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Excellent

#75 of 1,284 schools in KY

Top 6% in state

Grace M. James Academy of Excellence

Middle School · Jefferson County

1615 West Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203

Enrollment

424

Student-Teacher

14.6:1

Score

8.3

Grades

6th – 9th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Louisville

#6 of 147

public schools

Kentucky middle schools

#2 of 216

In district

#6 of 149

Jefferson County

Academic growth

10.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Grace M. James Academy of Excellence

Grace M. James Academy of Excellence is a public middle school in Louisville, KY, part of the Jefferson County. The school serves approximately 424 students in grades 6th – 9th with a student-teacher ratio of 14.6:1.

It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 94.2th percentile among KY schools — an above average rating overall. Students demonstrate 19% proficiency in math and 46% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (10.0/10).

Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $31,430, where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The school is situated in a large city setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress10.0Exceptional40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+10.25 pts/yr
Data Period2021–2022
TrendImproving
Academics6.0Above Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency31%
Reading/ELA Proficiency44%
Overall Proficiency38%
Expected (poverty-adj.)39%
vs. Expected-1.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile43th
Resources & Environment9.0Exceptional25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,376

Grace M. James Academy of Excellence — Students at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence score 38% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

61.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores KY EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 19.3%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 45.5%
School
State
N/A

Based on 4 test records from KY state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2021*
Math
7.5%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
31%
ELA
44%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 10.0/10.

How Grace M. James Academy of Excellence Compares

See how Grace M. James Academy of Excellence performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.3/10
94th percentile in KY
Academic
6.0/10
6.0/10
Growth
10.0/10
Above average
Environment
9.0/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
61%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
29 teachers

Location

1615 West Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Grace M. James Academy of Excellence may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Western Middle School for the Arts (rated 4.5/10, 0.9 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Johnson Traditional Middle (rated 2.1/10, 1.3 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Louisville, see our Louisville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Dr. William H. Perry Elementary School Louisville 0.2 mi 6.9
EMMA L. MINNIS JUNIOR ACADEMY Louisville 0.3 mi 5.0
Central High Magnet Career Academy Louisville 0.5 mi 8.5
Coleridge-Taylor Montessori Elementary Louisville 0.5 mi 5.7
Byck Elementary Louisville 0.8 mi 6.9
Western Middle School for the Arts Louisville 0.9 mi 4.5
Jefferson Regional Juvenile Detention Ce Louisville 0.9 mi
PRESENTATION ACADEMY Louisville 1.2 mi 8.6
Johnson Traditional Middle Louisville 1.3 mi 2.1
Brandeis Elementary Louisville 1.2 mi 7.5
ST FRANCIS SCHOOL Louisville 1.3 mi 8.2
Atkinson Academy Louisville 1.5 mi 6.8
Ahrens Educational Resource Center Louisville 1.4 mi 7.2
J. Graham Brown School Louisville 1.4 mi 7.6
Engelhard Elementary Louisville 1.5 mi 6.9
Heuser Hearing & Language Academy Louisville 1.5 mi
HEUSER HEARING & LANGUAGE ACADEMY Louisville 1.5 mi
Maupin Elementary Louisville 1.6 mi 6.3
Mcferran Preparatory Academy Louisville 1.9 mi 4.9
Western Day Treatment Louisville 1.9 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 40203 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$31,430

Median Home Value

$179,300

Median Rent

$828/mo

Population

17,540

College Educated

22.3%

Homeownership

24.7%

Avg Commute

21.2 min

Poverty Rate

39.9%

Median Age

34.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Grace M. James Academy of Excellence has a median household income of $31,430. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $179,300, with a median rent of $828/month. The area has a poverty rate of 39.9%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Clay County Middle School Manchester, KY 8.2
Scapa At Bluegrass Lexington, KY 8.5
Hazard Middle School Hazard, KY 8.1
Johnson County Middle School Paintsville, KY 8.1
Owensboro Innovation Middle School Owensboro, KY 7.7
Flaherty Elementary School Ekron, KY 7.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Grace M. James Academy of Excellence

What grades does Grace M. James Academy of Excellence serve?

Grace M. James Academy of Excellence serves students in grades 6th through 9th.

How many students attend Grace M. James Academy of Excellence?

Grace M. James Academy of Excellence has an enrollment of approximately 424 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence?

The student-teacher ratio at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Grace M. James Academy of Excellence rank in KY?

Grace M. James Academy of Excellence is ranked #75 out of 1,284 schools in KY.

What is Grace M. James Academy of Excellence's MySchoolScout rating?

Grace M. James Academy of Excellence has a composite rating of 8.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Grace M. James Academy of Excellence has 19.3% math proficiency and 45.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Grace M. James Academy of Excellence a charter school?

No, Grace M. James Academy of Excellence is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Grace M. James Academy of Excellence a Title I school?

No, Grace M. James Academy of Excellence is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Grace M. James Academy of Excellence?

61.3% of students at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
70 Very Walkable
Transit Score
49 Some Transit
Bike Score
90 Biker’s Paradise
County Safety
Low (0/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 9th
Enrollment
424
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Free/Reduced Lunch
61.3%
Type
alternative
Setting
Large City
County
Jefferson County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Jefferson County
District Enrollment
94,793
Schools in District
171
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,200
District Rank
#6 of 149

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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