SOUTH MCKEEL ACADEMY

www.southmckeel.com/

Charter School 1,200 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 6th

School Overview

South McKeel Academy, located in Lakeland, Florida, is a high-performing public charter school serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Operated under the McKeel Academy of Technology system, the school is known for its "Project-Based Learning" (PBL) instructional model. This approach emphasizes hands-on, collaborative projects that integrate core academic subjects with real-world applications, encouraging students to become critical thinkers and active participants in their own education.

The school places a strong emphasis on fostering a supportive, community-oriented culture often referred to by the campus as the "McKeel family." With a commitment to academic excellence, technology integration, and character development, South McKeel Academy maintains a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare students for success in high school and beyond. Its status as a charter school allows it to implement specialized educational strategies while remaining tuition-free and accessible to the local public.

1,200

Total Students

68.0

Full-Time Teachers

17.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

56.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for SOUTH MCKEEL ACADEMY
Demographic	Student Count
White	744
Hispanic	223
Black	108
Asian	72
Two or More	53

White
744 (62.0 %)
Hispanic
223 (18.6 %)
Black
108 (9.0 %)
Asian
72 (6.0 %)
Two or More
53 (4.4 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	POLK
Phone:	(863)510-0044
Website:	http://www.southmckeel.com/
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 6th
Total Students:	1,200
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	68.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	17.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	607
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	69

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 60

Kindergarten 144

Grade 1 144

Grade 2 162

Grade 3 162

Grade 4 176

Grade 5 176

Grade 6 176

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for SOUTH MCKEEL ACADEMY
Grade	Student Count
Pre-Kindergarten	60
Kindergarten	144
Grade 1	144
Grade 2	162
Grade 3	162
Grade 4	176
Grade 5	176
Grade 6	176

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for SOUTH MCKEEL ACADEMY
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	589	49.1%
Male	611	50.9%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)