Fast Facts
OUR MISSION
Sayre School provides an innovative and inclusive learning environment that empowers students to achieve academic excellence, embrace challenge, and cultivate integrity in order to lead purposeful lives in an ever-changing world.
CORE VALUES
Sayre School values students as individuals and works to foster their understanding of themselves and their roles in the larger community. Our core values of wisdom, integrity, respect, and compassion are woven throughout
the school.

OUR PROGRAM
- Challenging college-preparatory curriculum unfolds incrementally across grade levels fostering critical thinking skills in a nurturing classroom setting
- Small class size provides unique opportunities for seminar-style class discussions, extensive writing expectations, and individual help from teachers before, during or after school
- 17 Advanced Placement Courses offered in the Upper School
- Public speaking emphasis embedded in all levels of the curriculum
- World Language instruction begins in Preschool
- Technology integration begins with iPad usage in the Lower School and culminates with a 1:1 laptop program in the Upper School.
COLLEGE COUNSELING
- 100% of students accepted to four-year colleges/universities
- 85% of students received merit scholarships totaling over $6.4 million
- 69% of students attend out-of-state colleges/universities
- Sayre’s college counseling process (beginning in 9th grade) aims to identify colleges/universities where students will grow and thrive
2020 AP RESULTS
- 84% overall pass rate (scores of 3 or higher)
- 100% of Upper School students taking the Chemistry, Computer Science A, French Language, Physics C, and Statistics exams earned scores of 3 or higher
- 93% of students taking the AP Calculus BC exam earned scores of 3 or higher
- 92% of students taking the AP Physics I exam earned scores of 3 or higher
- 94% of students taking the AP English Language exam earned scores of 3 or higher
- 90% of students taking the AP US History exam earned scores of 3 or higher
- 86% of students taking the Physics II exam earned scores of 3 or higher
- 86% of seniors who took at least one AP exam earned scores of 3 or higher
- 44% of juniors and seniors who took AP exams were designated as AP Scholars
ATHLETICS
- 41% of Upper School students earned Kentucky High School Athletic Association Academic All-State Honors (cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher)
- 77% of Upper and Middle School students participate in school-sponsored athletics
- Sayre graduates have competed collegiately at the Division I, II and III level
- 40 sports teams offered at the Varsity, Junior Varsity and Middle School level
- 50-acre athletic complex and includes four fields for football, soccer and lacrosse, baseball and softball diamonds, 10 tennis courts, and cross country course
- Student-athletes have the opportunity to compete at a high level and reap the rich personal rewards that come from being part of a team
FINE ARTS
- Visual arts, music, and drama are integrated into the curriculum at all levels as a core part of the academic experience, not just as electives
- Performance and exhibit opportunities offered at Lower, Middle, and Upper School levels
- 54 seniors will attend 40 different colleges in 18 different states
- 85% of seniors received merit scholarships, totaling over $6.4 million in college-sponsored, four-year scholarships
- $119,000 average scholarship per student
- 86% of the senior class completed one or more AP examinations
- 4 National Merit Finalists; 1 National Merit Commended Scholar
- 4 seniors participating in intercollegiate athletics
- 52% of seniors scored 28 or above on the ACT; 37% scored 30 or above
CLASS OF 2020 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES and CHOICES (in bold)
American University Amherst College Appalachian State University Auburn University Austin Peay State University Ball State University Baylor University Bluegrass Community & Technical College Boston University Bryn Mawr College Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Centre College Christopher Newport University Claremont McKenna College Clemson University College of William & Mary College of Wooster Columbia University Davidson College Denison University DePaul University DePauw University Drexel University Duke University Eastern Kentucky University Eckerd College Elon University Emerson College Emory University Florida State University Fordham University Furman University George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Tech Hamilton College Hanover College Harvard University High Point University Indiana University IUPUI Kenyon College Lewis & Clark College Loyola University Chicago Loyola University New Orleans Macalester College Miami University Mount Holyoke College New England Conservatory of Music New York University North Carolina State University Northeastern University Northwestern University Oberlin College Ohio University Ohio State University Ohio Wesleyan University |
Oxford College of Emory University Purdue University Randolph College Randolph-Macon College Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhodes College Rice University Rollins College Samford University Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College of Art & Design Skidmore College Southern Methodist University St. Lawrence University Taylor University The Juilliard School Texas Christian University Transylvania University Tufts University Tulane University University of Alabama University of California-San Diego University of Cincinnati UC – Conservatory of Music University of Colorado University of Delaware University of Denver University of Kentucky University of Louisville University of Maryland University of Massachusetts University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of Mississippi University of Missouri University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of the South – Sewanee University of South Carolina University of Southern Mississippi University of Tennessee University of Texas-Austin University of Virginia Utrecht University (Netherlands) Vanderbilt University Virginia Commonwealth University Wake Forest University Washington & Jefferson College Washington University in St. Louis West Virginia University Wesleyan University Western Kentucky University Williams College Wofford College Yale University |
Sayre Preschool Parents Speak
Project-based Learning in Sayre's Lower School
Senior Profiles
Science at Sayre
Sayre Coaching and the Student-Athlete
Affordability at Sayre
ACCREDITATION
- Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)
- Kentucky Non-Public School Commission (KYNPSC)
- National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA)
MEMBERSHIPS
- National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
- Kentucky Association of Independent Schools (KAIS)
- National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC)
- Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB)
- National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
- Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
Based on receipt of federal financial assistance through a Paycheck Protection Program loan administered through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the CARES Act, the School acknowledges its obligation to prohibit discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, citizenship status, genetic information, handicap or disability in admissions, access, employment, tuition assistance, educational policies, or other school administered student and employee programs and activities. Questions regarding the School’s compliance with the application and administration of the School’s nondiscrimination policies should be directed to Cindy Eason, Title IX Compliance Officer, 194 North Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507, (859) 254-1361 ext. 222, ceason@sayreschool.org; Rich Little, Title IX Compliance Officer, 194 North Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507, (859) 254-1361 ext. 221, rlittle@sayreschool.org; Brooks McLamb, Section 504 Compliance Officer, 194 North Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507, (859) 254-1361 ext. 213, bmclamb@sayreschool.org; or the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) or to the SBA. Please refer to the School’s SBA Non-Discrimination Compliance Policy on the School’s website for information on how to file complaints with OCR or the SBA.
Posted May 12, 2020