THROW BACK THURSDAY – Warren County Public Schools, over a century of education

In Throwback Thursday segments of the past, we’ve shared stories of the founding
of Bowling Green City Schools and many of their histories. This week, we’re taking a
closer look at the history of our Warren County Public Schools. With more than a
century on the books, public education in Warren County has been a priority for
over 114 years.
According to the Kentucky Museum archives at Western Kentucky University, the
birth of the Warren County Schools system started in 1908. The Warren County
Board of Education and Trustees of the Bowling Green Schools opened a high school
to educate both the city and county’s public school students. At that time, new
school laws established by the state of Kentucky mandated that one or more first-
class high schools be established in every county. The law allowed for the county
school system to work with other school systems locally to manage this directive,
which is why the city schools were part of this effort.
There were three classes of high schools in Kentucky. First-class schools provided a
four-year instruction plan, while second- class schools provided three years of
instruction, and third-class schools had a two-year graduation plan.
Center Street School in Bowling Green was the first of these high schools opened.
There were a total of 18 students enrolled. Within three years, the student total had
grown to 116, with four teachers. Forty-five of these students were from the county.
In 1913, the county opened a new high school in Smiths Grove. Within the next 20
years, Warren County maintained nine first-class high schools, three second-class,
and two third-class.
Now, Warren County Public Schools is home to over 17 thousand students, over
2,500 employees, with four high schools and middle schools, 15 elementary schools,
and over 60 languages are spoken throughout the system. It is the fourth largest
school district in Kentucky, with 11 distinguished schools and four schools of
distinction.