Specializing in secondary education since 1970, Jackson Preparatory School (Prep) has produced 486 National Merit semifinalists, including 17 from the class of 2008. Statewide, Prep offers the only Classical Heritage Program. Prep offers courses in East Asian Studies and is one of four schools to be selected for a cum laude chapter. Students consistently win regional and national awards in language, literature, art, mathematics, science, music, and drama. In athletics, Prep teams remain among of the leaders of the conference in overall championships.

Jackson Preparatory School is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory day school enrolling 745 students in grades six through twelve. The school is located on a 74 acre campus east of Jackson and is the largest independent secondary school in the state of Mississippi. The student body is diverse, representing various racial, ethnic, economic, and religious groups. Endowment: >$1,000,000. Total enrollment: 745.

FACULTY
The Prep faculty/staff is comprised of 91 dedicated and experienced professionals, including 50 (55%) who have earned post-graduate degrees. Six faculty members hold Ph.D. degrees. The average class size is 15 students.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
In recent years, Prep students have earned many scholarships and awards including the Presidential Scholars Award, Principal’s Leadership Scholarship, Robert Byrd Scholarship, Intel Talent Search Scholarship, National Merit Corporation Scholarship, Coca-Cola Scholarship, and numerous academic and leadership awards from individual colleges and universities. The Class of 2008 received scholarship offers totaling $7.8 million; 85 percent of the class accepted merit-based scholarships or grants, representing a value of $3.3 million. Prep teams routinely win quiz bowl matches, math and science tournaments, literary contests, mock trial competitions, debate tournaments, and many other academic competitions. Jackson Prep is also one of four schools in Mississippi to have a chapter of the Cum Laude Society, the high school equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa.

STUDENT LIFE
Prep students have many opportunities to develop physically, socially, and emotionally through participation in a variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. The student government association, debate team, student publications, service clubs, academic honorary societies, band, choir, drill team, cheerleading, visual arts classes and exhibits, drama and musical theater productions, and special interest clubs are representative examples of the more than twenty co-curricular activities available to students.

Prep enjoys statewide and regional recognition for its competitive athletic programs. Varsity teams compete in Class AAA of the Mississippi Private School Association. Prep also competes against schools from outside this association and from other states and regions. Prep teams have won championships in football, basketball, baseball, track, cross-country, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and golf. Since 1970, over 170 Prep graduates have participated in collegiate athletics.

FACILITIES
Jackson Prep's 74-acre campus is home to an impressive complex of flexible educational facilities. The Junior High and Senior High buildings each include academic classrooms, science labs, and computer centers with internet-connected workstations. A world language lab is located in the senior high building. The new Guyton Science Center houses six state of the art science classrooms with laboratories and the lyceum, a two hundred seat lecture/meeting facility. Division administrators and counselors are located in both buildings.

The creative heart of the campus is the McRae Fine Arts and Media Center, which houses three art studios, a ceramics studio, band hall, choir room, and art gallery. The McRae Center is also home to the Jesse Howell Library, administrative and development offices, and the office of admission. The second floor houses two sixth grade classrooms and the business and technology offices.

The Fortenberry Auditorium and Gymnasium, along with the J.O. Manning Patriot Center, provide athletic venues, a performing arts complex, dressing rooms, weight rooms, coaches’ offices, and laundry facilities. Prep's outdoor athletic complex includes lighted baseball and softball fields, a lighted football stadium with 400-meter track, a soccer field, eight wheelchair-accessible tennis courts, a cross-country course, and practice fields.

Construction of a multi-functional Dining Commons and outdoor plaza, Patriot Avenue, is expected to be completed for the 2008-09 school year. The building will feature an amphitheater designed to focus on student activity and entertainment, creating a welcoming atmosphere for student fellowship.