Academic Profile
Academic Profile
SCHOOL DESCRIPTION
Starkville Academy is an independent college preparatory school educating students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade twelve. Starkville Academy was established for the purpose of providing Starkville and the surrounding communities with the opportunity to enroll their children in an independent school offering academic achievement, extracurricular programs, and character development in a small environment. Starkville Academy admits students from all ethnic, cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds that support and enhance the mission of Starkville Academy.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Starkville Academy is to provide quality educational programs in a safe, Christian environment that will challenge students to excel academically, physically, socially, spiritually, and culturally.
ACCREDITATION
Starkville Academy is accredited by the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS/AdvancED), and the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS).
GRADUATES
Over the last five years, approximately 99% of Starkville Academy graduates attended post-secondary school, with the remaining 1% having gone to serve in the military. Professionally, Starkville Academy graduates have made positive contributions in the fields of medicine, law, business, engineering, agriculture, and education, to name a few.
GRADING SCALE
The following grading scale is used at Starkville Academy for grades 1 – 12: A = 100-90, B = 89-80, C=79-70, F= Below 70
UNITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION (Total 23) UNITS REQUIRED BEGINNING CLASS OF 2023 (Total 24)
English………………………4 English………………………4
Math…………………………4 Math………………………....4
Science…………………........4 Science……………………....4
Social Studies……………….4 Social Studies……………….4
Computer…………………...1/2 Computer……..……………..1
Foreign Language/Advanced Electives……2 Foreign Language/Advanced Electives…..2
Fine Arts……………………..1 Fine Arts……………………..1
Electives……………………..3 1/2 Electives……………………...4
COLLEGE MATRICULATION OF GRADUATES
The ultimate measure of a quality education is the success of the graduates. Over the past ten years, Starkville Academy seniors have attended numerous institutions, including the following: Auburn University, Belhaven University, Birmingham-Southern College, Florida State University, Louisiana State University, Marshall University, Memphis School of Art, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Mississippi State University, New York University, Savannah College of Art and Design, University of Alabama, University of Georgia, University of Hawaii-Manoa, University of Kansas, University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi, and William Carey University.
ACT AVERAGE OF GRADUATING CLASSES
School Year SA State National
2014-2015 21.9 19.0 21.0
2015-2016 21.6 19.0 20.8
2016-2017 22.4 18.6 21.0
2017-2018 22.6 18.6 20.8
2018-2019 23.3 18.4 20.7
ACT ASPIRE SCORES
Starkville Academy 3rd-8th graders take the ACT Aspire to assess proficiency in the areas of English, Reading, Writing, Science, and Math. The chart below records the cumulative national percentile ranks of our students for the past four years.
School Year National % Rank
2015-2016 70.9
2016-2017 74.2
2017-2018 70.6
2018-2019 73.8
FACULTY PROFILE & FACULTY/STUDENT RATIO, CLASS SIZES
Starkville Academy’s mission statement requires a high priority be placed on maintaining a highly professional and skilled faculty. Currently, Starkville Academy employs 57 full-time teachers and 7 part-time teachers and aides who provide daily instruction and academic guidance for the students. Counseling services for students are directed by a high school/middle school counselor and an elementary counselor. All administrators, teachers, and counselors are certified, and over half of our faculty and administrative staff hold advanced degrees.
The ratio of faculty members to students at Starkville Academy is approximately 11.4:1. The average class size in the elementary is 17.9. The average class size for core curriculum classes in grades 7-12 is approximately 15.
ACADEMIC & EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES
ACT Aspire (Grades 3-8) SA Student Ambassadors Anchor Club
ACT Extreme Engineering Club (Elem.) Crown Club
PSAT Debate Team/Mock Trial MAIS Reading Fair
ASVAB (11th grade) Fellowship of Christian Athletes Elementary & H.S. Choirs
Advanced Placement Exams International Thespian Society Elementary & H.S. Band
MAIS and National Spelling Bees MSU One Act Play Competition Winter/Color Guard Team
National Honor Society Computer Science National Honor Society Science National Honor Society
Quiz Bowl (H.S. and Jr. High) Duke University Talent Identification Program 4-H Club
Student Council (H.S. and Jr. High) Better Together Encouragement Club
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
Third-sixth grade students engage in hands-on STEM explorations and activities using Pitsco Education curriculum. Through a variety of inquiry-based activities and projects, students will explore and enhance their skills in life science, Earth science, physical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
DYSLEXIA THERAPY PROGRAM
The Dyslexia Therapy Program is a research-based class that includes the five components of effective reading instruction identified by the National Reading Panel’s research. This program is for students who have been identified with dyslexia. The core of the program is an Orton-Gillingham approach adapted from Alphabetic Phonics. Therapy will be administered for 45-50 minutes, four days a week by a certified dyslexia therapist in a small class setting of no more than five students.
GIFTED PROGRAM (Discovery)
Students in grades 3–6 who qualify through individual IQ testing for and choose to participate in the Discovery program will receive accelerated/enrichment instruction weekly in addition to regular classroom instruction.
SAIL (Student Assistance in Learning)
Students experiencing academic difficulty (subject average below 75) may be referred to resource for assistance. A certified teacher is on staff to assist students and parents as needed.
TECHNOLOGY
Starkville Academy employs numerous devices and technological opportunities as part of daily academic instruction. All full-time faculty members and 9th-12th grade students are issued a 6th generation iPad with keyboard for everyday use. Additionally, three mobile carts with 25 iPad devices and keyboards are available for classroom use in Grades 5-8. PreK-4th grade rooms have multiple iPads in each that are used for learning centers. Starkville Academy also has three computer labs with 25 computers in each that are utilized by students of all ages. Elementary classrooms have interactive white boards, and all PreK-12 classrooms have multimedia projectors.
COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS
Students at SA are highly encouraged to engage in our community and the world beyond Starkville as agents of “salt and light.” Community service hours are now part of our graduation requirements for students beginning with the Class of 2023. However, all current students are afforded opportunities to get involved with community service projects and organizations at the beginning of each year during our Club and Service Activity Fair. Additionally, students who perform twice the required amount of community service hours are awarded a special cord at graduation.
COURSE OFFERINGS
Starkville Academy’s academic program in the high school is oriented toward a college prep curriculum. Starkville Academy offers numerous courses to provide every student the opportunity to meet the requirements of admission to a major college or university. Included in our course offerings are five dual credit, on-campus classes offered in conjunction with Mississippi University for Women, seven AP classes, and seven honors classes.