The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in Math. The lowest is 16% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Hazelwood Elementary
Hazelwood Elementary is a regular public school in Louisville, Kentucky, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Jefferson County Public Schools system. It sits in a section of the city that reflects Louisville’s broad mix of commercial, industrial, and residential uses. The school itself reports a student body that draws from a wide cross-section of the surrounding neighborhood.
Academically, Hazelwood’s state assessment results show that across the tested grade levels and subjects, a relatively small share of students met the commonwealth’s proficiency standard. Reading and math proficiency rates in grades three through five fell in a range that places the school among the lower-performing in Jefferson County when compared with other elementary schools in the district. In some grade-level subjects fewer than one in five students scored proficient or above. State testing data for third-grade math was suppressed and not available for public reporting, so the picture for that cohort is incomplete. The school’s overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile relative to districts across the county. A parent considering Hazelwood may want to look into what academic supports the school offers and how it works with students who are below grade level in core subjects.
The student body is diverse. A substantial share of students are Black, a large share are Hispanic, and the rest include White students, Asian students, and students of two or more races. A high proportion of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that many households face economic challenges. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so it is unclear how those populations are served or what share of the school’s resources are directed toward special education or language support.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to consider. The school does not offer advanced placement, dual-credit, or career pathway programs, which are features of high schools and do not apply here.
Housing in the area around Hazelwood is relatively affordable by state and national standards. Home values in the school’s zip code are below the statewide median and well below the national benchmark, and the typical rent is also lower than what many households pay nationwide. That said, rents have been rising at a pace that outpaces both home value growth and the overall rental market, so housing costs may be a growing concern for families. A typical mortgage in this area is close to the median rent, so owning and renting are comparably priced.
Louisville itself is a large, low-density city that merged with Jefferson County in a consolidation that greatly expanded its land area. The economy is anchored by major employers including UPS, which runs its worldwide air hub at the local airport, Humana, and Yum! Brands. The city is car-dependent outside the urban core, and Hazelwood’s neighborhood is part of that spread-out development pattern. The Ohio River, Churchill Downs, and the University of Louisville are prominent civic anchors.
The district brief for Jefferson County Public Schools turned up no recent changes or announcements that directly affect Hazelwood, though available research was limited.
Hazelwood Elementary may fit a family looking for an affordable neighborhood within Louisville where home prices are modest and the school is a neighborhood anchor serving a diverse, low-income community. The academic profile is soft, and a family for whom strong test scores are a priority would need to investigate what intervention and enrichment programs are in place. Because many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the school likely has access to federal Title I funding and the supports that come with it, but no confirmation of that status was part of the data. The school’s size is moderate for an elementary, with balanced grade-level enrollments across the pre-K through fifth span. The setting is a regular public school with no magnet or charter designation.
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