Sayre School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sayre School |
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United States
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| Coordinates | 38°02′53″N 84°29′38″W / 38.048°N 84.494°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent,Private |
| Motto | "Make Your Mark." |
| Established | 1854 |
| Head of School | Stephen Manella |
| Enrollment | 610 total (PS-12) |
| Average class size | 14 students |
| Student to teacher ratio | 7:1 |
| Campus | Urban; 10 buildings |
| Athletics | 40 sports teams offered at the Varsity, Junior Varsity and Middle School level (grades 6-12) |
| Mascot | Spartan |
Sayre School is a special kind of school in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. It's an independent and private school, which means it's not run by the government and welcomes both boys and girls. About 610 students go to Sayre School, from kids as young as two years old all the way up to students in their final year of high school (twelfth grade). The school has 68 full-time teachers who help students learn and grow.
Contents
A Look at Sayre School's Past
How Sayre School Began
Sayre School was started by a man named David A. Sayre. He was a silversmith from New Jersey who moved to Lexington and became a very successful banker. In November 1854, David Sayre and his wife Abby decided to open a school. At first, it was a boarding school just for girls. This means the girls lived at the school. He met with important people, including John C. Breckinridge, to officially create the school.
Moving and Growing Over Time
In the fall of 1855, the school moved to its current spot on Limestone Street. It stayed a girls-only boarding school until 1876. Then, boys were allowed to attend, but only as day students in the younger grades. This change happened under the leadership of Major Henry B. McClelland, who was the school's principal for many years.
Later, in 1914, another nearby school joined with Sayre. The school's name changed to Sayre College and Conservatory of Music. Even though times were tough during the Great Depression, Sayre School kept growing. In 1942, it joined with the Hamilton Grammar School and changed its name back to Sayre School. It stopped offering college degrees. You can still see "Sayre College" on the pillars outside the main entrance!
The "New Era" and Modern Changes
In 1947, the high school grades were stopped for a while, and the school rented out its boarding rooms to the University of Kentucky. But in 1961, a new headmaster named Donn D. Hollingsworth brought back the high school. This time is known as the "New Era" for Sayre School. More recently, from 2017 to 2018, the school rebuilt its elementary (lower) school building.
Learning at Sayre School
Sayre School has three main learning sections for students of different ages.
The Lower School Experience
The Lower School is for the youngest students. It includes a preschool program for children aged 2 to 5. It also has Kindergarten through Grade 4. Here, young learners begin their educational journey.
Middle School Adventures
The Middle School is for students in grades 5 through 8. This is where students prepare for high school, learning new subjects and developing important skills.
Upper School: High School Years
The Upper School is like a traditional high school, covering grades 9 through 12. Students here can take advanced classes called Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These courses are like college-level classes. Many Sayre students do very well on AP exams, with 85% of them scoring high enough to earn college credit.
Who Goes to Sayre School?
Since Sayre is no longer a boarding school, most of its students live nearby. They come from Lexington, Kentucky and other counties in Central Kentucky, like Scott, Bourbon, Jessamine, Madison, and Woodford counties. Some students even travel for more than an hour from places like Fleming and Estill counties to attend!
Famous People Who Attended Sayre
Many interesting people have gone to Sayre School. These include:
- William Lipscomb, who won a Nobel Prize for his work in chemistry.
- Laura Clay, an important leader who fought for women's right to vote.
- Katherine Pettit, who helped start schools in rural areas.
- Actor Josh Hopkins.
- Author Byrd Spilman Dewey.
- And actress Ashley Judd.
Sports and Teams at Sayre
The Sayre Spartans
Sayre School's sports teams are known as the Spartans. Their school colors are blue and gold. A cool thing about Sayre's sports is their "no-cut" policy. This means that any student who wants to play on a sports team can join, no matter how good they are.
Football with a Famous Coach
In 2018, Chad Pennington, a former NFL quarterback, became the coach for Sayre's new football team. In his first year, the team had a record of 3 wins and 5 losses. He did even better in 2020, leading the team to an undefeated season with 8 wins and 0 losses!
