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Below Average

#1012 of 1,284 schools in KY

Shelby Academy

Elementary School · Jefferson County

735 Ziegler Street, Louisville, KY 40217

Enrollment

384

Student-Teacher

12:1

Score

4.8

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Kentucky schools

#1,012 of 1,284

In Louisville

#79 of 147

public schools

In district

#80 of 149

Jefferson County

School environment

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Shelby Academy

4.8/10

Elementary School in Louisville · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Dupont Manual High

9.3/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Noe Middle

7.9/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Shelby Academy

Shelby Academy is a public elementary school in Louisville, KY, part of Jefferson County. Shelby Academy serves approximately 384 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. Shelby Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,012 of 1,284 schools in KY.

Structured state assessment records for Shelby Academy show 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 4.8 · Below Average
  • District avg 4.9
  • KY avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

34% of students at Shelby Academy were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.2Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.79 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics2.8Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency18% (2025 KSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency22.7% (2025 KSA)
Overall Proficiency20% (2025 KSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)35% (model expectation from 2025 KSA)
vs. Expected-14.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile10th
Resources & Environment9.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,200
Chronic Absenteeism33.9%

Shelby Academy — Students at Shelby Academy score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

80.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores KY KSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 22.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 27.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
N/A

Based on 35 test records from KY state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
47%
ELA
46%
2010
Math
48%
ELA
51%
2011
Math
23%
ELA
28%
2012
Math
24%
ELA
27%
2013
Math
26%
ELA
31%
2014
Math
34%
ELA
31%
2015
Math
23%
ELA
27%
2016
Math
21%
ELA
28%
2017
Math
26%
ELA
28%
2018
Math
20%
ELA
24%
2019
Math
20%
ELA
24%
2020*
Math
7.5%
ELA
17%
2021*
Math
7.5%
ELA
17%
2022
Math
8%
ELA
14%
2025
Math
18%
ELA
22.7%

* 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: 4.2/10.

How Shelby Academy Compares

See how Shelby Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.8/10
21th percentile in KY
Academic
2.8/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
4.2/10
Below Average
Environment
9.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
80%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
32 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
33.9%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

735 Ziegler Street, Louisville, KY 40217

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Shelby Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Cochran Elementary (rated 6.6/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Audubon Traditional Elementary (rated 6.1/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, ST STEPHEN MARTYR SCHOOL (rated 5.5/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Louisville, see our Louisville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
duPont Manual High Louisville 0.7 mi 9.3
Noe Middle Louisville 0.7 mi 7.9
U of L PACT Program Louisville 0.8 mi
Pathfinder School of Innovation Louisville 1.2 mi 5.4
Engelhard Elementary Louisville 1.2 mi 3.4
HEUSER HEARING & LANGUAGE ACADEMY Louisville 1.2 mi
Dawson Orman Education Center Louisville 1.2 mi 5.0
Heuser Hearing & Language Academy Louisville 1.2 mi
Meyzeek Middle Louisville 1.3 mi 6.8
Churchill Park School Louisville 1.3 mi 5.0
Cochran Elementary Louisville 1.1 mi 6.6
Audubon Traditional Elementary Louisville 1.3 mi 6.1
ST STEPHEN MARTYR SCHOOL Louisville 1.3 mi 5.5
PRESENTATION ACADEMY Louisville 1.5 mi 8.6
Breckinridge Metropolitan High Louisville 1.6 mi 5.3
Jefferson County Traditional Middle Louisville 1.5 mi 5.4
Ackerly Louisville 1.7 mi
ST FRANCIS SCHOOL Louisville 1.7 mi 8.2
Ahrens Educational Resource Center Louisville 1.9 mi 5.3
NATIVITY ACADEMY AT ST BONIFACE Louisville 1.9 mi 7.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 40217 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$68,573

Median Home Value

$220,700

Median Rent

$1,150/mo

Population

11,831

College Educated

48.2%

Homeownership

59.4%

Avg Commute

18 min

Poverty Rate

13.5%

Median Age

35.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Allen Elementary School Allen, KY 4.8
BLESSED SACRAMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ft. Mitchell, KY 4.8
Brandeis Elementary Louisville, KY 4.8
Chandlers Elementary School Russellville, KY 4.8
Chenoweth Elementary Louisville, KY 4.8
Fulton County Elementary Hickman, KY 4.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Shelby Academy

What grades does Shelby Academy serve?

Shelby Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Shelby Academy?

Shelby Academy has an enrollment of approximately 384 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Shelby Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Shelby Academy is 12:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Shelby Academy rank in KY?

Shelby Academy ranks #1,012 of 1,284 schools in KY.

What is Shelby Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Shelby Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Shelby Academy?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Shelby Academy has 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Shelby Academy a charter school?

No, Shelby Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Shelby Academy a Title I school?

No, Shelby Academy is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Shelby Academy?

80.2% of students at Shelby Academy 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
67 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
39 Some Transit
Bike Score
82 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
384
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Free/Reduced Lunch
80.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Jefferson County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
33.9%

District

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

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