Chief Wilson N. Jones was a Choctaw Chief born in Mississippi, who traveled with his family to Oklahoma over the “Trail of Tears” due to the forced relocation of Native people. He had little formal schooling but believed strongly that education would help his tribe. The Choctaw placed a high priority on education, prioritizing business and English language skills. Another initial purpose of schooling was to teach boys agriculture and mechanical arts, while girls learned household skills like sewing.
While the academy initially was established by the Choctaw Nation in 1891 as a school for Choctaw boys, the closure of a Native American girls’ school (Wheelock Academy) allowed Jones Academy to become co-ed in 1955. With the Indian Self Determination and Education Act (1972) and further legislation, the Choctaw Nation became the first Native American tribe to operate a tribally controlled grant school. Known as a peripheral dormitory school, Jones Academy students are part of the Hartshorne School District. In 2008, the new elementary building was completed for the first through sixth grades, improving the experience for all students at our Native American boarding school.
