Below Average
#1140 of 1,284 schools in KY
Southern High
High School · Jefferson County · Louisville, KY
A Jefferson County high school where students score 21 points below what's typical for similar communities.
8620 Preston Highway, Louisville, KY 40219
- Math 17% proficient (2025)
- Reading 23% proficient (2025)
- 84.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Southern High score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).
2025 KSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. KY average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 15 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 20% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 20% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 30% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 32 test records from KY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
65.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Southern High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Louisville map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 59Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 32Some Transit
- Bike 47Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low0/100K
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$52,271
Median home value
$186,000
Median rent
$967/mo
College educated
19.6%
Homeownership
51%
Poverty rate
17.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 40219; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion C. Moore SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.2 | 6–12 | 2.5 mi | 2,031 | Compare → |
| Mary Ryan AcademyEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | 9–12 | 3.3 mi | 18 | Compare → |
| Micah Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.2private | K–12 | 3.3 mi | 172 | Compare → |
| W.e.b. Dubois AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | 6–11 | 3.3 mi | 507 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Jefferson County
- Schools in district
- 171
- Rank in district
- #107 of 149
- District spending per student
- $18,200NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southern High is listed in Jefferson County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southern High
Southern High is a public high school in Louisville, KY, part of Jefferson County, serving approximately 1,540 students in grades 9th-12th with a 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,140 of 1,284 schools in KY. State assessment records show 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southern High
What grades does Southern High serve?
Southern High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Southern High?
Southern High has an enrollment of approximately 1,540 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern High?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern High is 17.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southern High rank in KY?
Southern High ranks #1,140 of 1,284 schools in KY.
What is Southern High's MySchoolScout rating?
Southern High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 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 Southern High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southern High has 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Southern High a charter school?
No, Southern High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southern High a Title I school?
No, Southern High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southern High?
65.6% of students at Southern High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,540
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 90
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Jefferson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 49.9%
- Phone
- (502) 485-8330
- 4-Year Graduation
- 84.0%
- Area population (ZIP 40219)
- 39,107
- Area average commute
- 21 min
- Area median age
- 35
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 KSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 KSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 KSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 KSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 40219; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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