Our History

Columbia Academy, located on a beautiful 67 acre site in the heart of Columbia, Tennessee, is a school rich in history! Developed in 1888 (the first buildings were built in 1890), the Academy was originally an arsenal for the Spanish-American War. Later it became a rehabilitation center for the Spanish-American War soldiers.

In 1904, by a Congressional Act Columbia Military Academy was created and in 1905 opened as a private military school. It remained an all boys’ boarding school until 1968 when young ladies were allowed to enroll. In 1978 the military status was dropped, and it became Columbia Academy. Private citizens tried to hold it together, but the task was simply too great. The enrollment continued to drop, and the debt continued to increase.

On June 7,1979, the transfer of ownership was moved to a new Board of Directors who accepted the indebtedness and assumed the responsibilities of the daily operations of the Academy. The new Board of Directors was made up of members of the church of Christ. Thus, in September of 1979, the New Columbia Academy opened its doors to 231 students and on May 31, 1980, saw its first graduating class. In 1998, eighteen years later, the indebtedness was paid off. The enrollment has now grown to over 600!

Columbia Academy seeks to:

“Remember the Past and Prepare for the Future.”
“Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you.”
- Deuteronomy 32:7 NKJV

“For inquire, please, of the former age, and consider the things discovered by their fathers.”
- Job 8:8 NKJV