Natalie Roberson Honored by National Merit

Jackson Academy senior Natalie Roberson has excelled in academics, athletics, service, and leadership. On Thursday, the National Merit Corporation announced that she has been named a Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. 

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JA Student Initiative Supports Early Reading

Education Matters Tutoring executed a fundraising campaign this summer to support an early literacy initiative for infants and young children in underserved areas of Mississippi. Funds raised will primarily benefit the statewide initiative “Talk from the Start.” The campaign’s goal was to provide funds to purchase reading resources for the parents and caretakers of newborns in areas of Mississippi where access to quality educational material is limited.

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Morgan Cheatham and Crystal Gao Named National Merit Semifinalists

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced Wednesday that Jackson Academy seniors Morgan Cheatham and Crystal Gao are semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. “Jackson Academy is thrilled that Morgan and Crystal are being recognized. For many years, they have represented the best of Jackson Academy in the classroom and the greater community,” said Head of Upper School Kyle Nichols. “As long as they have attended JA, these students, their families, and Jackson Academy have partnered to foster their pursuit of excellence.”

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Safety Drills Part of a School’s Routine

At Jackson Academy, the safety of our students, faculty, and staff is at the heart of everything we do. Creating a secure learning environment requires both planning and practice, and our school takes this responsibility seriously. Through a comprehensive approach that blends nationally recognized best practices with the care of our dedicated team, JA ensures that safety is not left to chance.

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Firefighters Share Their Stories with Fourth Graders on 9/11 Anniversary

On the 24th anniversary of September 11, 2001, fourth graders listened as local firefighter and Fire Training Academy leader Barry Burnside described the events of 9/11. Then he and his spouse, fourth-grade teacher Kerri Burnside, connected the students via Google Meet with firefighter Carl Schramm. Schramm was one of the New York firefighters at Ground Zero on the day of 9/11 when the World Trade Center towers collapsed after direct hits by terrorist-flown planes.

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Alpha & Omega Buddies Find Their Match

Jackson Academy’s beloved Alpha & Omega program kicked off another year of meaningful connections this morning as seniors and kindergartners came together for their first meeting. Excitement filled the amphitheater as JA’s oldest students and those just beginning Lower School discovered their special buddy or buddies for the year ahead.

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Understanding Tuition Assistance

University and college officials affirm that Jackson Academy (JA) students are well-prepared for higher education. JA graduates embody the qualities colleges seek, underscoring the value of a JA diploma.

Cost alone should not impede a child’s access to high-quality education like that at JA. The school is committed to an economically diverse student body and offers need-based tuition assistance (TA) for qualifying families determined by the third-party vendor, School and Student Services (SSS).

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Lifting Each Other Up!

The JA Raider football team treated the school’s spirit squads to cookie cake leading up to the MAIS Spirit Competition. The activity was a great way to show appreciation for the hard work of the cheer squads, Accents, and Steppers, who show so much support for sports teams throughout the year.

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Pep Rallies Kick Off Raider Football Season

Last week, Jackson Academy celebrated the start of football season with its first JV and Varsity pep rallies of the year. The JV pep rally featured a camo theme as fans geared up for the matchup against Jackson Prep. Raider spirit squads kept the energy high, and K4 students experienced their very first pep rally.

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