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A lot of people think its just a Paragould school, Gates said. Northeast Arkansas is pretty well represented.

He added that the school provides bus routes to pick up students in Paragould, Jonesboro and Walnut Ridge.

Bible backbone

The Bible has been the backbone of Crowleys Ridge Academy.

We are a Christian school first, Gates said. We draw them in with what we stand for our Christian values.

Crowleys Ridge Academy is administered by members of the churches of Christ, but its students represent various denominations including Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecost, Catholic, Methodist, Christian, Church of God, Seventh-day Adventist, Apostolic Full Gospel and Trinity.

Biblical principles are incorporated in all subject areas. Daily chapel and the positive learning environment gives students at CRA a strong academic and Christian foundation.

It was this foundation that brought Mary Smith and her family back to Paragould.

We wanted to come back here. We knew our kids would get a good education here, said Smith, who is a 1975 CRA graduate and now works at the school.

Gates said many of the students represent the second and third generations to attend the school. He added that many CRA graduates return to the school to either work or teach.

Kathy Rowe, kindergarten teacher, graduated from CRA in 1976.

You take a little bit more pride in the school, she said, adding that her children also graduated from CRA.

Facilities

When it started this was just a cotton field, Gates said. We started with one building its a building were still using.

The original elementary building was completed in 1953 at a cost of $10,000. A shop and music building and gymnasium were added in 1956.

A home economics cottage was constructed in May 1957. It was built in a day. It wasnt completed in a day, but the walls, rafters and roof were put up in one day. A TV station from Memphis covered it. In the 1950s that was a big deal, said Jearl Howard, the schools first basketball coach who now serves as chorus director.

The elementary building housed all CRA students until the fall of 1960, when the high school building was completed. Faculty apartments and the old gym was replaced during the 60s.

The next decade brought the completion of the multipurpose building, which houses the library, offices, classrooms and the Emmett Smith Auditorium, which is named after the schools founder.

More recent additions to the campus include a new gymnasium, which was completed in 1999, and the cafeteria was extended in 2001.

Gates said that CRA is one of the few unit schools in the area the bulk of its facilities are connected so students dont have to go outside to get to the different classrooms.

Academic excellence

Crowleys Ridge Academy was the first and one of only three private schools in Arkansas to have both the elementary and high schools accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvements. It is also accredited by the Arkansas Non-public School Accrediting Association and the National Christian School Association.

Smart Core Curriculum and numerous advanced courses are offered to help students prepare for college. Students can earn up to 21 hours of college credit before graduating.

Gates said 99 percent of CRA graduates go on to further their education at colleges or universities. Last school year CRA graduates earned a total of $534,631 in scholarships.

He added CRA students regularly score above state and national averages on the ACT and other achievement tests.

Gates credits the students success to the schools dedicated faculty and staff. The student-teacher ratio at CRA is 13-to-1.

Sports

Crowleys Ridge Academy offers a number of sporting activities for all of its students. Basketball, golf, track, soccer, baseball, cross country, volleyball, softball, baseball and tennis are among the sports offered at CRA. In 2010 the schools volleyball team won the state championship.

Eighty-five percent of our students participate in sports, Gates said.

In addition to sports, the school offers other activities for students. KIDS, an improvisational drama group, performs for area school children. Horizons is a group that performs contemporary songs. It presents two performances a year, as well as performs for area nursing homes and other senior organizations.

Other activities available to the students include Future Business Leaders of America, the ECHO (Every One Can Help Out) Club and the Builders Club, which is a student program of the Exchange club.

The students have a great spirit for serving and for helping others, said Mack Ramsey, high school principal.

In addition to strong academics and Christian-based foundation, Crowleys Ridge Academy provides a family-like atmosphere for both its students and faculty and staff.

The whole spiritual, social and educational experience has been something that Ive loved, Ramsey said.

Every one deeply cares about each other. Theres a closeness. We just get to know each other on a personal level, and the administration is easy to work with. … Its just like a family. We are a family, Howe said.

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