Lee Academy (South Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lee Academy |
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| Address | |
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630 Cousar Street
, South Carolina
29010
United States
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| Coordinates | 34°13′25″N 80°13′50″W / 34.2234882°N 80.2306271°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private school |
| Established | 1965 |
| NCES School ID | 01265066 |
| Head of school | Brad Bochette |
| Teaching staff | 24.8 (on a FTE basis) |
| Grades | PK–12 |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Enrollment | 283 (2017–2018, excluding PK) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 11.4 |
| Nickname | Cavaliers |
Lee Academy is a private school located in Bishopville, South Carolina, United States. It teaches both boys and girls, from pre-kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. The school first opened its doors in 1965. It was originally known as Robert E. Lee Academy.
Contents
School History
How Lee Academy Started
Before 1965, schools in South Carolina were separated by race. White students went to one school, and Black students went to another. For example, in Bishopville, white students attended Bishopville High School. Black students went to Dennis High School, which was just a few blocks away.
In 1965, the United States government made a rule. It said that public schools in South Carolina had to allow students of all races to learn together. This was called school integration.
The Founding of the School
After this rule, some white parents started new private schools. They wanted their children to continue going to schools that were mostly white. These schools were sometimes called "segregation academies." Robert E. Lee Academy was one of these schools. It was named after Robert E. Lee, a general from the American Civil War.
A person named Tom Turnipseed helped start the SCISA. He said that naming schools after Confederate leaders was a way to show disagreement with integration. Because many white leaders in Bishopville supported Lee Academy, the public schools in Lee County faced challenges. It was harder for them to get enough money to teach their students, who were mostly Black.
Student Population Over Time
In the year 2000, Lee Academy did not have any Black students. At the same time, about 92% of students in the public schools of Lee County were Black. By 2018, Lee Academy had three Black students out of 268 total students.
In the summer of 2020, the school decided to change its name. It became known simply as Lee Academy.
Academics
Learning at Lee Academy
Lee Academy is officially recognized by two important groups. It is accredited by the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA). It also has international accreditation from an organization called Cognia. This means the school meets high standards for education.
Students at Lee Academy can even start earning college credits. They can do this through a program with Central Carolina Technical College.
Athletics
Sports at Lee Academy
Lee Academy has sports teams that compete against other schools. In 2019, the school's baseball team won a big championship. They won the SCISA 2A championship.
