Linsly School

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title: "Linsly School" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["educational-institutions-established-in-1814", "boarding-schools-in-west-virginia", "private-high-schools-in-west-virginia", "military-high-schools-in-the-united-states", "schools-in-wheeling,-west-virginia", "private-middle-schools-in-west-virginia", "preparatory-schools-in-west-virginia", "1814-establishments-in-virginia"] topic_path: "society/education" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linsly_School" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox school"]

FieldValue
nameThe Linsly School
seal_imageLinsly 1814 IMG 7562.png
seal_size150px
mottoForward and No Retreat
address60 Knox Lane
cityWheeling
stateWest Virginia
zipcode26003
countryUnited States
coordinates
former_nameLancastrian Academy (1814–1877)
Linsly Military Institute (1877–1978)
typeIndependent college-preparatory boarding & day school
religious_affiliationNonsectarian
established
founderNoah Linsly
statusCurrently operational
trustBoard of Trustees
ceeb491410
us_nces_school_id
chairJohn Holloway
head_of_schoolJustin Zimmerman
faculty41.9 (FTE)
grades5–12
genderCoeducational
enrollment431
enrollment_as_of2017–2018
grade525
grade636
grade750
grade842
grade965
grade1076
grade1171
grade1266
average_class_size10
ratio10.3:1
hours_in_day7
campus18 buildings, including 4 dormitories
campus_size57 acre
campus_typeUrban
student_union
colorsOrange & Black
sloganLearn Lead Live
songThe Linsly Alma Mater
athletics20 interscholastic teams
athletics_conferenceOVAC
nicknameCadets
rivalWheeling Central Catholic High School
accreditationNCA
publicationLinsly Today
newspaperThe Linsly Line
endowment$31.47 million
fees$500–1,500
annual_tuitionHigh school
$42,740 (boarding)
$19,850 (day)
Middle School
$40,740 (boarding)
$17,850 (day)
revenue$14.89 million
affiliationsNAIS, TABS, & PCACAC
website
::

| name = The Linsly School | seal_image = Linsly 1814 IMG 7562.png | seal_size = 150px | motto = Forward and No Retreat | address = 60 Knox Lane | city = Wheeling | state = West Virginia | zipcode = 26003 | country = United States | coordinates = | former_name = Lancastrian Academy (1814–1877) Linsly Military Institute (1877–1978) | type = Independent college-preparatory boarding & day school | religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian | established = | founder = Noah Linsly | status = Currently operational | trust = Board of Trustees | ceeb = 491410 | us_nces_school_id = | chair = John Holloway | head_of_school = Justin Zimmerman | staff = | faculty = 41.9 (FTE) | teaching_staff = | employees = | key_people = | grades = 5–12 | gender = Coeducational | enrollment = 431 | enrollment_as_of = 2017–2018 | capacity = | grade5 = 25 | grade6 = 36 | grade7 = 50 | grade8 = 42 | grade9 = 65 | grade10 = 76 | grade11 = 71 | grade12 = 66 | international_students = | classes = | average_class_size = 10 | ratio = 10.3:1 | system = | classes_offered = | language = | schedule_type = | schedule = | hours_in_day = 7 | classrooms = | campuses = | campus = 18 buildings, including 4 dormitories | campus_size = 57 acre | area = | campus_type = Urban | houses = | student_union = | colors = Orange & Black | slogan = Learn Lead Live | song = The Linsly Alma Mater | fight_song = | athletics = 20 interscholastic teams | athletics_conference = OVAC | sports = | mascot = | nickname = Cadets | team_name = | rival = Wheeling Central Catholic High School | accreditation = NCA | USNWR_ranking = | national_ranking = | test_name = | test_average = | publication = Linsly Today | newspaper = The Linsly Line | yearbook = | products = | endowment = $31.47 million | budget = | fees = $500–1,500 | tuition = | annual_tuition = High school $42,740 (boarding) $19,850 (day) Middle School $40,740 (boarding) $17,850 (day) | revenue = $14.89 million | communities = | feeder_schools = | feeder_to = | graduates = | graduates_year = | affiliations = NAIS, TABS, & PCACAC | alumni = | alumni_name = | nobel_laureates = | website =

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

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/First_State_Capitol_-_Wheeling,_West_Virginia_02.jpg" caption="website=www.ohiocountylibrary.org}}"] ::

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. 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. 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 the Paul Gym in 1966 with a donation from Sophie Banes and is known as Banes Hall.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

The Linsly School Today

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.

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.

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

Notable staff

Sources

References

References

  1. "School Facts". The Linsly School.
  2. (2018). "Form 990". Internal Revenue Service.
  3. "Tuition & Costs". The Linsly School.
  4. "Welcome". The Linsly School.
  5. "Noah Linsly". The Linsly School.
  6. "Our History". The Linsly School.
  7. "Wheeling Hall of Fame: Noah Linsly > History {{!}} Ohio County Public Library {{!}} Ohio County Public Library {{!}} Wheeling West Virginia {{!}} Ohio County WV {{!}} Wheeling WV History {{!}}".
  8. "Schools: Linsly Institute > History {{!}} Ohio County Public Library {{!}} Ohio County Public Library {{!}} Wheeling West Virginia {{!}} Ohio County WV {{!}} Wheeling WV History {{!}}".
  9. Hanna, Bill. (2015-01-30). "A Fond Reminiscence of a Life at Linsly".
  10. "Wheeling, WV History of Private Boarding School The Linsly School".
  11. Hogan, Bill. (2017-07-07). "A Story Behind a Linsly Statue: West Virginia's First Flying Ace".
  12. Hawley, Richard. (2014). ""Forward and no retreat" : two centuries of Linsly school life".
  13. "Mission and School Facts - Linsly School".
  14. (September 23, 2008). "Ashley Battle '00 Plays for New York Liberty". The Linsly School.
  15. (January 23, 2017). "Linsly Graduate Heading to the Super Bowl". The Linsly School.
  16. (August 8, 2008). "Linsly's J.R. Holden '94 Competes in Olympics". The Linsly School.
  17. (April 14, 2016). "Fox News analyst speaks in hometown of Wheeling". The Intelligencer & Wheeling News-Register.
  18. "Gene Lamone (1995) - WVU Sports Hall of Fame".

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educational-institutions-established-in-1814boarding-schools-in-west-virginiaprivate-high-schools-in-west-virginiamilitary-high-schools-in-the-united-statesschools-in-wheeling,-west-virginiaprivate-middle-schools-in-west-virginiapreparatory-schools-in-west-virginia1814-establishments-in-virginia