McKeel Academy of Technology

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McKeel Academy of Applied Technology
Type	Charter school
Principal	Ms. Andrea Whiteley, Ms. Joyce Powell
Students	roughly 1000
Grades	6–12
Location	Lakeland, Florida, United States
District	Polk County School District
Colors	Green, White, Blue
Mascot	Wildcats
Yearbook	Predator
Website	www.mckeelacademy.com

The McKeel Academy of Technology is a small high and junior high school of roughly 1000 students total in Lakeland, Florida, United States. It is located approximately a half mile southeast of Kathleen High School and cannot be viewed from any major road. Curriculum, in addition to being technologically oriented, stresses career choices for each student, and, particularly seniors. Seniors are required to complete an internship at a location relevant to their hopeful careers to graduate. 150 hours of community service is also required to graduate. The class of 2006-2007 graduated with 107 seniors.

McKeel Academy is a charter school emphasizing workplace preparedness upon graduation with a focus on the use of technology in the classroom. Workplace preparedness is emphasized through a strong and effective disciplinary system, a moderately strict dress code, and required career investigation activities at all grade levels. Technological resources include a full classroom laboratory for each grade level, which is used for developing technological fluence and completing coursework from academic classes. An initiative begun in 2005 has placed Smart Technology Inc. interactive white boards in all classrooms except for computer laboratories. The school network consists of over 200 workstations connected to the Internet via a server cluster.

McKeel serves an academically diverse student body. A quality college-preparatory program including several Advanced Placement offerings is popular, and over 80% of graduates continue to post-secondary education. However, many students use the internship program to proceed to advanced positions in the workforce upon graduation, and there is a well-staffed and successful ESE program.

McKeel Academy is a school of choice; students from anywhere within the county can attend. Entering students are selected through an open enrollment lottery. Students graduating from one of the McKeel Elementary Schools, siblings of current students and children of staff members are given priority.

In 2003, McKeel sponsored the charter and creation of McKeel Elementary academy, housing approximately 340 K-5 students. South McKeel Elementary Academy (approximately 560 K-5 students) opened in 2006. Both elementary schools have been rated as A schools under Florida's school accountability rating system for every year of their operation.