St. Andrew’s Rated Mississippi's Best Private School

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is pleased to announce that it has once again been rated the best private school in the state of Mississippi. “St. Andrew's is again both the #1 Best Private K-12 School and Best Private High School in Mississippi, according to the Niche 2020 Best Schools in America rankings,” notes the school. “Thanks to all the teachers, administrators, parents, and especially students who work hard to make this recognition meaningful.” Other Niche rankings for 2020 include Best College Prep Private High School and Best Christian High School in Mississippi.

To create their rankings, Niche makes use of comprehensive datasets combined with real user reviews and outcomes. The result is the generation of detailed rankings that take various aspects of US colleges and schools into account. Niche has a detailed description of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School on their website that describes every facet of the school, from the application process to the yearly cost of tuition to the grades and classes offered.

On their Niche page, the school says, “St. Andrew's Episcopal School is an independent, mission-driven college preparatory day school for students in pre-K3 through 12th grade. St. Andrew's is recognized nationwide for academic excellence, and leads Mississippi in virtually every category of academic achievement. St. Andrew's also has one of the state's most competitive athletic programs, with 6 MHSAA state championship teams and award-winning arts programs. Please visit our website to learn more and to schedule your tour. Come experience first-hand why St. Andrew's is the smart choice for education. We look forward to meeting you.”

With over 70 years’ experience in Mississippi, St. Andrew’s has always been committed to providing graduates with a strong, thorough education that encompasses both academic and social-emotional learning and enables them to be fully functional adults who possess a well-developed moral foundation. The school can trace its origins back to 1947, when the vestry of St. Andrew’s Church voted to use its parish hall to house a school program aimed at grades one through four. The church managed to secure a charter and opened the doors of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Day School to 45 students with Mrs. Adele Franks as its founding headmistress. The years following the school’s founding saw the addition of more grades and the growth of the school’s reputation into what it is today, with the school now offering academic excellence from early childhood to high school and extensive college prep.

Today, St. Andrews welcomes students from a wide variety of ethnic, racial, religious, and financial backgrounds. As the school says, “St. Andrew’s is a close-knit community of students, parents, and teachers of many faiths, cultures, races, and economic backgrounds. Founded in the Episcopal tradition, St. Andrew’s is inclusive and supportive of the beliefs of others. Diversity is celebrated and students are accepting, open to befriending people of many backgrounds.” The school is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and is accredited by both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools.

At St. Andrew’s, students are encouraged to act on their curiosity, catering to all manner of interests and passions. Students have the opportunity to develop their skills, learn more about every subject they are curious about, and shape a clear identity for themselves through the variety of clubs, affinity groups, and leadership opportunities.

The school has a clear vision for both its students and the school itself as an entity. “Just as our Mission Statement expresses why we exist, the Vision Statement expresses where our journey will lead.” The school’s mission is, “To nurture a diverse community in the Episcopal tradition, fostering spiritual growth, moral responsibility, academic excellence, and artistic and athletic pursuits, while preparing for a life of service to our community and the world.” It’s Vision Statement is, “In 2021, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is a beacon of educational innovation, inclusivity, and wellness, empowering generations of Saints to impact the world.” Since 1947, St. Andrew’s has succeeded because it is a community that dares to dream and imagine what is possible.