Nelson County, KY - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Nelson County

Nelson County Schools serves the entirety of Nelson County, Kentucky, covering students from preschool through twelfth grade across more than a dozen schools. The district is a single countywide system, so families living anywhere in the county attend its schools. With enrollment in the several thousands, the district is large enough to offer a range of elementary, middle, and high school options, including two comprehensive high schools, an early learning center, and several alternative or special-purpose schools such as The Academy at Horizons and The New Haven School. The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic, Black, Asian, and multiracial students. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner populations were not reported in available sources, so a parent may want to ask the district directly about those supports and the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

State assessment results for the 2024-25 school year provide a picture of academic performance in the elementary and middle grades. In math, proficiency rates across grades three through eight range from roughly a quarter to just over two-fifths of students scoring at the proficient or advanced level. The lower end appears in the seventh and eighth grades, while the higher end appears in third and fourth grades. In English language arts, the pattern is similar: third through sixth graders show proficiency rates in the upper third to nearly half, with seventh and eighth grades lower. Science, tested in fourth and seventh grades, shows a modest share of fourth graders meeting the bar and a smaller share of seventh graders. Social studies, tested in fifth and eighth grades, shows about three out of ten students proficient. High school course performance data were not available, nor was the district’s graduation rate. Those gaps mean that a parent considering this district for older students will want to seek out information on high school outcomes directly from the school or state report card.

The district sits within a county that includes communities such as Bardstown, Bloomfield, Coxs Creek, New Haven, and others. Home values in these areas vary but cluster at a level that is above the typical Kentucky home value and a bit below the national typical value. Growth in home values has been modest in recent months. The county’s economic context, based on available indicators, shows a stable national unemployment picture and a mortgage rate near recent averages. No detailed district brief was found describing recent changes such as bond issues, boundary adjustments, or program expansions, so a family looking for signs of strategic direction may want to review district communications or board meeting minutes.

Nelson County Schools offers a conventional public education pathway through a set of neighborhood elementary schools, middle schools, and two high schools. The academic results on state tests are moderate; many students are scoring below the proficient threshold in math and reading by middle school, which is a pattern some families will want to investigate further, especially regarding interventions and support for students who are not yet at grade level. The district also includes specialized programs such as an early learning center and alternative schools, which suggests some capacity to serve students with varied needs, though details on course access, Advanced Placement, career and technical education, and dual-credit offerings were not provided in the data. A parent evaluating this district would benefit from asking specific questions about high school graduation requirements, postsecondary readiness programming, and how the district supports students who are behind academically.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,412

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 4%

Black 1%

White 91%

Asian 1%

Two+ 3%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

36%

42%

Gr 4

37%

62%

Gr 5

31%

46%

Gr 6

33%

53%

Gr 7

27%

40%

Gr 8

21%

35%

Math

Gr 3

35%

47%

Gr 4

30%

56%

Gr 5

26%

41%

Gr 6

22%

39%

Gr 7

19%

35%

Gr 8

16%

34%

Science

Gr 4

22%

45%

Gr 7

17%

27%

Social studies

Gr 5

26%

34%

Gr 8

21%

37%

source_specific:wri

Gr 5

15%

22%

Gr 8

29%

46%

Schools in this District

13 schools are officially reported under this district.

Bloomfield Middle School

Boston School

Coxs Creek Elementary School

Foster Heights Elementary School

Old Kentucky Home Middle School

Nelson County High School

The New Haven School

Bloomfield Elementary School

The Academy at Horizons

Nelson County Early Learning Center

Thomas Nelson High School

THE UP CENTER

Heartland Youth Village

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

40%

Grade 3

42%

Grade 4

33%

Grade 5

29%

Grade 6

27%

Grade 7

25%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

39%

Grade 3

48%

Grade 4

37%

Grade 5

41%

Grade 6

34%

Grade 7

28%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

33%

Grade 4

22%

Grade 7

Social Studies

2 grades reported

30%

Grade 5

30%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$258,374

Year-over-year change+3.0%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$211K to $314K

vs. state typical1.11x

vs. national typical0.70x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
40004	Bardstown	$264K	+3.6%	32.6%
40008	Bloomfield	$260K	+2.5%	18.5%
40051	New Haven	$211K	+2.2%	15.3%
40013	Coxs Creek	$314K	+2.6%	14.2%
40107	Bardstown	$248K	+2.8%	13.1%
40052	New Hope	$242K	+2.2%	2.5%
40012	Chaplin	$218K	+4.8%	2.1%
40037	Loretto	$246K	+7.5%	1.4%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,304/mo

Home price / national median income3.1x

Comparison

State typical home value$232,231 (-0.3% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.