8. ↑ City of New Roads Community Assessment Report pg. 2
  9. ↑ False River Academy. "Where Excellence meets Honor and Tradition". False River Academy. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  10. ↑ StMaryNow.com | Franklin Banner-Tribune, Morgan City Daily Review | St. Mary Parish, La. - Tregle’s donation offers a trip down memory lane
  11. ↑ http://www.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=5811892753&page_url=//www.banner-tribune.com/view/full_story/15890330/article-Tregle%E2%80%99s-donation-offers-a-trip-down-memory-lane?instance=secondary_stories_left_column&page_last_updated=2011-10-05T21:08:46&firstName=Al&lastName=Tregle
  12. ↑ "LHSAA Member Schools - F". Lhsaaonline.org. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  13. ↑ "Louisiana High School Athletic Association". Lhsaa.org. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  14. ↑ http://www.lhsaa.org/schools/school-directory/false-river

Coordinates: 30°41′18″N 91°27′14″W / 30.68821°N 91.45400°W