Hillcrest Christian School
Encyclopedia
Hillcrest Christian School is a private school
founded in 1971, and stands on South Siwell Road, Jackson, Mississippi
, USA. Initially, the current campus was known as Council McCluer which was a separate school opened the same year as Hillcrest.
For much of its early life, the school was located at Sykes Road and Wheatley Drive in south Jackson, and operated as a K-9 school. In 1986 the school purchased the former McCluer Academy property on Siwell Road, where it established a high school and relocated the middle school. The school ultimately moved all operations to that campus and sold the Wheatley property in the late 1990s following the construction of an elementary school building at the Siwell campus.
3 to Grade 12.
95% of the pupils are white and there is a 1:10 student:teacher ratio.
Hillcrest Christian School has also has a variety of clubs and organizations. The Hillcrest National Honor Society is known throughout the Jackson area. In YMCA Youth Legislature, the school has experienced success. Over the past ten years, over 10 students have been named Outstanding Senator and/or Representative. Also, Hillcrest has been represented in positions such as House Floor Leader and Youth Governor.
Taryn Foshee
won the 2003 Miss Clinton pageant while a pupil at Hillcrest Christian School and received a commendation from the Mississippi Legislature
. Subsequently she became the 2006 Miss Mississippi
and then finished 3rd runner-up in Miss America
2007. She is a current student at Mississippi State University.
Heritage Festival
, the band received their second invitation to the Festival of Gold, national competition, held in Boston Symphony Hall. The band first attended the Festival of Gold in April 2005, posting a 4th place finish nationally.
. They also won the Academy AAA Division II State Championship in 2007, beating Magnolia Heights School. Also, under the leadership of Coach Paul Wyczawski, the current pitching and recruiting coach at Murray State University
, the Cougars won several state titles in the 1990s, including three consecutive state AAAA titles from 1996 to 1998.
Since 1989, Hillcrest has had more than 35 student-athletes play in the collegiate ranks.
Several of these athletes include:
In the past 20 years, Hillcrest teams have appeared in the MPSA State championship twelve times, including championships in 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2006, 2007 & 2008.
of Natchez, Mississippi
, and Riverdale Academy of Coushatta, Louisiana, but, after advancing to the championship game, lost a close four-point decision to defending champions Madison-Ridgeland Academy
.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
founded in 1971, and stands on South Siwell Road, Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, USA. Initially, the current campus was known as Council McCluer which was a separate school opened the same year as Hillcrest.
For much of its early life, the school was located at Sykes Road and Wheatley Drive in south Jackson, and operated as a K-9 school. In 1986 the school purchased the former McCluer Academy property on Siwell Road, where it established a high school and relocated the middle school. The school ultimately moved all operations to that campus and sold the Wheatley property in the late 1990s following the construction of an elementary school building at the Siwell campus.
Education
Hillcrest educates pupils in all grades from KindergartenKindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
3 to Grade 12.
95% of the pupils are white and there is a 1:10 student:teacher ratio.
Hillcrest Christian School has also has a variety of clubs and organizations. The Hillcrest National Honor Society is known throughout the Jackson area. In YMCA Youth Legislature, the school has experienced success. Over the past ten years, over 10 students have been named Outstanding Senator and/or Representative. Also, Hillcrest has been represented in positions such as House Floor Leader and Youth Governor.
Alumni
The National High School Baseball Coaches Association 2006 'Slugger Senior State Players of the Year' for Mississippi was Justin Reed from Hillcrest. Reed is Mississippi's first junior Olympics finalist and now plays professionally.Taryn Foshee
Taryn Foshee
Taryn Foshee, a Clinton, Mississippi native, is a beauty queen who won the 2003 Miss Clinton pageant while a pupil at Hillcrest Christian School and received a commendation from the Mississippi Legislature....
won the 2003 Miss Clinton pageant while a pupil at Hillcrest Christian School and received a commendation from the Mississippi Legislature
Mississippi Legislature
The Mississippi Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Mississippi. The bicameral Legislature is composed of the lower Mississippi House of Representatives, with 122 members, and the upper Mississippi Senate, with 52 members. Both Representatives and Senators serve four-year...
. Subsequently she became the 2006 Miss Mississippi
Miss Mississippi
:For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss Mississippi USAMiss Mississippi is a scholarship pageant and a preliminary of Miss America. The contest began in 1934, has been held in Vicksburg since 1958, and provides more money than any other scholarship pageant in the Miss America...
and then finished 3rd runner-up in Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
2007. She is a current student at Mississippi State University.
Other notable alumni
- Stephen HeadStephen HeadStephen A. Head , is an American professional baseball player. An infielder and outfielder, Head played for the minor league teams in the Cleveland Indians organization since 2005....
, minor league first basemen for Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
and winner of Boo Ferris Award, given to Mississippi's top collegiate baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. - Seth SmithSeth SmithGarry Seth Smith is a Major League Baseball corner outfielder for the Colorado Rockies.-Amateur career:...
, outfielder for Colorado RockiesColorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains... - Scott Savage- Former drummer for Multi Platinum, Grammy and Dove award winning band Jars of ClayJars of ClayJars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars...
- Jeff Savage- Recording artist. Grammy-nominated and Dove-award-winning producer and songwriter for such multi-platinum selling groups and artists as TobyMacTobyMacToby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
, dcTalk, Jars of ClayJars of ClayJars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars...
, Natalie ImbrugliaNatalie ImbrugliaNatalie Jane Imbruglia is an Australian singer-songwriter, model and actress. In the early 1990s, Imbruglia was known to audiences as Beth Brennan in the popular Australian soap Neighbours. Three years after leaving the programme, Imbruglia launched a singing career with the international hit,...
, and PlumbPlumbPlumb may refer to:* Plumb, a carpentry term meaning a line which is exactly vertical, or perpendicular to a level horizontal line* Plumb-bob, a type of tool* Plumbing* Plumb, to measure the depth of water with a sounding line...
.
Arts
Hillcrest Christian School has a diverse fine arts program that includes Symphonic and Marching Band, Praise Band, Choral Music, 2-D Art and 3-D Art, Drama, and Elementary Drama and Music.Success
The Choral Music and Instrumental Music programs have a history of success at regional and national festivals and competitions. The Hillcrest "One Spirit, One Sound" Marching Band has also been successful, posting all-superior ratings at regional and state marching competitions. Most recently, the band has scored all-superior at the 2006 Pinson Valley Marching Competition and Best Overall at the 2005 West Alabama Marching Festival. In concert band, Hillcrest posts evenly impressive results. Last year, after participating in the 2006 St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
Heritage Festival
Heritage Festival
Heritage Festival refers to one of a number of musical festivals held throughout America where high school-aged musical ensembles are ranked on an international standard. These groups include choirs, bands, and orchestras as well as color guard and majorette competitions...
, the band received their second invitation to the Festival of Gold, national competition, held in Boston Symphony Hall. The band first attended the Festival of Gold in April 2005, posting a 4th place finish nationally.
Athletics
All Hillcrest teams participate in the Mississippi Private School Association's Division AAA. Hillcrest fields teams in football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, track, and cross-country.Baseball
Coached by former Mississippi State standout Shane Kelly, the Cougars won the 2006 MPSA Academy AAA Division I title, beating Jackson AcademyJackson Academy (Mississippi)
Jackson Academy is an independent, co-educational college preparatory school in Jackson, Mississippi. Jackson Academy was founded in 1959 on the basis of teaching children phonetic reading. Today, the campus is thriving with nearly 1450 students in grades K3 through 12...
. They also won the Academy AAA Division II State Championship in 2007, beating Magnolia Heights School. Also, under the leadership of Coach Paul Wyczawski, the current pitching and recruiting coach at Murray State University
Murray State University
Murray State University, located in the city of Murray, Kentucky, is a four-year public university with approximately 10,400 students. The school is Kentucky’s only public university to be listed in the U.S.News & World Report regional university top tier for the past 20 consecutive years...
, the Cougars won several state titles in the 1990s, including three consecutive state AAAA titles from 1996 to 1998.
Since 1989, Hillcrest has had more than 35 student-athletes play in the collegiate ranks.
Several of these athletes include:
- David Hayman: Hillcrest Class of 1992, All-SEC OF, and former professional baseball player.
- Jeremy Dixon: Hillcrest Class of 1993, All-GSC at Delta State University, and former professional.
- Glenn Morris: Hillcrest Class of 1998, former record holder for saves at the University of Mississippi.
- Seth Smith: Hillcrest Class of 2001, Ole Miss graduate, and current Colorado Rockies player.
- Stephen Head: Hillcrest Class of 2002, Ole Miss graduate, and current minor league player for the Cleveland Indians.
- Justin Reed: Hillcrest Class of 2006 and current minor leaguer in the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
organization. - Logan Power: Hillcrest Class of 2005 and former player for the University of Mississippi.
- Cody Satterwhite: Hillcrest Class of 2005 and current professional baseball player.
In the past 20 years, Hillcrest teams have appeared in the MPSA State championship twelve times, including championships in 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2006, 2007 & 2008.
Basketball
Under the coaching direction of Kenny Bizot, the Cougars won the MPSA Overall Championship in the 2000 and 2001 seasons. The Cougars also won the MPSA Overall Championship in the 2003 season under Penn Majors. In February 2007, the Varsity Cougars, led by head coach James Crain, won the MPSA Division II AAA State Basketball Championship. During February 2008, the Cougars failed to defend their Division II crown but won the MPSA AAA State Tournament, defeating Jackson Preparatory School, Jackson Academy, and Pillow Academy. After advancing to the MPSA Overall Tournament, the Cougars defeated Trinity Episcopal Day SchoolTrinity Episcopal Day School
Trinity Episcopal Day School is a private school located in Natchez, Mississippi with students in preschool through twelfth grade. Trinity Episcopal is accredited by the Mississippi State Department of Education, the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, and the Southern Association of...
of Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
, and Riverdale Academy of Coushatta, Louisiana, but, after advancing to the championship game, lost a close four-point decision to defending champions Madison-Ridgeland Academy
Madison-Ridgeland Academy
Madison-Ridgeland Academy is a private, co-educational college preparatory school, located off Old Canton Road in Madison, Mississippi, U.S.A.. MRA offers educational opportunities for students from K-3 through 12th grade. Greg Self is the current principal and Tommy Thompson is the current...
.