История и современность школы Mount de Sales в Мейконе, Джорджия.

Mount de Sales Academy (MDS) is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school in Macon, Georgia. It was originally founded in 1876 by five Sisters of Mercy, an order of nuns, as a boarding school for girls. The school is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah, operating on an independent basis.

In 1871 during the post Civil War Reconstruction era, a group of five Sisters of Mercy from Columbus, Georgia, began a small school known as the Academy of the Sacred Heart Jesus on the corner of 4th and Walnut streets in Macon. In 1876, the mother house of the Sisters relocated from Columbus to Macon. With help from others, the Sisters purchased the former home of Georgia Governor George W. Town for use at the corner of Orange and Columbus streets on Beall's Hill in downtown Macon. On February 28, 1876, the new school was chartered under the name of Mount de Sales in honor of Saint Francis de Sales. When the first graduation exercises were held in 1882, it had expanded to comprise three divisions: primary, preparatory and senior. It educated mostly girls in grades 1 12, housing boarding students from around the southeastern United States and Latin America.

In 1936, Mount de Sales discontinued its primary school. But it continued as a girl's secondary school for boarding and day students until 1959, when the first boys were admitted as day students. Students hail from more than 30 Georgia zip codes and the school hosts dozens of international exchange students.

In 2014, the school's administrators fired Flint Dollar, an openly gay music teacher who planned to marry his longtime male partner, based on the Catholic church's doctrine against same sex marriage. Opposition to the firing came from students and parents. In 2015, both parties reached a confidential legal settlement.

Mount de Sales competes in a number of interscholastic athletics in Class A of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), where it previously was a member from 1961 to 1980. Prior to the 2014 15 school year, it competed for 33 years in the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA). The Cavaliers, as the school's teams are nicknamed, compete at the varsity, junior varsity and C team levels. The school also sponsors cheerleading and a band. Cavalier Fields is home to Mount de Sale's football stadium, soccer fields, a track, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts and practice fields. Most indoor athletics are held at McAuley Hall, the downtown campus gymnasium. The Cavalier Sports Hall of Fame honors athletes, coaches, administrators and supporters who have made significant contributions to the athletic program.