About Our School 

McFerran Preparatory Academy was named for John B. McFerran, a civic leader and local meatpacker with a strong interest in public education in both urban and rural settings. The original site of McFerran Elementary was 1515 Cypress Street. The school opened in 1915 and received an addition in 1955. The school moved to the remodeled building of Detrick Vocational School in 1996 and became McFerran Preparatory Academy. The campus retained the Detrick name. The Cypress Street site was sold in 1996. The old school, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, became the H. Temple Spears assisted living residence. 

McFerran Early Childhood Center is located on the back side of McFerran Preparatory Academy and focuses on the education of students ages 3 to 5 years old who are low income and/or have a diagnosed disability. McFerran Early Childhood students work toward the following: 

• Academic achievement in the basic skill areas

• A sense of pride and self-worth among our students

• Appropriate behavior

• Family involvement 

• Student recognition for academic achievement, leadership, and behavior

Our Vision: To cultivate classrooms of excellence, empower families, prepare students for kindergarten, and improve our community.  

Our Mission: At McFerran Early Childhood Center, we will empower the whole child through inclusive, authentic, and play-based learning experiences within a safe, positive environment while actively involving our families and community. 

McFerran Preparatory Academy does have a uniform policy however preschool students do not wear uniforms. Please follow the guidelines below when picking out clothing for your preschool student. 

• Shirts- Shirts must be age appropriate for preschoolers, no halter tops or crop tops are allowed.

• Shorts- Shorts must be at least fingertip length.

• Skirts/Dresses- Skirts/Dresses must be at least fingertip length. We highly recommend students who wear skirts or dresses to school wear shorts or leggings underneath them.

• Shoes – Shoes should be comfortable and have a closed toe and heel.  Gym shoes are recommended every day and are required for participation in gross motor/physical education (PE) activities.  Shoes without a back, such as flip-flops, clogs, Crocs, sandals, and mules, are unacceptable.   Platform shoes, high heels, and skate shoes are also unacceptable.

• Jackets/Coats:  Students should always dress according to the severity of the weather.  Jackets and coats will be worn while students are outside.  Only sweaters and sweatshirts are encouraged inside during cooler weather. 

• Rompers and Overalls- Are permitted as long as it does not interfere with toileting. Your child must be able to take them off and put them on by themselves. 

•  No students are allowed to be excluded from Gross Motor activities in an effort to prevent damage to clothing or shoes. 

I am in need of clothing for my child, how do I get help? You can do any of the following:

1. Complete the clothing request form at school registration. 

2. Tell your student's teacher 

3. Call the Family Resource Coordinator, Rebecca Johns, at 502-977-8214 Monday-Friday 8:30am-3:30pm