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Kurtz Restaurant and Bardstown-Parkview Motel-OfficeKurtz Restaurant and Bardstown-Parkview Motel-Office · Photo: Kybluegrass · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Bardstown · Bardstown Independent School District, Nelson County School District

Bardstown’s public schools score below 58% of Kentucky districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Bardstown’s districts is 30%, below the Kentucky average (38%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Bardstown, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Kentucky, not nationally.

#97of 139 Kentucky townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Kentucky state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
35%
▼ 9 pts vs KY 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
30%
▼ 8 pts vs KY 38%
2021–22
Graduate on time
96%
▲ 5 pts vs KY 91%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.2K
▲ 3% vs KY $14.8K
FY2024 · Nelson County
Students per teacher
15.8
KY 15.4
Schools in town
16
5,555 students on the public path
In brief

Bardstown’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 35% of tested students were proficient in reading and 30% in math, against 45% and 38% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

96% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 91% across Kentucky. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Bardstown Independent spends $14,657 per student and Nelson County $15,226, against $14,752 across Kentucky (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Joseph School (private), Bethlehem High School/Diocese (private), Our Lady of the Rosary (private), Bluegrass Christian Academy (private) and St. Joseph Montessori Childrens Center (private) are in town. Bardstown Alternative School, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Bardstown’s grade

C− Test scoresB Graduation

C+: better than 42% of Kentucky school districts, #97 of 139 Kentucky towns. Graduation is above the Kentucky average; test scores are below it.

Kentucky school districts we grade (172)Better than 42%
Lower resultsHigher results
Kentucky towns with similar household incomes (209)Better than 40%
CBA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,585 test results and a graduating class of 359 could put Bardstown anywhere from C to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Bardstown’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,589 in math, 3,581 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bardstown, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC to B
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B+

Bardstown runs its own schools through grade 12 (Bardstown Independent School District). From grade PK, students attend the Nelson County School District, shared with Bloomfield, Fairfield and New Haven. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Bardstown

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Bardstown Independent School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,869 students, up 8% since 2020–21 · 16.8 per teacher (KY 15.4)
$14,657KY $14,752 · FY2024
A−
Nelson County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 12 schools · 4,178 students, down 7% since 2020–21 · 15.1 per teacher (KY 15.4)
$15,226KY $14,752 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Bardstown Independent School District45%
State average 44.7% · 1275 students tested
Math · PK–12, Bardstown Independent School District40%
State average 37.8% · 1281 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Nelson County School District30%
State average 44.7% · 2306 students tested
Math · PK–12, Nelson County School District24%
State average 37.8% · 2308 students tested

Bardstown vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Kentucky towns that share Bardstown’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BardstownC+Bardstown Independent PK–12 · Nelson County PK–12

Every school in Bardstown

17 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Kentucky’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Bardstownby address
Bardstown Early Childhood Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
263 students26:1Rate it →
Nelson County Early Learning Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
150 studentsRate it →
Foster Heights Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
588 students14:1Rate it →
Bardstown Primary School
Elementary · Grades K–1
434 students16:1Rate it →
Bardstown Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 2–5
A−
847 students16:1Rate it →
Old Kentucky Home Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
594 students19:1Rate it →
Bardstown Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
591 students17:1Rate it →
Nelson County High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
756 students16:1Rate it →
Bardstown High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
703 students18:1Rate it →
Thomas Nelson High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
629 students19:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
The Academy at Horizons
Grades K–12
D−
Alternative Education
38 students5:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Bardstownnot counted as local schools
Bardstown Alternative School
Grades K–12
C−
OnlineAlternative Education
31 students7:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Joseph School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
418 students18:1Rate it →
Bethlehem High School/Diocese
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Catholic
300 students13:1Rate it →
Our Lady of the Rosary
Grades PK–12
Private · Catholic
82 studentsRate it →
Bluegrass Christian Academy
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
69 students7:1Rate it →
St. Joseph Montessori Childrens Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
37 studentsRate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (The Up Center and Heartland Youth Village).

Questions about Bardstown’s schools

Are Bardstown’s schools good?

On Kentucky’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Bardstown children attend score below 58% of Kentucky’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #97 of 139 Kentucky towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 40%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bardstown in?

Two districts: Bardstown Independent School District runs grades PK–12, and Nelson County School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Bloomfield, Fairfield and New Haven.

Where do Bardstown kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Nelson County High School, Bardstown High School and Thomas Nelson High School.

What is Bardstown’s graduation rate?

96% of the class of 2023 in Nelson County School District graduated in four years, against 91% across Kentucky.

How much does Bardstown spend per student?

$14,657 in Bardstown Independent School District and $15,226 in Nelson County School District (FY2024), against $14,752 across Kentucky. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Bardstown?

Yes: St. Joseph School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 418 students), Bethlehem High School/Diocese (Catholic, grades 9–12, 300 students), Our Lady of the Rosary (Catholic, grades PK–12, 82 students), Bluegrass Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 69 students) and St. Joseph Montessori Childrens Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 37 students).

Parents talk

What Bardstown families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bardstown → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Kentucky. Stars are from neighbors.