About Jones Academy

Jones Academy is a Native American residential learning center for elementary and secondary school age children. The facility is located in southeast Oklahoma and houses 190 co-ed students grades 1 through 12.

Established in 1891 by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the school is located on a 540 acre campus five miles northeast of Hartshorne, OK. Initially, the facility was an all boys school. In 1955, Jones Academy became a coed school after Wheelock Academy, a boarding school for girls, closed. In April of 1985, the Choctaw Nation contracted the boarding school operation from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In 1988, Jones Academy became a tribally controlled school.

An elementary school and an alternative school are located on campus. Junior High and High school students are bussed to the Hartshorne Public School in Hartshorne. A new elementary school building is presently under construction.

Jones Academy’s maximum enrollment is 190. In the past, the school has enrolled students from 29 different tribes. Students come from parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, South Dakota, and several other states. Each student is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe. 

The physical layout of the campus includes two dormitory buildings, each divided into elementary and secondary wings. Serving the dormitories are the cafeteria/dining facility, a gymnasium with basketball court and weight room, a counseling center and animal shelters for the award winning swine program that students participate in. The campus also includes a museum, an administration building, and a library/learning center with an underground storm shelter.

Admissions Criteria

A Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood or proof of tribal membership in a federally recognized tribe is required for enrollment at Jones Academy. In addition, the applicant has to provide an up to date immunization record, copy of birth certificate and social security card. The applicant must be eligible for enrollment in the local public school.

Prospective students may contact the Jones Academy office at (888) 767-2518 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. They may request that an application be sent to them or download and print them from the links below. 

School Calendar: 2009/2010

Thanksgiving Break: November 21-November 28

Christmas Break: December 19-January 2

Spring Break: March 13 - March 20

School Ends: May 19