What is America’s oldest high school? It’s in Massachusetts

It is no secret that Massachusetts has one of the best education systems in the country.

However, the state’s rich history means that its school system is not only one of the nation’s leading, but also one of the oldest.

In fact, the state’s oldest high school was actually the first school of any kind in the country. Founded in 1635, Boston Latin School in the city is over 100 years older than the United States itself and even a year older than the nation’s oldest college, Harvard University, also located in Massachusetts.

Here’s the story of the first high school to be founded in not only the state, but also the country.

History of Boston Latin School

According to the high school’s website, Boston Latin School was first established on April 23, 1635 by the town of Boston, largely led by efforts of Reverend John Cotton.

Classes in Latin, Greek and the humanities were held in the homes of schoolmasters until 1643, when the school’s first building was constructed on South St. Boston Latin has since called many locations on School St. and the surrounding area home, eventually landing on Avenue Louis Pasteur in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood in 1922.

In its early years, Boston Latin admitted only white male students across all ages. In 1847, the required age for admittance was moved up to 12, reflecting what is immediately seventh grade – the lowest grade the school has today. Boston Latin’s first Black student graduated in 1877, and the school first welcomed women students in 1972.

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Today, Boston Latin School serves over 2,000 students across grades 7-12. As it did at the time of its founding, Boston Latin requires an entrance examination for admission, making it one of three public exam schools in the city.

The school’s rigorous curriculum and commitment to excellence have turned out many notable alumni over the years, from founding fathers Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock to famous poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.