Best Schools in Bardstown, Kentucky
15 schools · 4 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Bardstown?
Use this page to compare every school in Bardstown by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Bardstown Elementary School
Elementary · Bardstown Independent. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Nelson County Baptist School
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Bardstown Middle School
Middle · Bardstown Independent. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Bardstown for 2026 are Bardstown Elementary School (8.3/10), Nelson County Baptist School (7.3/10), and Bardstown Middle School (6.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
15
12 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$224,600
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
15
12 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$224,600
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.3/10 despite 56% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Bardstown schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Bardstown
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (12 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bardstown Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Nelson County Baptist School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Bardstown Middle School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Bethlehem High School/diocese | 6.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Bardstown High School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Nelson County High School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 7 | The Academy at Horizons | 5.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Thomas Nelson High School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Old Kentucky Home Middle School | 4.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Bardstown Alternative School | 4.1 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.4/10
- Median household income
- $64,222
- Median home value
- $224,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 25%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 72%
13% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Bardstown compares
Kentucky rank
#111 of 137
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.8
below Kentucky avg (6.2)
Median household income
$64k
108% of Kentucky median
Schools in this city
15
About Schools in Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown, Kentucky has 12 ranked public schools, and the distribution of performance tells parents a lot before they visit a single campus. The city's average score is 5.4 out of 10. Only 2 of those 12 schools — 17% of the total — score 7 or above, so strong performers exist but they stand out clearly from the rest of the field.
Bardstown High School leads with a 7.8 out of 10, the top result in the city. Bardstown Elementary School runs close behind at 7.5, giving families with young children access to a comparably strong option. Together, these two schools form a clear upper tier, each sitting well above the city average of 5.4. For families with kids at either end of the K–12 span, Bardstown's top schools are a real asset.
The remaining named schools sit closer to or below that average. Bardstown Middle School posts a 6.7 — solid, but a meaningful step down from the top two. Bardstown Primary School scores 6.0, and The Academy at Horizons rounds out the named schools at 5.6, landing near the city mean. The spread from 5.6 to 7.8 across the top five schools reflects genuine variation within a compact system. Parents of middle-grade students in particular should look beyond the headline score before settling on a neighborhood or school preference.
For families doing serious research, Bardstown's pattern is one of strong bookends with more variable performance in the middle grades. The high school and elementary are the city's clearest strengths — each scoring more than 2 points above the 5.4 city average. With 12 ranked schools total, individual research pays off here. Summary averages can flatten differences that matter on the ground.
Elementary Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 841 students · 2nd–5th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 406 students · Kindergarten–1st | 6.2 | ||
| 3 | 624 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.1 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Joseph School
Private
356 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.0 | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 557 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 391 students · 6th–8th | 4.2 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 670 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 2 | 783 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 3 | 643 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Bethlehem High School/diocese
Private
279 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 52 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | 37 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.1 | ||
| 3 | 155 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 3.9 | ||
| 4 | 267 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 3.1 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Nelson County Baptist School
Private
73 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.3 | ||
Schools in Bardstown
Bardstown, Kentucky · 15 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$64,222
Median Home Value
$224,600
Median Rent
$946/mo
Population
30,345
College Educated
25%
Homeownership
72%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Community Profile
Bardstown has a median household income of $64,222. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $224,600, with a median rent of $946/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.2%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Kentucky
- Elementary
- 4
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 4
- Other
- 5
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Kentucky
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Bardstown, Kentucky
How many schools are in Bardstown, Kentucky?
Bardstown has 15 schools, including 12 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Bardstown, Kentucky?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Bardstown is 5.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Bardstown, Kentucky?
The top-ranked school in Bardstown on MySchoolScout is Bardstown Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Bardstown, Kentucky?
The top-ranked elementary school in Bardstown on MySchoolScout is Bardstown Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Bardstown, Kentucky?
The top-ranked middle school in Bardstown on MySchoolScout is Bardstown Middle School with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best high school in Bardstown, Kentucky?
The top-ranked high school in Bardstown on MySchoolScout is Bethlehem High School/diocese with a composite score of 6.3/10.
How many school districts serve Bardstown, Kentucky?
Bardstown is served by 2 school districts: Bardstown Independent, Nelson County.
What is the education level in Bardstown, Kentucky?
According to Census data, 25% of adults in Bardstown have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Bardstown, Kentucky?
The median household income in Bardstown is approximately $64,222 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Bardstown, Kentucky?
Yes, Bardstown has 3 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Nelson County Baptist School with a score of 7.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Bardstown, Kentucky?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Bardstown is 26.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Bardstown, Kentucky?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Kentucky Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.