Louisville Male High School

Established in 1856, Louisville Male High School in Louisville, Kentucky is the oldest public high school west of the Alleghenies. The school is operated by Jefferson County Public Schools.

Jefferson Seminary was opened in Louisville in 1816. After several changes, in 1856, it split into the University of Louisville and Louisville Male High School. In 1892 Manual High School was also created. Male High School's major focus was on academics and Manual taught manual skills.

A growing, 19th century river city needed a place to prepare its men for leadership, and so in 1861 Male was designated "The University of Public Schools of Louisville". Until 1912, Male granted bachelor's degrees. Originally open to males only, it is now co-educational and has long been considered one of the most prestigious schools in Louisville.

In 1893, the annual Male-Manual football rivalry, the longest running high school football series in the US, began. They also rival Ballard and Trinity High Schools.

Male is a very prestigious school built on traditional values. Its program is a "philosophical" magnet called the Traditional Program. They send 96% of their students to post secondary schools and was selected as a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon award winner twice in the 1990s.

School locations

First site - 1856-1897 - Ninth and Chestnut

This building was the first home of Louisville Male High School on its opening day, April 7, 1856. The school grew to an enrollment of over 200 young men. The first principal was W. H. Harney. He served in this prestigious position from 1856-1857. The most notable principal at this first site was Maurice "Hoss" Kirby. For eleven years, 1886-1897, Kirby dedicated his time and talents to the position of principal. The first two graduates of Male High School in 1859 were Lewis D. Kastenbine (who later became a physician in Louisville) and James S. Pirtle (later became a prominent Louisville judge). The first football game was played in 1893 (Male vs. Manual) with Male beating Manual 14-12. This marked the beginning of what is today the oldest high school rivalry in America.

Second site - 1898-1915 - First Street near Chestnut

Two of this sites' most notable prinicpals are Rueben Post Halleck (1897-1912) and S.B. Tinsley (1912-1915). It was at this location that Male received its first International recognition. At the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missioui, a Gold Medal for excellence was given to only 5 schools in the world. Male was the only high school in America to receive this Medal.

Also at this location, High School Park was established at the later Male Brook & Breckinridge school site. This was the first high school athletic facility in America. It has been in continuous use since 1901.

Third site - 1915-1991 - Corner of Brook Street and Breckinridge Avenue

Male continued to receive many awards of excellence during its tenure at the famed Brook and Breck location. The band and orchestra received state and national championship awards in 1927. The journalism and physics department have received national awards as well as a 1989 American High School of Excellence Award. The gymnasium completed the high school facilities in 1939 with its official title, "Pap Glenn Gymnasium" and the High School Park was renamed Maxwell Field. Notable principals at this location include J.B. Carpenter (1919-1931), W.S. Milburn (1931-1961), Dr. Irvin Rice (1977-1979), and R. Ted Boehm (1979-1992).

Fourth site - 1991-? - 4409 Preston Highway

In August, 1991, Louisville Male High School moved to its current campus at 4409 Preston Highway, an educational facility that doubled the instructional, laboratory, library, and campus space. Since it has move to this location, the school has won two U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon awards.