False River Academy

False River Academy (commonly False River, or FRA) is a nonsectarian private school located in New Roads, Louisiana in Pointe Coupee Parish. It serves grades Pre-K through 12. The school is independent, and has its own school board. Its enrollment is drawn from Pointe Coupee and surrounding parishes. It is one of only two private schools, and one of the only three high schools currently located in the parish.

It was originally founded as a segregation academy in 1969, but has since become a more diverse school. Its first enrollment of non-white students came in the late 1990s. Its largest makeup of ethnic minority students was in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with its enrollment of larger numbers of students displaced from the New Orleans area.

As of the 2013-2014 school year, the school had an enrollment of 483 students and 29.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 15.6:1. ^[2]

Demographics

As of the 2013-2014 school year, the demographic breakdown of the 483 students enrolled is as follows:^[3]

• Male - 45.1%
• Female - 54.9%
• Native American/Alaskan - 0%
• Asian/Pacific Islander - 0.4%
• Black - 2.5%
• Hispanic - 0.9%
• White - 96.2%
• Multiracial - 0%

The school was ranked #23 out of 47 on niche.com's 2016 "Most Diverse Private High Schools in Louisiana".^[4]

History

False River Academy Campus in 1969

False River Academy was founded in the summer of 1969 as a segregation academy.^[5] The founders were upset by what they believed were the negative effects of desegregation.^[6][7] As a result, the school's student body had an exclusively white racial make-up until the late 1990s.^[7] As part of an effort to increase diversity, the school offers several minority scholarships.^[8]

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 in the 1970s 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.^[9] In 2012, the school became accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).^[10]

Beginning in 2015, the school began offering dual enrollment course for college credit. The dual enrollment course offered include: College Algebra, Trigonometry, Chemistry, English, and Spanish. Credit for the courses can be earned with Louisiana State University or Southeastern Louisiana University.^[11]

Student body

Aerial photo of False River Academy in October 2013

The co-educational student body at False River Academy is currently composed of approximately 4% 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.^[7] 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, then, four high schools of the parish.^[12]

Academics

False River Academy offers courses designed to meet the requirements for high school graduation set forth by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, as well as the requirements for Louisiana's TOPS Opportunity Award college scholarship program. The school offers the following basic high school courses: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Advanced Math/Trigonometry, Math Essentials, Advanced Placement Calculus, Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, World Geography, World History, Western Civilization, United States History, Civics, English I, English II, English III, English IV, Publications I, Publications II, Keyboarding, Computer Business Applications I, Health & Physical Education I-II, Physical Education III-IV, Spanish I, Spanish II, and Study Skills I-IV.

The school is part of a vocational training program where students may take courses at a nearby satellite campus of Baton Rouge Community College for high school credit. In addition, it is also part of a dual enrollment program with Louisiana State University and Southeastern Louisiana University. In this dual enrollment programs, students in grades 11 and 12 may elect to take college level courses that are counted for both high school and college credit simultaneously. The dual enrollment courses currently offered are: Chemistry 101, English 101, English 102, American History 201, Spanish 101, College Algebra 1021, and Trigonometry 1022.

Extracurricular activities

The extracurricular activities offered at False River Academy are varied due to the variety of interests among the school's student body. There are chapters of national organizations, such as the Beta Club, Junior Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and 4-H Club. In addition, the school hosts a Student Council, and Spanish Club. Service organizations such as Key Club coexist alongside clubs which have a primarily social or recreational purpose. The usual range of athletic organizations are there for students to join, in addition to the school's other clubs. Other extracurricular activities include cheerleading and formerly 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:

• Football
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Softball
• Track & Field
• Cross-country
• Volleyball
• Power Lifting
• Cheerleading

In 1989, the school's football team won a State Championship while still a member of the Louisiana Independent School Association (LISA).^[13][14][15] 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 1978, and softball in 1987 and 1989. False River Academy is now a member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association^[16] (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.^[17][18] Since joining the LHSAA, the school has achieved a state championship in cross-country in 1995, as well as Boy's Powerlifting Championships in 1999, 2000, 2010, and 2015.^[19][20] The school's Girl's Powerlifting team achieved State Titles in 2006, 2007, and 2010.^[21]

Football

Photo of play during a False River Academy home football game against Ascension Catholic High School on September 26, 2014.

False River Academy has fielded a football team since the 1980 season. It played as part of the Louisiana Independent School Association (LISA) until 1991. Beginning with the 1991 season, the team has been playing as part of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA). To date, the Gators have made it to post season playoffs 10 times, including 1 state title. Of these playoff appearances, 6 have been since becoming a member of the LHSAA. The FRA Gators currently compete in Class A.

Basketball

Boys

Cross-country

False River Academy has participated in the sport of Cross Country since 1990. The school's team achieved a state championship in this sport in 1995.

Tennis

False River Academy previously fielded a tennis program in the 1970s, but this sport has since been discontinued at the school.

References

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