School History

School's History

Frederick Douglass High School was named to both honor a great American leader and reclaim a local legacy of educating Fayette County students at high levels.

Frederick Douglass was a 19^th Century African-American social reformer, abolitionist, suffragist, orator, author, and statesman.  Frederick Douglass was the first African-American to run for vice president of the United States.

The former Frederick Douglass High school was an African-American school which opened in 1929 on Price Road in Lexington and closed during desegregation in 1971.

Over the years, Douglass School served Lexington students in many configurations as a high school, as a junior and senior high school, and as an elementary school.

During its 42-year history of serving African-American students who lived in Fayette County, Douglass School was known for holding students to high academic standards and pushing them to transcend barriers.

More than 600 students graduated from Douglass High School in its history and its alumni association remains active and involved in our community today.

The alumni still give an annual scholarship to students from every school.

Douglass School was the first school in Lexington to provide free lunch for students.

Douglass School was one of the first PTAs established in Lexington.

Douglass School comes with a built-in rivalry against Dunbar High, another former Lexington school that was rebuilt.

Helen Caise Wade, the first student to integrate Lexington’s public schools when she attended summer school at Lafayette High School, was a Douglass student.

Our new school is built on a former horse farm known as Hamburg Place which was owned by John E. Madden.  Hamburg Place owned several champion stallions including Sir Barton who was the first Triple Crown winner.

Our new school opened its doors to students and the public in August 2017.