Magnolia Heights School, Senatobia

Magnolia Heights School
"Molding tomorrow's leaders through excellence today"
Location
Senatobia, Mississippi United States
Coordinates	34°36′13″N 89°58′15″W / 34.60361°N 89.97083°WCoordinates: 34°36′13″N 89°58′15″W / 34.60361°N 89.97083°W
Information
Type	Mississippi private school
Established	August 1970
Headmaster	Marvin Lishman
Faculty	48
Number of students	725
Campus	Rural, 32 acres (12.1 hectares)
Color(s)	Cardinal and Navy
Mascot	Chiefs
Website	www.MagnoliaHeights.com

Magnolia Heights School is a college preparatory private school in Senatobia, Mississippi.

The school has always sought to prepare its graduates for college. Over the years, the school has grown to include preschool, primary, and secondary education from 3K–12.

Foundations

Magnolia Heights School was founded by Nat G. Troutt, encouraged by a group of citizens who felt the need for alternative education in the Tate county area. In the school's first session in 1970–71, 233 students attended with the first senior class graduating fifteen students on the front campus of the school. School enrollment fall 2008 was about 740.

In 1978 Magnolia Heights began its kindergarten program. It received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, becoming the first northwest Mississippi private school accredited and one of the first statewide. By 1981 the curriculum had evolved to put more emphasis on preparation for college. A rotating class schedule, a scheme in which the same classes occur at different times of the day, follows the college pattern

Academics

Magnolia Heights is a member of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS), the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The school received and still holds a "AAA" accreditation in elementary and high school from the Mississippi Private School Association Accrediting Commission and the Mississippi State Department of Education. The school grew significantly in the early years of the twentyfirst century due to population growth in the surrounding area.

95% of all Magnolia Heights School graduates attend colleges, and well over 75% receive scholarships, which have averaged over US$20,000.

Athletics

School colors are cardinal, white, and navy, and their mascot is "Chiefs".

The athletic program, including intramural and interscholastic competition, begins with outdoor play in the kindergarten and elementary school and extends to athletic teams on the varsity level. Many students participate in an athletic program. Magnolia Heights is a member of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools which sponsors interscholastic competition between schools on the local and statewide levels. The school competes on a varsity level in football, boys' and girls' basketball, cheerleading, baseball, track, soccer, softball, tennis and golf. During the 2007-2008 school year Magnolia Heights added both girls' and boys' soccer.

The Magnolia Heights varsity football teams have won 13 conference and four state championships. The varsity boys' and girls' basketball teams have won 9 and 12 conference championships respectively. Each of the teams have won an overall state championship. Tennis, golf, boys' cross country, and baseball teams have each won state championships, with the golf team capturing the Overall State championship in 1981. Magnolia Heights won the 1998-99 MPSA Overall State AA All-Sports Award.

Facilities

The Magnolia Heights school has a primary building, middle school and high school wings, technology centers, science labs, gymnasium, kindergarten, a building with music and art rooms, and dining facilities. Sports facilities include a football stadium and practice field, a lighted baseball diamond, girls' softball.

Notable alumni

Cameron Lawrence, former NFL player