About

In the early 1900s, a group of community-minded gentlemen gathered to discuss the construction and creation of a “graded” school system in the City of Bardstown. While building a new structure to house the new graded school may seem like a logical move for a community in our modern day thinking, at the time it was quite a risk. Most schools were one and two room school houses in the area and considering that the proposed school building would be valued at half as much as all the other school buildings in Nelson County, this plan could have been construed as irrational.

For many local citizens, money was in short supply and, as a whole, society had not fully embraced the value of educating all children. We were still at a time in history where the positive impact of education on a community from both a societal and economic standpoint was not fully understood. This original group of community members did not back away from the unknown or the potential for failure, they forged ahead with a spirit of optimism,innovation, and determination. As a result, the new school was opened in1908, and so we began our journey, one that would touch the lives of literally thousands of young people.In the research on our district, we have heard numerous inspirational stories, many included in these pages. There have been countless former students and staff who have had wonderful and amazing experiences on our school campus. Each of these individuals has been a part of our remarkable history and serves as the foundation for our rich Bardstown tradition.

As decades have gone by it is evident that this same spirit is alive and well in our school district today. Bardstown students continue to flourish and excel in both academics and extra-curricular activities. One of our best and most distinctive attributes is that we have been blessed over the years with progressive board of education members, teachers and administrators who have focused on the education of our children and their families as well as the quality of life we enjoy in this great community today.

For those of us who are benefiting from this wonderful gift of tradition we have inherited, we must never forget the awesome responsibility we have to continue to be progressive and innovative just as our forefathers were. To advance our level of success we must be committed to move forward to the unknown, to appreciate diversity, take calculated risks that others would fear, and forge ahead with a spirit of optimism, innovation and determination as we begin this second century of educating our children and preparing our community for the future.