Kentucky Country Day School

History

In 1967, Aquinas Preparatory School (all-male) combined with Louisville Country Day (all-male, founded 1951). Subsequently, Kentucky Home School for Girls (all-female, founded 1863) was added, and the hybrid name Kentucky Country Day was created. In 1973, Kentucky Military Institute (all-male, founded 1845) disbanded and its alumni and military honor code were adopted by Kentucky Country Day.

KCD was initially located on the former LCD campus (Rock Creek Drive) in Louisville, adjacent to Seneca Park for 7th grade to senior class students. Kindergarten through 6th grade students were located on the former APS campus (Browns Lane). A bus called the Blue Goose would transfer students between both campuses. In 1972, in a close vote, students selected the nickname Bearcats over Thoroughbreds as the school mascot along with its present-day colors, royal blue and gold.

In 1978, the school relocated to its current campus in eastern Louisville on Springdale Road near Old Brownsboro Road. Since this move, the campus has expanded several times, including the construction of a new upper school building in 2000 and a theatre in 2010.

Traditions

While KCD has been in existence since 1972, many traditions from its predecessors remain. The school's honor code was adopted from Kentucky Military Institute. The football team's Monohan Field is named after the field at Aquinas Prep. "The Rock", located under the KCD football scoreboard, is touched by KCD football players before entering the field, just as it was at Aquinas Prep in the 1960s. Graduation ceremonies at KCD involve girls with long white dresses, a tradition from KHS carrying yellow roses, and the boys wearing white jackets, a tradition from LCD.

A junior class tradition involves the "Junior Class Ring Ceremony" where each student receives a class ring preceded by a speech from an alumnus.

Every student receives a yearly schoolbook, called the Fleur De Lis, a name tracing back to the name of the LCD yearbook. A fleur de lis is affixed to both school's official seals as the French royalty symbol also symbolizes the City of Louisville where the school's campus is located.

Academics

KCD requires a low student-to-teacher ratio where classrooms are limited to eighteen students. Each grade totals seventy-two students, being proportionally designed to contain four units of eighteen students.

Every high school student is required to use a personal computer as the entire campus has a wireless network. KCD became the second high school in Jefferson County to establish this mandate. Several instructional courses provide advanced placement courses, where a majority of students take at least one course.

An average of over 11% of junior class students are named National Merit Scholar semifinalists since 2004. As of 2009-10 year some students are taking the Merit Scholar tests for middle-school and high school. The school possesses a Cum Laude Society, a society crafted for vigorous secondary school institutions.

As a college preparatory institution, most students take college testing exams and matriculate into post-secondary institutions.

Athletics

KCD is a member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA), competing in Class "A" for the three sports that are classified by enrollment: football, track, and cross country. Several sports, most notably basketball and soccer along with volleyball, baseball, and softball, compete in All "A" tournaments which serve as de facto state championships for the state's smallest schools, though not officially recognized by the KHSAA.

The Bearcat athletic program has garnered 17 Kentucky state championships and 29 state runner-up honors. The most recent state titles include the 2004 field hockey, 2007 All "A" boys' soccer, and the 2008 and 2010 girls' lacrosse teams. State runner-up finishes include field hockey in 2006 and 2007, girls lacrosse in 2006, 2007, and 2009 and boys' tennis in 2001 and 2008. There have been 128 individual state champions (60) and runners-up (68). These state champions include 16 boys' swimming and diving, 18 girls' gymnastics, 5 boys' track and field, 6 girls' swimming and 3 boys' tennis individual medals. The most recent individual state champions include swimmer Will Heyburn (50 freestyle) in 2006 and track and field athlete Marc Speed (discus) in 2009.

Arts

A minimum of two student performances are conducted annually by both the upper and middle school divisions. Historically, these performances occurred either in the school's commons room (middle school) or at the Clifton Center (upper school), a nearby theater in Louisville from Spring 1980 to Spring 2010. Beginning in Fall 2010, all performances are staged at the new theatre building.

Endowment

There are several endowments dedicated to the institution and its students. Some of these endowments provide financial assistance, training for faculty, athletic enhancements and improvements regarding school maintenance. The most recent endowment to be announced (May 2009) was a two million dollar grant from the Malone Foundation.

Notable alumni

Will Smith, Professional Baseball Player in the Los Angeles Dodgers Organization.

Kentucky Military Institute