Hillcrest Christian School

Hillcrest Christian School
Hillcrest Christian School
Address
	Hillcrest Christian School
	4060 South Siwell Road; Jackson, Mississippi; United States
Coordinates	32.2430314°N 90.30023349°W
Information
Type	Private Christian school
Established	1970
Grades	K3 through 12
Gender	Coeducational
Enrollment	391
Campus	Urban
Color(s)	Royal blue, white, gray, and black
Mascot	Cougars
Yearbook	The Cougar
Affiliations	Southern Association of Independent Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Mississippi Private School Association
Website	Official site

Hillcrest Christian School is a private Christian school in Jackson, Mississippi, United States. The school traces its history to a segregation academy founded by the White Citizens Council.[1]

History

Hillcrest Christian school was originally founded as a segregation academy by the Whites Citizens Council.

Racial segregation

Hillcrest was established in 1970 as a segregation academy in response to the court-ordered integration of public schools.[1]

In 1985, W.J Simmons, chair of the state White Citizens Council, discussed the history of the school with Clarion-Ledger. Simons acknowledged that "Race was a motivating factor in the early days." Simmons also stated "admitting blacks lowers educational standards. Racial mixing is wrong when it's forced. And if it's not forced, it's not likely to occur."[2] In the same article, headmaster Gary McGee said that he didn't know if the Hillcrest Christian school would admit black students and that if a black student applied for entrance, the matter would need to be discussed by the school's trustees.[2]

Campus

The current campus was originally known as Council McCluer, which was a separate school opened the same year as Hillcrest. Council McCluer was part of a system of twelve schools in Jackson founded and run by the Citizens' Council of Jackson.

For much of its early life, the school was located at Sykes Road and Wheatley Drive in south Jackson, and operated as a K-9 school. In 1985 the school merged with the McCluer Academy, another segregation academy.[3] The combined school used the former McCluer Academy campus on Siwell Road for the high school and middle school. The school ultimately moved all operations to that campus and sold the Wheatley property in the late 1990s following the construction of an elementary school building at the Siwell campus.

Education

Hillcrest educates pupils from kindergarten 3 to grade 12.[4]

Hillcrest Christian School has a variety of clubs and organizations. The Hillcrest National Honor Society is known throughout the Jackson area. In YMCA Youth Legislature, the school has experienced success. Over ten students have been named Outstanding Senator and/or Representative. Hillcrest has also been represented in positions such as House Floor Leader and Youth Governor.

Notable alumni

Phil Bryant - Governor of Mississippi, withdrew from McCluer Academy before graduating.[5]
Taryn Foshee - won the 2003 Miss Clinton pageant while a pupil at Hillcrest Christian School and received a commendation from the Mississippi Legislature;[6] 2006 Miss Mississippi; 3rd runner-up in Miss America 2007[7]
Stephen Head - minor league first basemen for Cleveland Indians and winner of Boo Ferris Award, given to Mississippi's top collegiate baseball player
Carlos Moncrief - outfielder for San Francisco Giants
Scott Savage - former drummer for multi-platinum, Grammy- and Dove Award-winning band Jars of Clay
Seth Smith - outfielder for Oakland Athletics

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References

McGee, Meredith Coleman (2013-03-21). James Meredith: Warrior and the America that Created Him. ABC-CLIO. p. 40. ISBN 9780313397400.
Jones, Keven (April 28, 1985). "A Changing of the Guard". Clarion-Ledger. p. 1. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
Kanengiser, Andy (December 10, 1985). "Desegregation Helps them Cope Now". Clarion Ledger.
Hillcrest Christian School, Official site
Luckett, Robert. "From Council Schools to Today's Fight for Public Ed". www.jacksonfreepress.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
"Senate Concurrent Resolution 573", Mississippi Legislature, 2003.
Chris Joyner, "Miss Mississippi makes it to top 5 in Miss America pageant", Hattiesburg American, February 15, 2007.

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[McGee-1] McGee, Meredith Coleman (2013-03-21). James Meredith: Warrior and the America that Created Him. ABC-CLIO. p. 40. ISBN 9780313397400.

[cl85-2] Jones, Keven (April 28, 1985). "A Changing of the Guard". Clarion-Ledger. p. 1. Retrieved 2017-10-24.

[3] Kanengiser, Andy (December 10, 1985). "Desegregation Helps them Cope Now". Clarion Ledger.

[4] Hillcrest Christian School, Official site

[5] Luckett, Robert. "From Council Schools to Today's Fight for Public Ed". www.jacksonfreepress.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.

[6] "Senate Concurrent Resolution 573", Mississippi Legislature, 2003.

[7] Chris Joyner, "Miss Mississippi makes it to top 5 in Miss America pageant", Hattiesburg American, February 15, 2007.