POLICY MANUAL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1. HISTORY
MRA is a K3-12 school established in 1969 for the original purpose of providing the communities of Madison and Ridgeland the opportunity to enroll their children in an independent school offering both academic achievement and character development. The original physical plant of MRA was constructed largely by the patrons themselves, and the Christian spirit of these individuals permeates much of the school's philosophy, which in part states the following: (1) that families should, through orderly procedures, have a voice in their children's destiny; (2) that the parents or legal guardians, not the State, should determine what is best for their children; (3) that achievements obtained through hard labor, determination, and sacrifice are more rewarding and enduring than those which are the results of public benevolence; (4) that it is good to have noble ideas and aspirations and to work to accomplish their realization. The founders, as well as the present leaders of MRA, believe this school should train its students in the techniques of acquiring knowledge by the scientific method and that scientific knowledge should be used in a moral, humane way. The school also emphasized religious principles upon which this nation was founded and thus provided an opportunity for Christian witness for the students, teachers, and parents. Originally housed in a Madison church in 1969, the school grew quickly with forty-seven families enrolling 117 students the first year. The first classes in grades first through ninth met in a Madison church while plans were being made to provide facilities to accommodate the projected enrollment. The campus site was selected and purchased at the intersection of Old Canton Road and St. Augustine Drive. Construction on the 24-acre site began with the present elementary building. In September 1970, kindergarten through ninth grade began meeting in the new facility, and growth necessitated the immediate addition of portable classrooms in January 1971. In 1972 with enrollment at 275, the foundation was poured for the new high school and gymnasium. The tenth grade was added in 1971, the eleventh in 1972, and the twelfth in 1973. MRA graduated its first class of 14 seniors on May 13, 1974. The first middle school building was completed in 1975. In 1982 with enrollment at 579, the Academy added a four-year-old kindergarten program. In May of 1982, the Academy graduated its group of seniors who had enrolled in MRA as five-year-old kindergarten students in 1970. In 1983, construction of the unique log-cabin kindergarten was completed. The facility was necessary due to the rapid growth of the kindergarten program. Additional high school classrooms were added in 1983. In 1997-98, to accommodate demand, MRA added the first K3 classes to its preschool program. Students from these two K3 classes graduated in May 2012—the first students to attend MRA for 15 years.
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