The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Louisville for 2026 are Grace M. James Academy of Excellence (8.9/10), Noe Middle (7.9/10), and Western Middle School for the Arts (7.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 22 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Louisville's middle school landscape spans 22 ranked schools, with performance varying considerably across the metro. Grace M. James Academy of Excellence leads the field at 8.3 out of 10, followed by Meyzeek Middle at 7.8 and Noe Middle at 7.1 — making them the three schools that clear the 7-point threshold, a bar only 14% of ranked schools reach. The average composite score across all 22 schools sits at 5.6 out of 10, which means strong options exist but require careful comparison. Scores, student-teacher ratios, and other key metrics in the table below can be sorted to match your priorities. Whether you're weighing academics, proximity, or school size, the data gives you a direct look at how each school stacks up — without the guesswork.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.9
- 27.9
- 37.7
- 47.6
- 56.9
- 66.8
- 76.1
- 86.0
- 95.8
- 105.8
All 22 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 22
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Grace M. James Academy of ExcellenceJefferson Countystudents 424student-teacher ratio 14.6:1grades 6th–9th
- 2Noe MiddleJefferson Countystudents 1,198student-teacher ratio 19.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 3Western Middle School for the ArtsJefferson Countystudents 618student-teacher ratio 17.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 4Barret Traditional MiddleJefferson Countystudents 631student-teacher ratio 18.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 5Westport MiddleJefferson Countystudents 1,051student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 6Meyzeek MiddleJefferson Countystudents 896student-teacher ratio 17.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 7Kammerer MiddleJefferson Countystudents 678student-teacher ratio 14.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 8Frederick Law Olmsted Academy NorthJefferson Countystudents 486student-teacher ratio 14.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 9Crosby MiddleJefferson Countystudents 887student-teacher ratio 18.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 10Knight MiddleJefferson Countystudents 569student-teacher ratio 16.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 11Lassiter MiddleJefferson Countystudents 889student-teacher ratio 14.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 12Jefferson County Traditional MiddleJefferson Countystudents 874student-teacher ratio 19.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 13Frederick Law Olmsted Academy SouthJefferson Countystudents 549student-teacher ratio 13.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 14Highland MiddleJefferson Countystudents 717student-teacher ratio 14.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 15Newburg MiddleJefferson Countystudents 753student-teacher ratio 13.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 16Ramsey MiddleJefferson Countystudents 1,029student-teacher ratio 16.1:1grades 6th–8th
- 17Thomas Jefferson MiddleJefferson Countystudents 894student-teacher ratio 13.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 18Carrithers MiddleJefferson Countystudents 552student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 19Farnsley MiddleJefferson Countystudents 973student-teacher ratio 18.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 20Stuart AcademyJefferson Countystudents 1,008student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 21Conway MiddleJefferson Countystudents 609student-teacher ratio 16.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 22Johnson Traditional MiddleJefferson Countystudents 660student-teacher ratio 21.3:1grades 6th–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Kentucky education department. Rankings are relative to all public middle schools in Kentucky. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 22 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Grace M. James Academy of Excellence
Jefferson County
424 students · 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–9th
Top 4% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 7.3
- Growth
- 10.0
- Environment
- 9.4
- 2
Noe Middle
Jefferson County
1,198 students · 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 15% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 4.3
- 3
Western Middle School for the Arts
Jefferson County
618 students · 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 18% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 6.0
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 6.9
- 4
Barret Traditional Middle
Jefferson County
631 students · 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 20% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 8.8
- Growth
- 6.5
- Environment
- 7.6
- 5
Westport Middle
Jefferson County
1,051 students · 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 35% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 4.5
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 6.2
- 6
Meyzeek Middle
Jefferson County
896 students · 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 38% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 5.7
- Growth
- 7.7
- Environment
- 7.1
- 7
Kammerer Middle
Jefferson County
678 students · 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 54% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 4.8
- Growth
- 6.6
- Environment
- 7.1
- 8
Frederick Law Olmsted Academy North
Jefferson County
486 students · 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 56% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 2.0
- Growth
- 7.4
- Environment
- 9.5
- 9
Crosby Middle
Jefferson County
887 students · 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 61% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 7.3
- Growth
- 5.6
- Environment
- 3.9
- 10
Knight Middle
Jefferson County
569 students · 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 61% in Kentucky
- Academics
- 2.2
- Growth
- 8.2
- Environment
- 6.8
Questions
What is the best middle school in Louisville, Kentucky?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Grace M. James Academy of Excellence is the top-rated middle school in Louisville with a composite score of 8.9/10. 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 middle schools are in Louisville, Kentucky?
Louisville has 24 middle schools. Of these, 24 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in Louisville?
Among 24 Louisville middle schools with a composite score, the average is 5.7/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Kentucky).
How does MySchoolScout rate middle 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 elementary 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