Type Public Secondary Established 1968 Grades 9–12 Number of students 1,993 | Motto Home of Champions Principal Staci Eddleman Phone +1 502-485-8206 Founded 1968 | |
District Jefferson County Public Schools Similar Waggener Traditional High Sch, Trinity High School Marshall, Jefferson County Public Sc, duPont Manual High Sch, Saint Xavier High Sch Profiles | ||
Ballard High School is a senior high school in the eastern suburbs of Louisville, Kentucky. The school opened in the fall of 1968. The first students were in grades 7-9, and a grade was added each year as the building was expanded. This kept the school system from having to transfer upper class students from other high schools. The first class (consisting of the original freshmen) graduated in 1972. From its founding until the mid-1980s the principal was Patrick Crawford. Sandy Allen served from the mid-1980s to the 2003-2004 school year. The principal from 2004 through 2013 was Jim Jury. The school offers grades 9-12.
Contents
- Campus
- Choir band orchestra and speech
- Athletics
- Football
- Basketball
- Boys Lacrosse
- Fight song
- Notable alumni
- References
Ballard offers the JCPS Advanced Program, a program designed to provide accelerated instruction for academically gifted and talented students. The school also offers over 20 Advanced Placement(AP) courses. Ballard consistently scores above the national average on the ACT and SAT exams, and boasts the highest KCCT("CATS") test scores in Jefferson County of non-selective schools. Ballard offers a variety of foreign languages including French, Japanese, Latin and Spanish as well as a world travel program, which allows students the opportunity to travel to Europe each year. Ballard continues to rank 2nd in the district and top 10 in the state for National Merit Scholars. Ballard High School was the first Jefferson County public high school recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an exemplary school.
Ballard was the first Jefferson County public high school recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. The quiz bowl team also won the Panasonic Academic Challenge in 1990. In 1984 Sherleen S. Sisney, a teacher of History, Economics, and Political Science, won the National Teacher of the Year award.
Campus
The campus at Ballard High School consists of the main school building as well as the fine arts building. The main building is referred to by students and faculty as four separate buildings (North, South, East, and West), although all four sections are connected to each other by overhead walkways. The South and North buildings house the majority of the classrooms at Ballard High School as well as the North and South offices. The West building's first floor is the home of Ballard's famed art department and the 2nd floor houses the Library. The East building's 1st floor contains the three cafeterias, the Ballard Bank, and the Ballard Student Guidance Center (College Counselor.) The East building second floor is the home of Ballard's award-winning Music department as well as both the large and small gymnasiums.
The Sandy Allen Fine Arts Center is a performing arts facility on the Ballard High School campus. The 22,500 sq ft (2,090 m2). facility, which opened in 1998, seats 900. The fine arts center is used for musical and theatrical productions put on by the school's fine arts department.
In Kentucky, care must be taken not to confuse this school with Ballard Memorial High School, the public high school that serves Ballard County in the far-western Jackson Purchase.
Choir, band, orchestra and speech
The Ballard choral program, directed by Dr. Noel Weaver, is one of the largest in the state of Kentucky and is the only fully graded-sequential program in Jefferson County. Each year a large number of students are accepted into the KMEA All-State Choirs and many go on to participate in university choral programs. The choir has received distinguished ratings at the regional KMEA Assessment every year since 1995 and has received national and international awards in the past. The strength of this tradition dates back to the 1980s.
Ballard's wind ensemble, directed by Mr. Carl Kling, consistently receives distinguished ratings at regional and statewide concert band and solo/ensemble events. In 2006 the Marching Bruins won the prestigious Grand Champion Award at the Mid-States Band Association's championships. The Ballard High School marching band also was in state marching finals three times in a row, the only marching band in Louisville to make it three consecutive years. The marching band has proven themselves to be one of the top marching bands in Louisville.
The Ballard Orchestra, directed by Ms. Eva Rouse, received distinguished ratings at the 2005 regional KMEA Large Ensemble Assessment. The Ballard Chamber Orchestra was invited to the KMEA Conference in 2012 for an improvisation session.
Ballard's quick recall team is ranked second in the county league, while suffering only one defeat to DuPont Manual High School.
Athletics
Athletics at Ballard are competitive and very successful, winning 57 team state championships and many other individual championships. Ballard is a Kentucky powerhouse in baseball, basketball, American football, track, softball, and soccer. Ballard has produced five former NBA players. The basketball team was the state runner up in 1987, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 and won the state championship in 1977, 1988 and 1999.
Ballard's nine state championships in soccer outnumber those of any other program in Kentucky (1976, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995 and 1999). The soccer team was also ranked number one in the nation in the championship season of 1999. Under the leadership of coach Damon Bootes they went 27-0 en route to a state championship. That same team sent 14 players on to play Division 1 soccer at the collegiate level.
The girls' softball team is a perennial power.
Football
Founded: 1970Conference: Class 6ADivision: District 6-5Home field: Pat Crawford Stadium, seating capacity of 6,000.Uniform colors: Maroon, white, BlackHelmet design: Maroon shell with Ballard B on one side and white numbers on the opposite sideAthletic director: Chris KinneyMain Rivals: Eastern Eagles, Male Bulldogs, Trinity ShamrocksCoach: Mike CopleyRecord: 9-4" (2012) - #4 in Ky. 6ABasketball
Founded: 1970Conference: Class 6ADivision: 7th RegionHome Court: Jim Reuther Gymnasium, seating capacity of 2,000.Uniform colors: Maroon, White, BlackMain Rivals: Eastern High School, Louisville Male High School, Jeffersontown High School, Trinity High School, Scott County High SchoolHead Coach: Chris Renner (most victorious coach of all time in Ballard's history: 258)Record: 2010-2011 season 30-4, District runner up behind EASTERN HIGH SCHOOLBoys' Lacrosse
Founded: 2003Conference: Class 3ADivision: 7th RegionHome Field: Pat Crawford Stadium, seating capacity of 6,000.Uniform colors: Black, White Maroon, Baby BlueMain Rivals: Trinity High School, Louisville Collegiate SchoolHead Coach: Sean BlueRecord: 2007-2008 season 11-4Fight song
(Sung to the tune of the Notre Dame Victory March)
Three cheers for our Ballard HighMaroon and white our colors fly HighSend a victory cheer on HighOur spirit and pride will never Die!Whether the odds be great or be smallOur Ballard High will win over allAs our mighty team goes marchingOnward to victory, VICTORY!