Our History

Noe Middle School was built in 1974 as the district's first true "middle school," rather than a junior high school. Originally intended to house 7th and 8th graders only, the school design was considered cutting-edge, and was the pride of the Louisville Independent School District.

The Legacy of Samuel V. Noe

Samuel Vanarsdale Noe served as the superintendent of the Louisville Independent School District from 1960 until his retirement in 1969. During his tenure, the school district build 12 new schools and 21 additions. In the 1960s, Mr. Noe led discussions with the University of Louisville that led to the establishment of the Louisville Educational Park, which consisted of the university, DuPont-Manual High School, and Noe Middle School.

According to a Foreword by Newman Walker, Superintendent, at the dedication ceremony, Noe Middle School is "a fitting tribute to Sam Noe, a long-time leader in Louisville's civic, church and educational affairs. During his superintendency, the Springfield, Ky. native skillfully guided the Louisville Public Schools through some of the most turbulent years in the nation's educational history, quietly exercising a wide range of skills. Known as a hard and fair-minded taskmaster, the outwardly stoic, serious-minded Sam Noe was also unassumingly kind and sensitive, the kind of human being whose wife would (and did) describe as 'a man of optimism, patience, and kindness.' "

S.V. Noe

The Noe School: Architectural Innovation and Flexibility

from the Dedication Ceremony Program dated December 15, 1974
Dedication program cover

The Samuel V. Noe Middle School, built in 1974, is a two-story rectangular building which provides accommodations for 1200 pupils. Primary emphasis in the new building is on flexibility, with open educational areas taking precedence over the transitional isolated classrooms. Within these large, open spaces, individualized areas are created with equipment such as chalkboards, tackboards, and study carrels. Because all of these items are moveable, the spaces which they create can be completely varied.

The school's formal entrance faces Lee Street and leads directly into the administrative area. Two entrances at the west side of the building are the major entry for students. The cafeteria-activities areas, which occupies the east portion of the first floor, is designated for eating and general student use. In addition, this space can be used for large meetings. The kitchen is to the north of this area and physical education locker rooms are to the south.

The second floor class area of the school is a duplicate of the first floor class area and is connected by a three level instructional materials center. The easy side of the second floor contains a large gymnasium that can be divided by a folding door. The school also contains special use spaces for science, home economics, art, industrial arts, music, and reading improvement.

The school, which contains 145,000 square feet, was constructed at a total cost of $4,413,695. The site is developed with trees and shrubs in the front, and has grassy and paved play areas to the east which are completely fenced.

Luckett & Farley Architects were the architects, E.R. Ronald and Associates were the engineers. F.W. Owens Associates were the building contractors, Raymond Meyer Co. the mechanical contractor, and Brock Electric Co. the electrical contractor.

The Instructional Program of the Samuel V. Noe Middle School

from the Dedication Ceremony Program dated December 15, 1974

The Noe Middle School is attempting to achieve the ultimate in teaching and learning through the development and perpetuation of highly innovative instructional programming. Some special features of the Middle School's instructional program include: the house plan (with each grade housed on a separate floor and further subdivided into student "families" of approximately 150) team teaching, the open-space concept, the exploratory activities program, a dree electives activity program, specialized reading programs, individualized and self-paced instruction, programmed instruction, technology assisted instruction, and a developmental skills oriented curriculum. Through such a wide spectrum of instructional approaches, the Noe School attempts to give each student a maximum of individual attention, while still carefully maintaining a continuity of program designed to ease its students' adjustment to the new and sometimes bewildering world of junior high school.

The faculty of the Samuel V. Noe Middle School has been carefully selected and especially trained to insure the attainment of the school's predetermined instructional objectives. The faculty is unusually talented and dedicated, and has labored many long hours beyond the normal school day in preparing to make real the dreams that inspired this innovated instructional adventure.

Noe interior from dedication

A New Era for Noe

In 2013, the district decided to renovate Noe, including building a new library and walls for all classrooms. The days of Noe-walls was over!

Renovation 1

Renovation 2

Renovation 3

library construction

library construction