The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Louisville for 2026 are Norton Elementary (9.2/10), Greathouse/shryock Traditional (8.6/10), and Hawthorne Elementary (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 87 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Louisville's elementary landscape spans 87 ranked schools, giving families a wide range of options across the metro. Hawthorne Elementary leads the field with an 8.3 out of 10, followed closely by Maryville Elementary and Field Elementary, both at 8.1. The average composite score across all ranked schools sits at 5.6 out of 10, which means meaningful separation exists between the top tier and the middle of the pack — worth keeping in mind as you sort through the data. Only 16 schools, about 18% of the total, score 7 or higher, so competition for seats at the strongest performers can be real. The table below lets you sort by overall score, test performance, and other key metrics to find schools that fit your priorities. Whether you're focused on academics, proximity, or specific program offerings, the data here gives you a direct way to compare your options side by side.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.2
- 28.6
- 38.4
- 48.3
- 58.3
- 67.9
- 77.9
- 87.8
- 97.7
- 107.6
All 87 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 87
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Norton ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 728student-teacher ratio 16.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 2Greathouse/shryock TraditionalJefferson Countystudents 599student-teacher ratio 18.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 3Hawthorne ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 438student-teacher ratio 14.6:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 4Tully ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 795student-teacher ratio 17.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 5Bates ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 576student-teacher ratio 16.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 6Lincoln Elementary Performing ArtsJefferson Countystudents 571student-teacher ratio 16.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 7Farmer ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 759student-teacher ratio 18.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 8Wheeler ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 615student-teacher ratio 16.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 9Bloom ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 540student-teacher ratio 17.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 10Blue Lick ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 493student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 11Lowe ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 594student-teacher ratio 18.6:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 12Bowen ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 766student-teacher ratio 17.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 13Luhr ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 523student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 14Field ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 428student-teacher ratio 17.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 15Stopher ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 767student-teacher ratio 18.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 16Cochran ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 375student-teacher ratio 12.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 17Wilt ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 528student-teacher ratio 16.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 18Kenwood ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 586student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 19Camp Taylor ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 420student-teacher ratio 12.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 20Gutermuth ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 421student-teacher ratio 14.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 21Audubon Traditional ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 616student-teacher ratio 18.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 22Dunn ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 461student-teacher ratio 16.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 23Wilder ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 522student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 24Hite ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 474student-teacher ratio 18.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 25Goldsmith ElementaryJefferson Countystudents 630student-teacher ratio 14.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Kentucky education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in Kentucky. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Norton Elementary
Jefferson County
728 students · 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 1% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 9.3
- 2
Greathouse/shryock Traditional
Jefferson County
599 students · 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 6% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 8.0
- Environment
- 8.2
- 3
Hawthorne Elementary
Jefferson County
438 students · 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 8% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 8.3
- Growth
- 8.0
- Environment
- 9.6
- 4
Tully Elementary
Jefferson County
795 students · 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 10% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 7.5
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 8.4
- 5
Bates Elementary
Jefferson County
576 students · 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 10% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 7.5
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 8.4
- 6
Lincoln Elementary Performing Arts
Jefferson County
571 students · 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 15% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 3.9
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 8.9
- 7
Farmer Elementary
Jefferson County
759 students · 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 15% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 7.6
- Growth
- 8.1
- Environment
- 7.9
- 8
Wheeler Elementary
Jefferson County
615 students · 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 16% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 7.9
- Growth
- 7.2
- Environment
- 9.0
- 9
Bloom Elementary
Jefferson County
540 students · 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 18% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 8.2
- Growth
- 6.8
- Environment
- 9.0
- 10
Blue Lick Elementary
Jefferson County
493 students · 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 20% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 5.1
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 8.2
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Louisville, Kentucky?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Norton Elementary is the top-rated elementary school in Louisville with a composite score of 9.2/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Louisville, Kentucky?
Louisville has 136 elementary schools. Of these, 121 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Louisville?
Among 121 Louisville elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 5.3/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Kentucky).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Kentucky, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Kentucky, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Louisville2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Louisville2026 rankings and ratings
- All 236 schools in LouisvilleElementary, middle and high
- Kentucky schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings