Lexington invites residents inside its new middle school, 'one of the largest' in Kentucky
By Josh James
June 12, 2025 at 5:29 PM EDT
Fayette County school leaders welcomed parents and students inside the Lexington's newest middle school Thursday.
Driving up to Mary E. Britton Middle, the thing you'll likely notice is its sheer size. It had this reporter asking, "Is that a school?"
"I've heard that so much," Fayette County School Board Chair Tyler Murphy said. "You know, it's one of the largest middle schools in Kentucky. It speaks to the growing community we have here in Fayette County."
Murphy said the modern structure—with natural light spilling in from towering windows and unique, circular overhead fixtures— comes with expansive collaborative areas, agriculture and health labs, and specialized rooms for visual arts and band and orchestra.
"This is an amazing location. It's an amazing campus. There's so much energy and excitement here, and this is truly going to be a community school," Murphy said, awaiting the ribbon-cutting.
The open house featured comments from Patricia Hooks Gray, the great-great niece of the school's namesake, Dr. Mary E. Britton, a Black physician, educator, suffragist, journalist, and civil rights activist from Lexington.
"It is an honor to be here in this ceremony today and to have had this honor bestowed upon my family," she said.
The school, which aims to serve 1,200 young learners from the fast-growing Hamburg section of town, will welcome students for classes starting in August.
"I've heard that so much," Fayette County School Board Chair Tyler Murphy said. "You know, it's one of the largest middle schools in Kentucky. It speaks to the growing community we have here in Fayette County."
Murphy said the modern structure—with natural light spilling in from towering windows and unique, circular overhead fixtures— comes with expansive collaborative areas, agriculture and health labs, and specialized rooms for visual arts and band and orchestra.
"This is an amazing location. It's an amazing campus. There's so much energy and excitement here, and this is truly going to be a community school," Murphy said, awaiting the ribbon-cutting.
The open house featured comments from Patricia Hooks Gray, the great-great niece of the school's namesake, Dr. Mary E. Britton, a Black physician, educator, suffragist, journalist, and civil rights activist from Lexington.
"It is an honor to be here in this ceremony today and to have had this honor bestowed upon my family," she said.
The school, which aims to serve 1,200 young learners from the fast-growing Hamburg section of town, will welcome students for classes starting in August.