Welcome to Lexington Senior High School, home of the Yellow Jackets, where history is being made, expectations are rising, and excellence is becoming our standard.

Over the past three years, our school community has embarked on an extraordinary journey of transformation. We began with a clear belief: our students are capable, our staff can make the difference, and our school can achieve at the highest level when we work together with purpose, consistency, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

This year, in 2026, that belief has become a reality.

Lexington Senior High School is now a “B” school, the highest School Performance Grade in our school’s history! This historic accomplishment represents far more than a letter. It reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers and staff, the support of our families and community partners, and a culture that refuses to make excuses or place limits on what our students can accomplish.

Our academic progress has been remarkable:

• Overall proficiency increased by 8.7 percentage points, reaching a school-record 57.1%.

• English II proficiency improved by 7.7 percentage points.

• Math I proficiency increased by 5 percentage points.

• Math III proficiency rose by 14.5 percentage points.

• Biology proficiency increased from 39.7% to 60.7%.

• Our graduation rate increased by 4.6 percentage points, reaching a historic high of 97.1%.

• ACT proficiency grew by 16.9%.

• Industry-recognized credentials earned by students increased by an incredible 334%.

Our transformation extends beyond academic achievement. Teacher disciplinary referrals decreased by 39.1%, demonstrating the progress we have made in creating a more positive, focused, and consistent learning environment. We also achieved a 98% staff retention rate, reflecting the strong professional culture we are continuing to build throughout our school.

Our success has earned recognition beyond Lexington. In 2025, Lexington Senior High School was named a PTEC Signature School and received the NCATTL Lighthouse School Award for academic growth. I am also deeply honored to serve as the 2026–2027 Lexington City Schools’ Principal of the Year. While these recognitions are meaningful, they belong to our entire Yellow Jacket family because transformation is never the work of one person: it happens when an entire community chooses to believe, commit, and work together.

Our progress has been driven by intentional systems, including strong Professional Learning Communities, data-driven scheduling, targeted academic interventions, consistent expectations, meaningful student relationships, and a relentless focus on teaching and learning. Most importantly, we have worked to create a culture in which every student is known, supported, challenged, and encouraged to become the best version of themselves. We are proud of how far we have come, but we are not finished.

Becoming a “B” school was once a goal. Now, it is our foundation. The floor has changed, the bar is higher, and our responsibility is to continue building upon the standard we have established. We will remain focused on academic excellence, student growth, character development, meaningful learning experiences, and preparing every graduate for college, a career, military service, or entrepreneurship.

To our students: You are the reason we are here. Believe in yourself, accept the challenge, and take advantage of every opportunity available to you.

To our staff: Your dedication has changed the trajectory of this school. The difference truly is you.

To our families, alumni, and community partners: Thank you for believing in Lexington Senior High School and standing with us as we continue writing this historic story.

I invite you to explore our website, learn more about our programs, celebrate the accomplishments of our students and staff, and discover why there has never been a more exciting time to be a Lexington Yellow Jacket. At Lexington Senior High School, we do not wait for the perfect opportunity: we prepare, persevere, and Win the Day!

Dr. Jermaine L. Porter
Principal
2026–2027 Lexington City Schools Principal of the Year

DR. PORTER’S BIO