Blessed Sacrament Huguenot is a private

Private school

Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...

, Roman Catholic pre-K through 12th grade school in Powhatan, Virginia

Powhatan, Virginia

Powhatan is an unincorporated community in and the county seat of Powhatan County, Virginia, United States. Powhatan was initially known as Scottville for a brief time, and historically has also been known as Powhatan Court House and Powhatan Courthouse...

. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond

Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond is an ecclesiastical and episcopal see or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Its current territory was created by Pope Paul VI and encompasses all of central and southern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the eastern shore...

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Background

Huguenot Academy was founded in Powhatan, Virginia in 1959 as a segregation academy. It was originally housed in the basement of a local bank, but expanded when local business leaders donated land and resources. By 1970, enrollment in grades kindergarten through twelve approached 500. Huguenot Academy was known as a reputable academic institution well into the late 1980s, with enrollment approaching 750 at its peak. But the 1990s brought difficulties for the school. The Powhatan County public school system grew more healthy and Huguenot Academy found it difficult to retain students and teachers.

Small local Catholic school Blessed Sacrament High School, struggling with space issues on rented land, purchased Huguenot Academy in 1998, blending the already-built facilities and infrastructure of Huguenot Academy with the financial resources of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond

Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond is an ecclesiastical and episcopal see or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Its current territory was created by Pope Paul VI and encompasses all of central and southern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the eastern shore...

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Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Catholic School enrolls approximately 500 students each year.