Lee Academy (South Carolina) facts for kids

Lee Academy, formerly known as Robert E. Lee Academy, is a private school in Bishopville, South Carolina. It teaches both boys and girls. The school was started in 1965.

School History

Before 1965, schools in Bishopville were separate. White students went to Bishopville High School. Black students went to Dennis High School. In 1965, the United States government said that public schools in South Carolina must allow all students, no matter their race, to attend together. This was called school integration.

Because of this change, some white parents started new private schools. These schools were created so their children could continue to attend schools that were not integrated. Robert E. Lee Academy was one of these schools. It was named after Robert E. Lee, a general from the American Civil War.

For many years, almost all students at Lee Academy were white. For example, in 2018, only three black students attended the school. This was out of a total of 268 students. Meanwhile, most students in the public schools of Lee County were black.

In the summer of 2020, the school decided to change its name. It became Lee Academy, dropping the "Robert E." part.

What Students Learn

Lee Academy is officially recognized by the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA). It also has international accreditation from Cognia. This means the school meets high standards for education. Students can even earn college credits while still in high school. These credits come through Central Carolina Technical College.

School Sports

Lee Academy has sports teams. In 2019, the school's baseball team won a big championship. They won the SCISA 2A championship.