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Bardstown High School

Q: Is Bardstown High School a good school?

Bardstown High School ranks 135 th of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

135^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 262 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 48% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Bardstown High School is a public high school serving 703 students in grades 9–12 in Bardstown, Kentucky. Its results are mixed: reading stands out, but attendance is a notable concern. In 2025–2026, 30% of students were chronically absent, compared with 24% statewide and 23% in the Bardstown Independent district; the school had the third-highest rate among five comparable nearby high schools, despite improving by 6 points since 2022–2023.

Reading is the school’s clearest strength against nearby schools, while writing is its weakest subject. In 2025–2026, 10th-grade reading proficiency was 54%—12 points above the nearby-school average, 5 above the state and 2 above the district—ranking first among six schools. By contrast, 11th-grade writing proficiency was 38%, 9 points below the state and 9 below the nearby average; it ranked fifth of six, though it was 2 points above the district. The school exceeded its district in all six tested subjects. It also ranked second locally in science and social studies, with science at 23%, equal to the state and 1 point above the district.

Results have shifted in different directions by subject: from 2022–2023 to 2025–2026, math and reading proficiency rose by 15 and 16 points, while writing fell by 21 points, editing and mechanics by 14, and social studies by 8. SchoolDigger’s statewide rating fell from the 64th percentile and 3 stars in 2024–2025 to the 48th percentile and 2 stars in 2025–2026; among nearby schools, only Spencer County High School ranks higher. SchoolDigger’s 2025–2026 subgroup rankings were notably lower for Low Socio Economic Status Students (21st percentile) and Multi-racial Students (13th) than for the school overall (48th). The 2024–2025 student–teacher ratio was 18.1, near the middle of the local range, and 47% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, compared with a 43% average among nearby peers.

703

Students ?

18.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,958

Per pupil spending ?

47.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

400 N 5th St
Bardstown, KY 40004

(502) 331-8802

District: Bardstown Independent

Feeder schools for Bardstown High School:

Elementary:	Bardstown Elementary School
	Bardstown Primary School
Middle:	Bardstown Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

65.1%

African American:

11.9%

Two or more races:

10.8%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Bardstown High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 69th percentile in 2016 → 48th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 21 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg36%

Kentucky avg39%

135^th of 262

Kentucky public high schools ?

Bottom 48%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From top 31% (2016) to bottom 48% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

88^th of 158Bardstown Independent among Kentucky districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	47.1	135 of 262	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	57.1	92 of 254	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.4	91 of 290	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.9	77 of 276	72.1%	★★★★☆
2022	61.1	87 of 271	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.1	59 of 267	77.9%	★★★★☆
2019	52.1	123 of 285	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	73.5	57 of 271	79.0%	★★★★☆
2017	65.2	89 of 287	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	64.7	90 of 288	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	49.5	168 of 295	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	50.8	153 of 290	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	66.3	82 of 291	71.8%	★★★★☆
2012	54.2	90 of 229	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	70.5	45 of 226	80.1%	★★★★☆
2010	61.0	72 of 223	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	54.1	88 of 217	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	54.2	85 of 217	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	70.8	48 of 217	77.9%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	46.6	38 of 75	49.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	76.6	13 of 93	86.0%	★★★★☆
2023	44.7	42 of 83	49.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.8	24 of 89	73.0%	★★★★☆
2021	47.8	31 of 78	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.1	48 of 89	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	71.2	19 of 94	79.8%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	37.2	102 of 153	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.4	72 of 154	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.8	85 of 166	48.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.0	63 of 166	62.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	48.6	116 of 244	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	66.0	60 of 239	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	63.7	85 of 261	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.2	58 of 253	77.1%	★★★★☆
2022	64.0	70 of 252	72.2%	★★★★☆
2021	74.9	31 of 236	86.9%	★★★★☆
2019	43.4	159 of 249	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	70.4	56 of 234	76.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	47.7	55 of 115	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.2	18 of 124	85.5%	★★★★☆
2023	26.2	93 of 116	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	64.2	33 of 114	71.1%	★★★★☆
2021	89.9	6 of 92	93.5%	★★★★★
2019	37.1	57 of 88	35.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	27.1	193 of 245	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	41.9	143 of 242	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.5	95 of 274	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.9	65 of 272	76.1%	★★★★☆
2022	62.0	80 of 266	69.9%	★★★★☆
2021	62.3	52 of 234	77.8%	★★★★☆
2019	21.6	210 of 254	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	79.4	27 of 232	88.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	42.8	145 of 243	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.8	130 of 239	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.8	97 of 262	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.5	114 of 259	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.2	86 of 257	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.6	82 of 238	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.3	149 of 251	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	74.4	43 of 237	81.9%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	19.1	76 of 87	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.2	69 of 89	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.0	53 of 87	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.0	43 of 76	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.2	65 of 77	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.7	34 of 39	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	62.2	18 of 86	79.1%	★★★★☆
2024	52.7	54 of 168	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	14.6	155 of 162	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	42.0	145 of 226	35.8%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	53.5	107 of 253	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.3	68 of 251	72.9%	★★★★☆
2024	72.1	52 of 273	81.0%	★★★★☆
2023	67.3	56 of 264	78.8%	★★★★☆
2022	70.0	41 of 260	84.2%	★★★★☆
2021	69.3	38 of 203	81.3%	★★★★☆
2019	53.1	106 of 219	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.9	43 of 198	78.3%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2025)79th percentile+15 vs school

White (2026)58th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2026)52nd percentile+4 vs school

Hispanic (2025)52nd percentile-12 vs school

African American (2025)49th percentile-14 vs school

Male (2026)40th percentile-8 vs school

Disabled (2022)33rd percentile-35 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)21st percentile-27 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)13th percentile-36 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Reading54%+5 vs state

Mathematics43%+3 vs state

Writing38%-9 vs state

Social Studies35%~ state avg

Editing and Mechanics35%-5 vs state

Science23%~ state avg

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Thursday, October 21, 2010

Great hometown School! Are little secret! Close Quote

Schools Near Bardstown High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				KSA Mathematics (2026)				KSA Reading (2026)				KSA Science (2026)		KSA Writing (2026)		KSA Social Studies (2026)		KSA Editing and Mechanics (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Science 11th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bardstown High School	Public	9-12	400 N 5th St	Bardstown	40004	Nelson County	Bardstown Independent	No	No	No	No	(502) 331-8802	703	39	18.1	47.4%	458 (65.1%)	84 (11.9%)	64 (9.1%)	18 (2.6%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	76 (10.8%)	47.1	135^th of 262 public high schools	48.5%		57.1	92^nd of 254 public high schools	63.8%	43				43.0				54.0		23.0		38.0		35.0		35.0	$18,958	$167	$14,769
Heartland Youth Village	Public, Virtual	6-12	1013 Granite Drive	Bardstown	40004	Nelson County	Nelson County	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(502) 849-3440	15	2	7.5	20.0%	13 (86.7%)	1 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.7%)								(n/a)
The Up Center	Public	6-12	1060 Bloomfield Rd.	Bardstown	40004	Nelson County	Nelson County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(502) 348-9096	0	7	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Nelson County High School	Public	9-12	1070 Bloomfield Rd	Bardstown	40004	Nelson County	Nelson County	No	No	No	Yes	(502) 349-7010	756	47	16.1	51.9%	670 (88.6%)	14 (1.9%)	42 (5.6%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.2%)	21	214^th of 262 public high schools	18.3%		38.8	170^th of 254 public high schools	33.1%	44				34.0				39.0		11.0		21.0		24.0		31.0	$21,569	$719	$16,537
Thomas Nelson High School	Public	9-12	150 Generals Blvd	Bardstown	40004	Nelson County	Nelson County	No	No	No	Yes	(502) 349-4650	629	33	19.3	43.9%	591 (94.0%)	8 (1.3%)	18 (2.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.6%)	36.2	167^th of 262 public high schools	36.3%		42.1	162^nd of 254 public high schools	36.2%	5				39.0				46.0		17.0		40.0		26.0		37.0	$23,007	$824	$16,885
Washington County High School	Public	9-12	300 West US 150 Bypass	Springfield	40069	Washington County	Washington County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 336-5475	507	29	17.2	51.1%	422 (83.2%)	28 (5.5%)	38 (7.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.6%)	37.3	164^th of 262 public high schools	37.4%		56.1	96^th of 254 public high schools	62.2%	68				33.0				32.0		22.0		60.0		25.0		34.0	$18,923	$822	$14,198
Commander Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	520 Lincoln Park Road	Springfield	40069	Washington County	Washington County	No	No	Yes	No	(859) 336-2116	0	1	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
WC Tel Center	Public	9-12	520 Lincoln Park Road	Springfield	40069	Washington County	Washington County	No	No	No	No	(859) 336-2116	0	0		—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Spring Meadows	Public	5-12	310 Hope St	Mount Washington	40047	Bullitt County	Bullitt County	No	No	No	No	(502) 538-1200	12	2	6.0	25.0%	9 (75.0%)	2 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (8.3%)								(n/a)																	$24,355	$820	$16,183
Bullitt East High School	Public	9-12	11450 Hwy 44E	Mount Washington	40047	Bullitt County	Bullitt County	No	No	No	No	(502) 869-6400	1,664	85	19.5	31.3%	1,500 (90.1%)	28 (1.7%)	59 (3.5%)	16 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	60 (3.6%)	38.5	160^th of 262 public high schools	38.9%		42.2	161^st of 254 public high schools	36.6%	1				45.0				44.0		14.0		45.0		28.0		35.0	$19,509	$463	$11,636

Frequently Asked Questions about Bardstown High School

What district is Bardstown High School in?

Bardstown Independent

Is Bardstown High School a good school?

Bardstown High School ranks 135^th of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Bardstown High School?

Bardstown High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bardstown Elementary School
Elementary : Bardstown Primary School
Middle : Bardstown Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Bardstown High School?

Students at Bardstown High School are 65% White, 12% African American, 11% Two or more races, 9% Hispanic, 3% Asian.

How many students attend Bardstown High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 703 students attended Bardstown High School.

Rate Bardstown High School!

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Latest Kentucky data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 KSA test scoresNewOct 15, 2026

2024–25 KSA test scoresOct 30, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Kentucky Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.