French Camp Academy, a Christ-centered home and school, exists to serve young people and families for the glory of God.
Located in the lush pine woods of central Mississippi, along the scenic Natchez Trace, we offer a safe, stable home where young people of all kinds can learn and live.
Though their backgrounds are diverse, all of our students trust French Camp Academy to empower them to thrive emotionally, come alive spiritually, stretch academically, grow physically and mature socially.
OUR HISTORY
OUR HISTORY
The Town of French Camp
The town of French Camp dates to about 1810 when Frenchman Louis Lefleur established a trading post and inn on the Natchez Trace, the fabled trade route between Natchez and Nashville. The Choctaw natives and others in the area called it “The Frenchman’s Camp,” later shortened to “French Camp.”
In 1885 a group of Presbyterian missionaries established a school for girls at French Camp – the Mississippi Institute for Girls. Because of its success, a school for boys was started later that year, named French Camp Academy.
In 1915, fire destroyed the girls’ institute, and the schools were combined under the name “French Camp Academy.”
A major change took place in 1950, when French Camp Academy was reorganized under the direction of an interdenominational board of trustees. Since that time, we have grown to accommodate up to 170 boarding students, and provide a quality Christ-centered education and atmosphere.
French Camp Academy today is respected nationwide as an interdenominational Christian boarding school with a rich history of helping young people.
The town and school together form a thriving 900-acre community, 90 miles north of Jackson and 80 miles south of Tupelo. With a population of about 175, the town is home to FCA graduates, as well as current staff and students. The history and progress of FCA and the town of French Camp go hand-in-hand. We are thankful to have a great community to help support and enhance our ministry to young people.
Why FCA?
Many young people need a fresh start to overcome difficulties in their home or school lives.
- He may be struggling in school and need extra help and tutoring
- She may need a set of friends with the same boundaries, consequences and accountability
- He may have lost a parent, feel abandoned and need to relearn trust
- She may need structure not offered in her current school setting
Or you, as parent or guardian, may simply want your child to be in a Christian school, providing a firm foundation for successful living. French Camp Academy provides a unique opportunity to help young people learn in a faith-based setting.
A Transparent Partnership
Because the Lord generously provides French Camp Academy with resources for ministry through individual contributions, we acknowledge our accountability both to Him and to our supporters through organizational best practices (regularly scheduled board meetings, third party audits and reviews, honoring donor wishes and privacy, 990 documents available online, no-debt policy, etc.). To much is given, much is required!
Donor Privacy Policy
French Camp Academy is concerned about your privacy. We will not sell, trade or share a donor's personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations.
The 990 Form is an IRS document that provides the public with financial information about a non-profit organization.
More Information
Board of Trustees
Toxey Hall, III
Dave Fair
Glenn Galey
Tommy Peaster
Brooks Mosley
Sharkey Burke
Scott Castleman
Carey Hauenstein
Chuck McBride
Lee Lampton, Vice Chairman
Hugh Potts, Jr., Chairman
FCA Leadership Team
F. Stewart Edwards, Jr.
President
R. Stephen Ulerich
CFO
Carrie Browning
COO
J. Lance Ragsdale
Vice President of Development
Gary Maze
Director of Operations
Rusty McKnight
Principal
Mike Thompson
Director of Student Life
Alumni
Alumni Scholarship
The annual scholarship fund is a way for anyone who loves young people to make an immediate impact on current French Camp Academy students.
Gifts designated to the annual scholarship fund directly support every aspect of a student's experience on campus, from houseparent and teacher salaries, to library books, to Christianity-based programs and events.
These gifts also enable the academy to accept deserving young boys and girls who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend our Christian school and home.
In truth, each one of our students benefits from contributions made to the annual scholarship fund. This “hidden scholarship” helps keep tuition at a bare minimum.
Alumni Museum
The museum was created by the alumni of French Camp Academy, and was dedicated in 2001. Inside, you’ll discover time-honored French Camp memorabilia and artifacts on display, revealing the history and details of a life long past.
The museum building is a log cabin built around 1855 near Kilmichael, Mississippi, where members of the Allen family lived until the late 1920s. Mr. and Mrs. Homer Sledge of Cleveland, Mississippi, whose mother and aunt grew up in the home, donated it to the academy.
To get a feel for how life used to be, stop by our museum and step back in time.
Museum Volunteers
We have been abundantly blessed by many faithful volunteers since the museum opened its doors. If you would like to be a volunteer greeter at the Alumni Museum, please contact the Welcome Center at 662.547.9464.
Four Star Charity Information
Four Star Charity Information
FCA Receives Four Stars from Premier Charity Evaluator in 2018.
In their most recent evaluations, Charity Navigator awarded French Camp four stars. This means that French Camp exceeds or meets industry standards, and performs as well or better than most charities in its cause.
FCA adheres to good governance and practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities and consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way. Charity Navigator is America's premier charity evaluator. They recognize the fine work of efficient, ethical, and open charities. They closely evaluate a charity's financial health, accountability, and transparency. Charity Navigator evaluates ten times more charities than their nearest competitor.
