Public schools in Bardstown, KY
14 open public schools with an address in Bardstown, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
14
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,639
14 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.9:1
Kentucky median 15:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Bardstown public schools
The federal directory lists 14 public schools in Bardstown, KY: 3 elementary, 2 middle, 5 high, 4 combined or other. The 14 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,639 students, an average of 403 per school. The largest campus is Bardstown Elementary School (847 students).
Nelson County operates the most schools here (8), and 2 regular districts have at least one Bardstown campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 15.9:1, higher than the statewide school median of 15:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 52% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Bardstown
Elementary schools in Bardstown
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bardstown Elementary School Bardstown Independent | 02–05 | 847 | 15.6:1 | |
| Bardstown Primary School Bardstown Independent | KG–01 | 434 | 15.5:1 | |
| Foster Heights Elementary School Nelson County | KG–05 | 588 | 13.7:1 |
Middle schools in Bardstown
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bardstown Middle School Bardstown Independent | 06–08 | 591 | 16.7:1 | |
| Old Kentucky Home Middle School Nelson County | 06–08 | 594 | 19.2:1 |
High schools in Bardstown
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bardstown High School Bardstown Independent | 09–12 | 703 | 18.2:1 | |
| Heartland Youth Village Nelson County · Alternative School | 06–12 | 15 | 7.5:1 | |
| Nelson County High School Nelson County | 09–12 | 756 | 16.2:1 | |
| The Up Center Nelson County · Career and Technical School | 06–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Thomas Nelson High School Nelson County | 09–12 | 629 | 19.4:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Bardstown
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bardstown Alternative School Bardstown Independent · Alternative School | KG–12 | 31 | 6.9:1 | |
| Bardstown Early Childhood Center Bardstown Independent | PK–PK | 263 | 26.3:1 | |
| Nelson County Early Learning Center Nelson County | PK–PK | 150 | 39.5:1 | |
| The Academy at Horizons Nelson County · Alternative School | KG–12 | 38 | 4.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White76.6%
- Hispanic6.7%
- Black6.6%
- Asian1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial8.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 13 Bardstown schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,639 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Bardstown
How many public schools are in Bardstown, KY?
The current NCES directory lists 14 open public schools with a location address in Bardstown: 3 elementary, 2 middle, 5 high, 4 combined or other. Together they reported 5,639 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Bardstown?
Schools with an address in Bardstown belong to 2 education agencies, led by Nelson County (8 schools), Bardstown Independent (6 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Bardstown?
Nelson County High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Bardstown, with 756 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Bardstown?
No school with an address in Bardstown is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Kentucky.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Bardstown schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Bardstown public schools is 15.9:1, higher than the Kentucky school median of 15:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Bardstown guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Kentucky cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Kentucky cities