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Linsly School

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Coordinates: 40°04′23″N 80°41′44″W / 40.07306°N 80.69556°W / 40.07306; -80.69556
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The Linsly School
Address
Map
60 Knox Lane

Wheeling
,
West Virginia
26003

United States
Coordinates40°04′23″N 80°41′44″W / 40.07306°N 80.69556°W / 40.07306; -80.69556
Information
Former nameLancastrian Academy (1814–1877)
Linsly Military Institute (1877–1978)
TypeIndependent college-preparatory boarding & day school
MottoForward and No Retreat
Religious affiliation(s)Nonsectarian
Established1814; 210 years ago (1814)
FounderNoah Linsly
StatusCurrently operational
TrustBoard of Trustees
CEEB code491410
NCES School ID01489745[1]
ChairJohn Holloway
Head of schoolJustin Zimmerman
Faculty41.9 (FTE)[1]
Grades5–12[1]
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment431[1] (2017–2018)
 • Grade 525[1]
 • Grade 636[1]
 • Grade 750[1]
 • Grade 842[1]
 • Grade 965[1]
 • Grade 1076[1]
 • Grade 1171[1]
 • Grade 1266[1]
Average class size10[2]
Student to teacher ratio10.3:1[1]
Hours in school day7[1]
Campus18 buildings, including 4 dormitories[2]
Campus size57 acres (23 ha)[2]
Campus typeUrban
Color(s)Orange & Black   [2]
SloganLearn Lead Live
SongThe Linsly Alma Mater[2]
Athletics20 interscholastic teams[2]
Athletics conferenceOVAC[2]
NicknameCadets
RivalWheeling Central Catholic High School
AccreditationNCA[2]
PublicationLinsly Today
NewspaperThe Linsly Line
Endowment$31.47 million[3]
School fees$500–1,500[4]
Annual tuitionHigh school
$42,740 (boarding)
$19,850 (day)
Middle School
$40,740 (boarding)
$17,850 (day)[4]
Revenue$14.89 million[3]
AffiliationsNAIS,[1] TABS,[1] & PCACAC
Websitelinsly.org

The Linsly School, formerly known as the Linsly Military Institute, is a boarding and day school located in Wheeling, West Virginia.[5] It was founded in 1814 by Noah Linsly and chartered by the State of Virginia in the same year.[6] The school is the oldest preparatory school west of the Alleghenies.[7] It was originally known as the Lancastrian Academy.[7]

History

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Linsly Institute building in 2023

Upon Noah Linsly's death in 1814, his will provided money for the establishment of a Lancastrian Academy in Wheeling, Virginia. In 1877, the Academy, located in the then newly-formed state of West Virginia, was renamed the Linsly Military Institute in honor of its founding benefactor. In July 1979 (between academic years), the school switched from a military-structured school to a traditional boys' preparatory school, and was renamed The Linsly School.[8]

The school's first location was in downtown Wheeling, purchased with the sale of two farms that Noah Linsly had left to the Lancastrian Academy.[9] The second building was in downtown Wheeling, Va. This building was used as a temporary statehouse when West Virginia became a state. The building is known as the First State Capitol. The third school building was located on National Road in the Woodsdale section of Wheeling. It was built in 1925 and officially named Thedah Place but was known as Old Main.[10] Linsly owned property across the creek from this building, where the dormitories were (and still are) located. The current school building was built as an extension of Behrens Gym in 1966 with a donation from Sophie Banes and is known as Banes Hall.[11]

Louis Bennett Jr. never attended Linsly but is memorialized by a statue, "The Aviator", outside of Banes Hall, one of 7 that his mother commissioned in his honor. Bennett joined the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and defeated enough German aircraft to become an ace before being shot down over France. Along with the statue, Sallie Maxwell Bennett also had a window inside Westminster Abbey created.[12][13]

Louis Bennett, Jr. spent much time in Wheeling during his youth, so when his mother's request to put the aviator statue in Washington, D.C., failed, she turned to Wheeling, where he had developed his love for aviation. After speaking with people in Wheeling, someone suggested that Linsly might be interested in hosting the statue. Linsly accepted, and the Aviator is now a Linsly icon. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh visited the statue and placed a wreath at the foot of the Aviator.[13]

Linsly originally enrolled both girls and boys. The Lancastrian Academy system required older students to reinforce their education by mentoring their younger peers. In 1861, during the American Civil War, Linsly became an all-boys school. In 1876, Linsly became a military institute under Headmaster John Burch and would continue to be so for the next 102 years. In 1979, Headmaster Reno Diorio transitioned Linsly to a traditional college preparatory school format. Then in 1988, Diorio led Linsly back to being a co-educational school, as it once had been.[11]

The Linsly Extravaganza, formerly known as the Minstrel, is a tradition begun in 1939 by Douglas Haigwood. The Extravaganza has allowed Linsly students to perform on stage for over 80 years.[11]

The Linsly Alma Mater was used for decades but fell into disuse:

All Hail Alma Mater, Thy Children Call. Mighty Thy Power, Dearest Friend To All. Sing For Dear Old Linsly, Sing For Loyalty Strong. All Hail Alma Mater, Linsly Hear Our Song.

The Linsly School Today

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In 2007, Linsly ranged from 5th to 12th grade with a student body of about 420.

In the 2023-2024 school year, the school enrolled 449 students in grades 5–12.[14]

In celebration of Linsly's 200th academic year, the school campaigned to raise $10,000,000 for an addition to Banes Hall, the main academic building, renovations to many other on-campus facilities, and enriching Linsly's instructing capability.

As of 2024, Linsly had a 100% college acceptance rate for its graduating seniors.[15]

As a day and boarding school, Linsly is home to international students from many countries, including China, Finland, Canada, South Korea, Spain, Argentina, Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Brazil, and Japan.

Notable alumni

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Notable staff

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Sources

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for The Linsly School". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "School Facts". About. The Linsly School. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Form 990" (PDF). Tax Exempt Organization Search. Internal Revenue Service. 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Tuition & Costs". Admissions. The Linsly School. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Welcome". About. The Linsly School. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Noah Linsly". About. The Linsly School. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Our History". About. The Linsly School. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Wheeling Hall of Fame: Noah Linsly > History | Ohio County Public Library | Ohio County Public Library | Wheeling West Virginia | Ohio County WV | Wheeling WV History |". www.ohiocountylibrary.org. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  9. ^ "Schools: Linsly Institute > History | Ohio County Public Library | Ohio County Public Library | Wheeling West Virginia | Ohio County WV | Wheeling WV History |". www.ohiocountylibrary.org. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  10. ^ Hanna, Bill (2015-01-30). "A Fond Reminiscence of a Life at Linsly". Weelunk. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  11. ^ a b c "Wheeling, WV History of Private Boarding School The Linsly School". www.linsly.org. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  12. ^ Hogan, Bill (2017-07-07). "A Story Behind a Linsly Statue: West Virginia's First Flying Ace". Weelunk. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  13. ^ a b Hawley, Richard (2014). "Forward and no retreat" : two centuries of Linsly school life (1st ed.). Wheeling, WV. pp. 21–23. ISBN 978-0-692-25794-4. OCLC 1296688841.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  14. ^ "Mission and School Facts - Linsly School". www.linsly.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  15. ^ "Mission and School Facts - Linsly School". www.linsly.org. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  16. ^ "Ashley Battle '00 Plays for New York Liberty". News Detail. The Linsly School. September 23, 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Linsly Graduate Heading to the Super Bowl". The Linsly School. January 23, 2017.
  18. ^ "Linsly's J.R. Holden '94 Competes in Olympics". News Detail. The Linsly School. August 8, 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  19. ^ Robert Schramm (July 2003). The Linsly School. Arcadia Publishing. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-7385-1531-1.
  20. ^ Junkins, Casey (April 14, 2016). "Fox News analyst speaks in hometown of Wheeling". The Intelligencer & Wheeling News-Register. West Virginia Press Association. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
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