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Ballard High

Q: Is Ballard High a good school?

Ballard High ranks 111 th of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

111^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 262 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 58% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Ballard High is a grades 9–12 school in Jefferson County, Louisville, with 2,148 students. In 2025–26, its KSA proficiency rates were above the district in all six subjects, but above the state in only three. Graduation was close to the state rate, at 94% compared with 94% statewide, while chronic absenteeism was substantially higher: 33%, versus 24% for the state. The clearest concern is that more than one in three students was chronically absent.

Ballard High’s strongest subject relative to the state was math: 47% proficient, 7 percentage points above the state and 18 above Jefferson County. Its weakest relative to the state was writing, at 41%—6 points below the state, though still 9 points above the district. Among nearby traditional high schools, Ballard placed second in math, reading, science, social studies, and editing and mechanics, and third in writing; Atherton High led in every subject. For example, Ballard’s math proficiency was 47%, compared with 39% at Eastern High, 19% at Seneca High and 23% at Waggener High.

Results have generally declined since 2022–23: five of six KSA subjects are lower, including reading, down 15 points to 51%; science is up 6 points to 24%. The gap to the state narrowed in every subject. SchoolDigger ranked Ballard 111th of 262 Kentucky schools, at the 58th percentile with 3 stars in 2025–26, down from the 90th percentile and 5 stars in 2023–24. Its 19:1 student-teacher ratio was higher than the 13.3:1 to 18.1:1 range at comparable nearby schools. In 2024–25, 36% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible. SchoolDigger’s ranking for how well Ballard serves special education students was at the 8th percentile in 2025–26, versus 58th overall; its ranking for multi-racial students was at the 9th percentile, down from the 84th in 2023–24.

2,148

Students ?

19.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,806

Per pupil spending ?

36.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

6000 Brownsboro Road
Louisville, KY 40222

(502) 485-8206

District: Jefferson County

Feeder schools for Ballard High:

Elementary:	Dunn Elementary
	Norton Commons Elementary
	Norton Elementary
	Wilder Elementary
Middle:	Kammerer Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

49.6%

African American:

25.0%

Hispanic:

11.8%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Ballard High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 88th percentile in 2016 → 58th in 2026

Strengths

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Jefferson County

✓Above the Kentucky median (58th percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (33% vs 24% Kentucky)

!Ranking has slipped — down 30 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school40%

District avg29%

Kentucky avg39%

111^th of 262

Kentucky public high schools ?

Top 42%▼ down 30 pts since 2016

From top 12% (2016) to top 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 23High Schools in the Jefferson County

135^th of 158Jefferson County 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	53.6	111 of 262	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	73.6	45 of 254	82.3%	★★★★☆
2024	80.1	29 of 290	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	85.1	16 of 276	94.2%	★★★★★
2022	86.0	17 of 271	93.7%	★★★★★
2021	82.7	26 of 267	90.3%	★★★★★
2019	75.7	40 of 285	86.0%	★★★★☆
2018	91.5	16 of 271	94.1%	★★★★★
2017	75.7	45 of 287	84.3%	★★★★☆
2016	78.6	35 of 288	87.8%	★★★★☆
2015	79.5	36 of 295	87.8%	★★★★☆
2014	84.3	21 of 290	92.8%	★★★★★
2013	86.1	20 of 291	93.1%	★★★★★
2012	82.4	24 of 229	89.5%	★★★★☆
2011	85.5	11 of 226	95.1%	★★★★★
2010	87.3	13 of 223	94.2%	★★★★★
2009	87.5	14 of 217	93.5%	★★★★★
2008	87.9	17 of 217	92.2%	★★★★★
2007	92.1	10 of 217	95.4%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	29.1	57 of 75	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	44.5	44 of 75	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	61.4	28 of 93	69.9%	★★★★☆
2023	81.5	7 of 83	91.6%	★★★★★
2022	73.1	15 of 89	83.1%	★★★★☆
2021	70.6	13 of 78	83.3%	★★★★☆
2019	60.2	27 of 89	69.7%	★★★★☆
2018	87.5	7 of 94	92.6%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	53.8	10 of 24	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	71.6	6 of 25	76.0%	★★★★☆
2024	84.6	4 of 27	85.2%	★★★★☆
2023	71.8	8 of 26	69.2%	★★★★☆
2022	63.7	10 of 28	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	66.1	8 of 23	65.2%	★★★★☆
2019	76.0	4 of 23	82.6%	★★★★☆
2018	86.1	4 of 25	84.0%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	73.9	16 of 153	89.5%	★★★★★
2021	84.8	13 of 154	91.6%	★★★★★
2019	66.0	40 of 166	75.9%	★★★★☆
2018	82.5	18 of 166	89.2%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	66.3	3 of 12	75.0%	★★★★☆
2025	65.7	3 of 8	62.5%	★★★★☆
2024	89.2	2 of 48	95.8%	★★★★★
2023	87.7	2 of 41	95.1%	★★★★★
2022	99.9	1 of 37	97.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	54.7	98 of 244	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	73.6	41 of 239	82.8%	★★★★☆
2024	80.3	25 of 261	90.4%	★★★★★
2023	86.3	14 of 253	94.5%	★★★★★
2022	83.1	17 of 252	93.3%	★★★★★
2021	70.5	41 of 236	82.6%	★★★★☆
2019	64.0	80 of 249	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	82.5	26 of 234	88.9%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	56.7	7 of 18	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.8	8 of 17	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	75.3	7 of 23	69.6%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	48.6	51 of 115	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.0	46 of 115	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.4	32 of 124	74.2%	★★★★☆
2023	70.8	16 of 116	86.2%	★★★★☆
2022	79.8	14 of 114	87.7%	★★★★☆
2021	76.7	14 of 92	84.8%	★★★★☆
2019	69.2	23 of 88	73.9%	★★★★☆
2018	59.2	27 of 80	66.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	30.1	182 of 245	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.5	159 of 242	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.8	122 of 274	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.3	68 of 272	75.0%	★★★★☆
2022	73.6	35 of 266	86.8%	★★★★☆
2021	55.5	76 of 234	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.7	129 of 254	49.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	81.9	24 of 232	89.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	46.6	127 of 243	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	67.3	55 of 239	77.0%	★★★★☆
2024	75.9	37 of 262	85.9%	★★★★☆
2023	83.9	18 of 259	93.1%	★★★★★
2022	84.6	19 of 257	92.6%	★★★★★
2021	86.2	17 of 238	92.9%	★★★★★
2019	77.7	34 of 251	86.5%	★★★★☆
2018	92.8	11 of 237	95.4%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	15.5	79 of 87	9.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	68.5	24 of 89	73.0%	★★★★☆
2024	77.2	14 of 87	83.9%	★★★★☆
2023	71.5	11 of 76	85.5%	★★★★☆
2022	79.6	9 of 77	88.3%	★★★★☆
2021	79.1	5 of 49	89.8%	★★★★★
2018	86.5	3 of 42	92.9%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	21.2	77 of 84	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	31.2	59 of 86	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.4	41 of 168	75.6%	★★★★☆
2023	58.9	34 of 162	79.0%	★★★★☆
2019	69.4	46 of 226	79.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	71.8	54 of 253	78.7%	★★★★☆
2025	88.6	15 of 251	94.0%	★★★★★
2024	88.9	17 of 273	93.8%	★★★★★
2023	92.4	10 of 264	96.2%	★★★★★
2022	94.0	9 of 260	96.5%	★★★★★
2021	88.7	15 of 203	92.6%	★★★★★
2019	85.9	19 of 219	91.3%	★★★★★
2018	94.2	10 of 198	94.9%	★★★★★

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)

Disabled (2022)90th percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)79th percentile+21 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)75th percentile+17 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)61st percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)60th percentile~ school

Asian (2026)58th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)56th percentile~ school

Male (2026)48th percentile-10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)26th percentile-32 vs school

African American (2026)24th percentile-34 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)9th percentile-48 vs school

Special Education (2026)8th percentile-49 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Reading51%~ state avg

Mathematics47%+7 vs state

Editing and Mechanics43%+3 vs state

Writing41%-6 vs state

Social Studies36%~ state avg

Science24%~ state avg

3.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, December 27, 2021

Another JCPS school with a behavior problem. Kids can't learn due to disruptions in class. Outside of class, fights are a constant issue. The office staff along with the JCPS Board are useless. God Bless those who have to send their kid there! Close Quote

by a student
Sunday, October 9, 2011

im a student that go to ballard high school that's the best school for your kid to go to Close Quote

Schools Near Ballard High

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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
Ballard High	Public	9-12	6000 Brownsboro Road	Louisville	40222	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	No	(502) 485-8206	2,148	113	19.0	36.1%	1,065 (49.6%)	538 (25.0%)	253 (11.8%)	145 (6.8%)	4 (0.2%)	6 (0.3%)	137 (6.4%)	53.6	111^th of 262 public high schools	57.6%		73.6	45^th of 254 public high schools	82.3%	66				47.0				51.0		24.0		41.0		36.0		43.0	$17,806	$2,224	$14,083
The Brook-KMI	Public	6-12	8521 LaGrange Rd	Louisville	40220	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	No	(502) 814-3722	29	9	3.3	27.6%	21 (72.4%)	3 (10.3%)	3 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.9%)								(n/a)
The Phoenix School of Discovery	Public	6-12	502 Wood Rd	Louisville	40222	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(502) 485-7700	383	42	9.0	57.2%	235 (61.4%)	99 (25.8%)	17 (4.4%)	7 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.5%)	13.5	227^th of 262 public high schools	13.4%		11.3	230^th of 254 public high schools	9.4%	3	17.0	7.0	13.0		28.0	28.0	23.0	28.0					25.0	23.0	21.0
Waggener High	Public	9-12	330 S. Hubbards Lane	Louisville	40207	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(502) 485-8340	888	63	14.1	65.7%	253 (28.5%)	371 (41.8%)	194 (21.8%)	29 (3.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	38 (4.3%)	7.3	240^th of 262 public high schools	8.4%		9.1	235^th of 254 public high schools	7.5%	5				23.0				23.0				21.0		18.0		17.0	$21,864	$2,799	$17,642
Mary Jo and William MacDonald Maryhurst	Public	6-12	1015 Dorsey Ln	Louisville	40223	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	No	(502) 271-4577	63	13	4.8	88.9%	46 (73.0%)	10 (15.9%)	2 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (7.9%)								(n/a)														18.0
Seneca High	Public, Magnet	9-12	3510 Goldsmith Lane	Louisville	40220	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	Yes	No	Yes	(502) 485-8323	1,255	94	13.3	67.8%	308 (24.5%)	421 (33.5%)	419 (33.4%)	46 (3.7%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	57 (4.5%)	9.2	236^th of 262 public high schools	9.9%		5.9	241^st of 254 public high schools	5.1%	5				19.0				26.0		9.0		22.0		24.0		20.0	$20,172	$3,570	$15,211
Boys & Girls Haven	Public	6-12	2301 Goldsmith Ln	Louisville	40218	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	No	(502) 458-1171	20	4	5.6	65.0%	10 (50.0%)	5 (25.0%)	2 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (15.0%)								(n/a)
Newcomer Academy	Public	6-12	3741 Pulliam Dr	Louisville	40218	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	Yes	(502) 485-6324	578	55	10.4	78.2%	49 (8.5%)	193 (33.4%)	321 (55.5%)	15 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1.1	262^nd of 262 public high schools	0.0%					(n/a)				10.0				3.0			5.0
Brooklawn	Public	6-12	3121 Brooklawn Campus Drive	Louisville	40218	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	No	No	No	(502) 515-0460	28	7	3.9	57.1%	19 (67.9%)	6 (21.4%)	2 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.6%)								(n/a)
Atherton High	Public, Magnet	9-12	3000 Dundee Road	Louisville	40205	Jefferson County	Jefferson County	No	Yes	No	No	(502) 485-8202	1,466	81	18.1	41.1%	922 (62.9%)	271 (18.5%)	117 (8.0%)	55 (3.8%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	97 (6.6%)	91.6	9^th of 262 public high schools	96.6%		91.7	8^th of 254 public high schools	96.9%	1				58.0				66.0		42.0		63.0		61.0		63.0	$18,692	$1,885	$15,440

Frequently Asked Questions about Ballard High

What schools feed into Ballard High?

Ballard High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Dunn Elementary
Elementary : Norton Commons Elementary
Elementary : Norton Elementary
Elementary : Wilder Elementary
Middle : Kammerer Middle

What district is Ballard High in?

Jefferson County

How many students attend Ballard High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,148 students attended Ballard High.

Is Ballard High a good school?

Ballard High ranks 111^th of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Ballard High?

Students at Ballard High are 50% White, 25% African American, 12% Hispanic, 7% Asian, 6% Two or more races.

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Latest Kentucky data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 15, 2026

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

2025–26 KSA test scoresOct 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.