In September 1926 Mrs. Eva Edwards Lovett, an innovative educator who emphasized the development of the whole child, officially began The Lovett School with 20 boys and girls in Grades 1-3 at a former home in Midtown Atlanta. By 1936, Lovett was able to become a true country day school, with a move to a wooded campus north of the city off West Wesley Road.
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From 1936 to 1954, the school successfully grew under Mrs. Lovett's leadership, with her emphasis placed on progressive education, where children learn by doing and not "the usual exclusive concern with textbook knowledge." In the mid-1950s, plans for the continued direction of the school upon Mrs. Lovett's retirement were taken into consideration, and the school merged with The Cathedral of St. Philip. Plans were made to construct a larger school with improved facilities. The 1960-61 school year opened at 4075 Paces Ferry Road--Lovett's current location--with an enrollment of 1,024 students, representing all grades except the 12th. In June 1962, Lovett's first senior class graduated, all having been accepted at colleges and universities of their choice.
The years 1963 through 1966 were difficult ones in Lovett's history with the beginning of integration. Lovett certainly was not the last stronghold of segregation, but it was certainly one of the most publicized. In 1963 Martin Luther King III applied to Lovett and was denied admission by the board of trustees--despite the objections of the governing Episcopal Diocese, which was in favor of open churches and open schools. But Lovett's trustees argued that they were not in defiance since the school was not originally founded by the Episcopal Church. As a result, the Reverend McDowell, an Episcopal priest, resigned as headmaster, and the school's admission policy was revised to free itself of ecclesiastical jurisdiction of The Cathedral of St. Philip. However, by 1967, Lovett's admission policy had been revised to adopt a non-discriminatory policy of evaluating students without regard to race or religion. (The policy has since been expanded several times, and now reads: "The Lovett School admits students of any race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The Lovett School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and national or ethnic origin in administration of its employment practices, educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.")
By 1964, both the elementary and high schools were accredited by the Georgia Commission of Accreditation (and each year subsequently), and the Upper School was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities. Aggressive campus building projects continued through the 1960s, '70s and '80s, bringing to campus the Kilpatrick Stadium, Loridans House, Smith Natatorium, and Vasser Woolley Library, and more. In the 1990s, several additional campus facilities were created, including the Fuqua Center, Wallace Gym, and Hite Wellness Center.
In 1992, the school philosophy was developed. The school also purchased more than 500 acres of rainforest, known as Siempre Verde, in Ecuador for the purpose of establishing a research and education center. In 1995 Lovett began hosting Summerbridge Atlanta (now known as Breakthrough Atlanta), an academic enrichment program for middle school students from Atlanta's public schools. The 1990s also saw The Lovett School community working in earnest toward a new strategic plan.
The 2000-01 academic year was a very special one for Lovett. First and foremost, the school celebrated its 75th anniversary. The school came together to "Celebrate the Legacy and Continue the Vision" in many ways, including a history exhibition, a commemorative calendar, special chapel services, and an Open House and Gala that brought alumni, former faculty and staff, and many friends of the school back to campus for an extraordinary celebration. The 2000-01 school year also marked the introduction of Lovett's Character Pledge, developed by a committee of parents and staff in keeping with the goals of Lovett's Strategic Plan 2000. The Character Pledge reads as follows: "We, who are members of the Lovett community, seek to live lives of good character. We believe that good character grows from daily acts of honesty, respect, responsibility, and compassion. We pledge ourselves to develop these ideals with courage and integrity, striving to do what is right at all times." The school also embarked on Continuing the Vision: The 75th Anniversary Campaign, Lovett's largest and most ambitious fund-raising campaign to date. This campaign raised more than $65 million for capital improvements to campus, including a new Lower School and Upper School, as well as other projects to increase green space and reduce the clutter of cars on campus, including a parking deck.
The 2002-03 school year was the last for Lovett's pre-kindergarten program, and the school continues today as a Kindergarten through Grade 12 institution. Headmaster Jim Hendrix retired from Lovett in 2003, and was replaced by William S. Peebles IV. Under Peebles's leadership, work began on a new strategic plan and Phase II of the Master Campus Plan, to include a new Middle School and community center. Construction on the Middle School began in summer 2008, with a planned completion date of August 2009.