School Profile
Mercy Ships
School Overview
The Mercy Ships Academy is a K-12 accredited school which operates on board Mercy Ships - medical mission ships providing access to free surgeries for people living along the coast of Africa. We serve approximately 50-60 children of crew members onboard the Africa Mercy and up to 100 children of crew onboard the Global Mercy. Our students and staff come from many nationalities. Our school is accredited with the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and Middle States Association (MSA).
School History
Mercy Ships is a unique charity that utilizes ocean-going vessels as hospitals and relief and development tools, partnering with developing nations to make a long-term difference in the lives of the poor and needy.
In 1978, a school (International Christian School) was founded onboard the Anastasis to provide educational services for the children of crew members from over 30 nations that serve together onboard a Mercy Ship. The Anastasis was the first ship to join the Mercy Ships fleet and later followed by the Good Samaritan, Pacific Ruby, Island Mercy and Caribbean Mercy. International Christian Schools were run on the Caribbean Mercy and Anastasis.
Onboard the Africa Mercy schooling is offered for children ranging from Nursery (1 year olds) up to High School (18 year olds). The average number of students each year is approximately fifty, with an average of twelve students in high school. In 2003, the term ‘Academy’ was adopted to refer to the onboard schools for children.
In 2007, the Anastasis retired from service and the crew transferred to the Africa Mercy. The Africa Mercy is able to accommodate 26 families and 70 children. In 2022 Mercy Ships launched our largest hospital ship yet, the Global Mercy, which can accomodate 28 families and 110 children. Mercy Ships Academy began operating at it's second location onboard the Global Mercy.
In the past the Academy has not been governed by any educational authority in the way that a land-based school is under the authority of the state or regional school board. Our high school program provides academic courses to prepare students for college or university entrance. All former students who have desired to attend such institutions have been accepted on the basis of ACT/SAT scores, our graduation diploma, and school reports.
During the late 1990’s, we began to recognize the need for international recognition and accountability in the school. The Co-founder of Mercy Ships, Deyon Stephens, and the school Principal at the time, Brian Blackburn, decided to seek accreditation through an internationally recognized accreditation body. The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) was selected as the best accreditation body with whom to partner and in January 2007 this process began. As of 2011, Mercy Ships Academy received dual accreditation through both the Association of Christian Schools International, as well as Middle States Association.
Since 2009 , the Mercy Ships Academy has intentionally sought to adopt an internationally focused curriculum meeting the needs of our families as they volunteer with Mercy Ships. In 2011 ,the Academy became accredited as an international school by the Association of Chrisitan Schools International (ACSI) and Middle States Association.
Benefits
Travel the world and work with 400 volunteers from over 35 nations on a hospital ship which offers life-changing surgery to the world's forgotten poor.
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