Total enrollment
7,047
-105 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Nelson County
Kentucky · Public K-12
In Nelson County, Kentucky, the public-school system rolls up to 20 schools and roughly 7,047 K-12 students, with county median household income around $69,562. By level, that breaks down as 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Nelson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
18
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Nelson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 37.2% | #79 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 7,047 | #22 of 110 | #1,048 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 18 | #20 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.0:1 | #73 of 110 | #2,079 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 52.8% | #95 of 110 | #1,486 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 35.2% | #32 of 110 | #1,645 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Nelson County school rankings
Residents
47,606
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
20
3 districts
Enrollment
7,047
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$69,562
Above Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
52.8%
Below Kentucky avg
Elementary
9
3,394 students
Middle
3
1,481 students
High
5
2,103 students
Combined / other
3
69 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Nelson County Public Schools
4,178 students · 3 districts in Nelson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Nelson County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
23.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.3%
civilian labor
Median age
40
23.0% under 18
Test scores in Nelson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Bardstown Elementary School· 51.7%
- Coxs Creek Elementary School· 51.7%
- Bardstown Middle School· 47.3%
- Thomas Nelson High School· 47.0%
- Nelson County High School· 45.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Old Kentucky Home Middle School· 34.7%
- Foster Heights Elementary School· 35.0%
- Bloomfield Middle School· 35.7%
- The New Haven School· 37.0%
- Boston School· 40.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bardstown Elementary School | Bardstown | Elementary | 02-05 | 847 | · |
| Nelson County High School | Bardstown | High | 09-12 | 756 | · |
| Bardstown High School | Bardstown | High | 09-12 | 703 | · |
| Thomas Nelson High School | Bardstown | High | 09-12 | 629 | · |
| Old Kentucky Home Middle School | Bardstown | Middle | 06-08 | 594 | · |
| Bardstown Middle School | Bardstown | Middle | 06-08 | 591 | · |
| Foster Heights Elementary School | Bardstown | Elementary | KG-05 | 588 | · |
| Coxs Creek Elementary School | Coxs Creek | Elementary | KG-05 | 474 | · |
| Bardstown Primary School | Bardstown | Elementary | KG-01 | 434 | · |
| Bloomfield Middle School | Bloomfield | Middle | 06-08 | 296 | · |
| Bardstown Early Childhood Center | Bardstown | Elementary | PK-PK | 263 | · |
| Boston School | Boston | Elementary | PK-08 | 251 | · |
| Bloomfield Elementary School | Bloomfield | Elementary | KG-05 | 225 | · |
| The New Haven School | New Haven | Elementary | KG-08 | 162 | · |
| Nelson County Early Learning Center | Bardstown | Elementary | PK-PK | 150 | · |
| The Academy at Horizons | Bardstown | Combined | KG-12 | 38 | · |
| Bardstown Alternative School | Bardstown | Combined | KG-12 | 31 | · |
| Heartland Youth Village | Bardstown | High | 06-12 | 15 | · |
| THE UP CENTER | Bardstown | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| Nelson County Area Technology Center | Bardstown | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Nelson County
About Nelson County
Nelson County is a thinly populated county of about 47,606 residents in Kentucky. Its public-school system teaches approximately 7,047 students across 20 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $69,562 a year, roughly 24% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 22% above the Kentucky median.
On the school-mix side, Nelson County comprises 9 elementary schools (3,394 students), 3 middle schools (1,481), 5 high schools (2,103), and 3 combined or other schools.
Nelson County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 4,178 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 7,047 students, stayed largely flat from the 7,152 reported in SY 2020-21.
On allk12, the community for Nelson County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data