The Webb School (Bell Buckle, Tennessee)


The Webb School is a private coeducational college preparatory boarding and day school in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, USA, founded in 1870. It has been called the oldest continuously operating boarding school in the South. Under founder Sawney Webb's leadership, the school produced more Rhodes Scholars than any other secondary school in the United States.

Mission

As expressed by William R. Webb, the school's mission is "To turn out young people who are tireless workers and who know how to work effectively; who are accurate scholars, who know the finer points of morals and practice them in their daily living; who are always courteous ."

History

started the Webb School as a school for boys in Culleoka, Tennessee, in 1870. He was joined by his brother, John M. Webb, in 1873.
After Vanderbilt University was founded in 1873, Webb School's "oldest and best boys" were able to enroll.
Webb moved the school from Culleoka to its present-day location, a 145-acre campus in the small town of Bell Buckle, in 1886 after Culleoka incorporated and legalized the sale of alcohol in the new city.
Sawney Webb's son W. R. Webb Jr., known as "Son Will", joined the school as a teacher in 1897 and became co-principal of the school with his father and uncle in 1908, unable to establish his own career. After their deaths, he became headmaster and remained in that position until his retirement in 1952.
Webb began admitting girls as boarding students in 1973, but earlier in its history Webb had allowed local girls to attend as day students.

Notable alumni

Sawney Webb's son and grandson later established The Webb Schools in Claremont, California, and the Webb School of Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee, respectively.