Lincoln School (Simpsonville, Ky.)

The Lincoln School in Simpsonville, Kentucky had its roots in the Lincoln Institute, a secondary school for African-American students that was formed with support from Berea College after the 1904 Kentucky Day Law was passed, which prohibited integrated education. The Lincoln Foundation deeded the Institute to the state in 1948 and when the Day Law was amended in 1954 to allow integration, the decision was made to phase out the Lincoln Institute. It continued to operate until 1966 while plans for a new type of school were discussed.

A prospectus presented to the Kentucky Department of Education by the Board of Regents from Kentucky State College set out plans for a boarding school designed for academically gifted, "deprived" students of all races. This plan was approved in 1966 and a governing board was created, made up of representatives chosen by Kentucky State College and the University of Kentucky. The Board was instructed to contract with the UK College of Education for the operation of the school and the first class began in September 1967.

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