Andrew Warde High School's Opening in 1956 Attracted Students from Both Sides of Town

Andrew Warde High School's students have traditionally come from the Eastern side of Fairfield. Over the last few decades, children who attended Stratfield, North Stratfield, McKinley, and Jennings schools eventually moved into Warde as freshmen. However, that wasn't always the case.

When Andrew Warde High School opened in the Fall of 1956, it was the crown jewel of Fairfield's public school system. The new secondary school on Melville Avenue dwarfed the established Roger Ludlowe High School, which was then located in what is now Tomlinson Middle School. So, when the new high school opened over a half-century ago, it even attracted many students from the Western side of town who had previously attended Ludlowe.

Fairfield's superintendent of schools at the time, Dr. Carlyle G. Hoyt, recommended to the board of education in January of 1956 that all Ludlowe pupils transported by bus, except those in the Pequot and Mill Hill school districts, be redistricted to the new Andrew Warde High School, according to the new district lines.

Ludlowe's student body was reduced to walkers, plus those students who were transported by bus from the Pequot and Mill Hill sections of town. Transportation was provided to the students who lived at least one-and-a-half miles away from school.

Under the plan, Andrew Warde High School opened with an enrollment of 1,174 students, while Ludlowe, which was operating on double-sessions of more than 1,500 students at the time, saw its enrollment dwindle to 674 students.

Dr. Hoyt said it was impossible to divide the town in East and West sections for the district lines without continuing double sessions at Ludlowe. He warned that by 1958, unless steps were taken to expand Roger Ludlowe High School facilities, double sessions would again be required.

The enrollment in the 1,500-student Andrew Warde High School in the 1957-58 school year was estimated at 1,404, while Roger Ludlowe's was at 744. In the 1958-59 school year, Dr. Hoyt estimated the Warde enrollment at 1,625, compared to 805 at Ludlowe. Warde expected 1,776 students enrolled by 1960-61, while Ludlowe targeted 906 students.

Over a half-century ago, Andrew Warde High School was Fairfield's sparkling new secondary school. It was home to most of Fairfield's high school students, and from both sides of town.

Paul

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