Robert E. Lee Academy


Robert E. Lee Academy is a PK–12th grade private school in Bishopville, South Carolina. The school was founded in 1965 as a segregation academy and is Protestant-affiliated. During the 2015-2016 year, the school enrolled a single black child.

History

Prior to 1965, Bishopville High School served white students, while Black students attended Dennis High School three blocks away. In 1965, the Federal government mandated the integration of public schools in South Carolina. In response, many segregation academies like Robert E. Lee Academy were established by white parents so their children could continue with a segregated education. The school is named after the Confederate general and slaveholder Robert E. Lee. According to Tom Turnipseed, Robert E. Lee academy was part of a pattern of segregation academies established in response to desegregation and named after Confederate leaders.
As of 2000, Robert E. Lee academy did not enroll a single black student. In contrast, 92% of students in Lee County public schools were black. As of 2018, the school had 3 black students out of a total 268. Tunispeed argued that, as a result of the support of Robert E. Lee Academy by Bishopville's white power structure, public schools in Lee county struggled to raise taxes to educate their predominantly black student populations.
As of 2020, the school prohibits Afro style haircuts. The head of school is Maria Watson.

Academics

The academy is accredited by the South Carolina Independent School Association. College credits can be earned at Robert E. Lee Academy through Central Carolina Technical College.

Athletics

Although the school was founded to preserve segregation, the football teams of Robert E. Lee and Lee Central, whose student body is 96% black, meet together for an annual pregame meal, and have for a dozen years.