The Heritage School (Newnan, Georgia)


The Heritage School is a PK-12 co-educational private school in Newnan, Georgia, United States. It was established in 1970 as a segregation academy and is a member of the Georgia Independent School Association. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools.

History

In 1970, the school received a tax-exemption based on its non-discriminatory policy. Before opening, the school ran newspaper advertisements informing the community of its non-discriminatory policy, but school leaders conceded that they did not expect any black applicants. The head of the local NAACP charged that the school only made the non-discriminatory pledge so it could retain its tax deduction while knowing no blacks would enroll due to the high tuition.
The IRS decision to grant tax exempt status to the school was investigated by Senate Select Committee on Equal Education Opportunity. Senator Walter Mondale asked IRS commissioner Randolph W. Thrower to explain why the school had been granted tax exempt status in light of reports the school's headmaster told an undercover NAACP investigator that "no black applicants were expected" but the investigator's children could apply if they "had $750 in their ass pocket."
When the school opened in 1970, as a segregation academy, it was not accredited.

Demographics

The demographic breakdown of the 414 K-12 students enrolled for 2015-16 was:
National Center for Education Statistics does not compile demographic information for Pre-K students.
In comparison, the City of Newnan had a white population of 58.9% on the 2010 census.