Lee Academy is a grade 7-12 private school in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
The school opened in 1970 as a segregation academy. Its initial enrollment was 654 students.
As of 1986, the school had never enrolled a black student. The headmaster, Gene Barbor, told a newspaper that the school "would admit blacks as long as they were cultured or want a college prep background. We wouldn't take any shuckers or jivers."
In 2001, Bob Edward, the former Clarksdale Municipal School District superintendent, recalled that the opening of Lee Academy was "the worst thing that ever happened to our schools." He explained that when the public schools integrated, white families "ran" to private schools.
Many members of the American football team at Coahoma County High School transferred to Lee Academy as integration via court order was about to occur.
As of 2010 92% of the students were white. This differed from Clarksdale High School, where 92% were black.
Video Lee Academy (Mississippi)
See also
- Coahoma Agricultural High School
Maps Lee Academy (Mississippi)
References
External links
- Lee Academy
Source of article : Wikipedia
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