Buckner Elementary School, Buckner KY

Original Research by School Decision on Buckner Elementary School

Buckner Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the Oldham County district. The school is located in Buckner, a census-designated place with an affluent suburban-rural character. Buckner functions largely as a bedroom community for Louisville-area commuters, with most residents traveling a moderate distance to work. Owner-occupied housing rates and median household income are well above national averages, and a substantial share of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The built environment is auto-dependent and low-density, with no traditional walkable center. Oldham County High School sits within the same CDP, placing a secondary anchor in the community. Population has been relatively stable in recent years, and median home values are significantly above the national figure, suggesting an established, high-cost housing market. An EF2 tornado hit the town and the school in a spring of a recent year, which may have affected local trajectories.

Buckner Elementary enrolls a moderately sized student body for its grade band. The student population is predominantly white, with a small share of students who are Hispanic, multiracial, Black, Asian, or American Indian. A relatively low portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the overall economic context of the community. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so families with children in those categories may want to inquire directly with the school about supports and services.

Academic performance on Kentucky’s state assessments in the most recent school year shows a pattern of solid proficiency across grades and subjects. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above rose from a solid majority in third grade to a strong majority in fourth grade and an even higher share in fifth grade. In English language arts, proficiency was similar: a solid majority in third grade, a stronger result in fourth, and a still solid share in fifth. Science results for fourth grade and social studies results for fifth grade both show a majority proficient. The third-grade math result is the lowest across all grade-subject combinations, still a majority but a softer one; a parent may want to follow up on how the school supports early math skills. Overall, proficiency rates in the upper elementary grades are consistently strong, suggesting that students generally meet academic benchmarks by the time they leave the school.

The school did not report a graduation rate, which is expected since it serves only elementary grades and no high school endpoint exists. No program offerings, such as gifted or specialized tracks, were listed in the available data. Families looking for enrichment or accelerated pathways may want to ask what is available. The school is part of the Oldham County district, but no district-level brief was provided, so recent changes or initiatives at the district level are not covered here.

Buckner Elementary offers a straightforward academic pathway in an economically well-positioned community. The proficiency numbers point to a school where most students are performing at grade level, with particularly strong results in upper elementary. The context of high local housing costs and low poverty among the student body shapes the peer environment. Families who value a traditional elementary program in a stable, affluent suburban setting will find a fit here, while those seeking specific programs or more demographic diversity may want to explore further.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 358%

School 58% · District 55% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median

Grade 473%

School 73% · District 58% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median

Grade 580%

School 80% · District 63% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 38 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 362%

School 62% · District 57% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median

Grade 474%

School 74% · District 64% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median

Grade 570%

School 70% · District 69% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median

Science

Grade 467%

School 67% · District 50% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 567%

School 67% · District 55% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median

This schoolOldham County, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income55%Higher-income64%9 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income67%Higher-income75%8 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income47%Higher-income74%27 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income50%Higher-income59%9 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income57%Higher-income76%19 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income73%Higher-income81%8 pp gap