Sayre Receives Top Honors in Best of Lex Poll for 2026

Sayre School has been recognized by Smiley Pete Publishing as the Best Private Elementary School and Best Private High School in Lexington. In the publisher’s third annual Best of Lex rankings released this spring, the Lower and Upper Schools were ranked No. 1 among private schools, while the Middle School was ranked No. 2. 

Smiley Pete compiled votes across multiple categories, including local businesses, schools, artists, and more.

“This is a tremendous honor for Sayre School. The continued recognition from Lexington residents affirms our role as a leading educational institution, providing exceptional programs from preschool through high school,” said Sayre's Director of Admission Jeff Oldham. “We are deeply grateful to the Lexington community for once again acknowledging our ongoing commitment to delivering an outstanding educational experience.”

Lexington is consistently ranked as one of the best places in America to raise a family. Sayre School contributes to this distinction by providing Lexington families with a top-tier educational option for their children, Oldham said. 

Sayre School’s mission is to cultivate an inclusive, forward-thinking learning environment where students are inspired to pursue academic excellence, meet challenges with confidence, and lead with integrity. Paired with the advantages of a downtown setting, these guiding principles are designed to create a transformational educational experience.

In another critical ranking, Sayre has achieved an A+ rating from Niche, a leading educational resource platform. The site ranks the Upper School as No. 3 among private college prep high schools in Kentucky, No. 3 among STEM high schools in Kentucky, and No. 4 among private high schools in the state.