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Very Good

#34 of 219 private schools in KY

Top 15% of private schools

St Mary School System

School

1243 ELMDALE RD, Paducah, KY 42003

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 14 schools in Paducah. Learn more

Enrollment

335

Student-Teacher

7.8:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Paducah

#1 of 3

public schools

Kentucky schools

#17 of 87

Academic performance

8.0 / 10

Very strong

About St Mary School System

ST Mary School System serves 335 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade in Paducah, Kentucky. This regular public school stands out with an impressive 8.0 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranks 36th out of 219 schools statewide, placing it in the 84th percentile among Kentucky schools. The school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7.8:1 with 43 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for more individualized attention and smaller class sizes than most public schools.

This personalized learning environment likely contributes to the school's strong overall performance rating. Located on Elmdale Road in McCracken County, ST Mary School System serves a community where the median household income is $52,342 and median home value reaches $153,900. About 23% of residents in the 42003 zip code area hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while 17.1% of families live below the poverty line.

The school's comprehensive PK-12 structure allows students to remain within the same educational community throughout their academic journey, fostering continuity and long-term relationships. ST Mary School System operates in Paducah's remote town setting, providing education to families in this close-knit Kentucky community of nearly 30,000 residents.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.8:1, St Mary School System offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, St Mary School System operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How St Mary School System compares to 17 public schools serving similar grades in Paducah, KY

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.8:1
This School
vs
15.3:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
335
This School
vs
529
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.7
This School
vs
6.9
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 84.2% vs 0%
Hispanic 6.6% vs 0%
Asian 2.4% vs 0%
Black 2.1% vs 0%
St Mary School System Paducah Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
St Mary School System (this school) 7.7
Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School 7.2
Paducah Middle School 6.5
Clark Elementary School 7.9
Lone Oak Elementary School 7.3
Lone Oak Middle School 8.3
Lone Oak Intermediate School 6.6
Morgan Elementary School 8.3
Paducah Tilghman High School 6.9
McNabb Elementary School 5.1
McCracken Regional School
Choices Educational Center
Concord Elementary School 7.1
Paducah Head Start Preschool 7.7
McCracken County High School 6.1
Reidland Intermediate School 7.4
Reidland Middle School 6.0
Reidland Elementary School 5.0

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in KY.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 8.5 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.8:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B- 5.4 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.8 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,190
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 7.8 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 28%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 335
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in KY

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 84.2%
Hispanic 6.6%
Two or More 4.8%
Asian 2.4%
Black 2.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1243 ELMDALE RD, Paducah, KY 42003

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St Mary School System may also want to explore other schools in the area. Lone Oak Middle School (rated 8.3/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Morgan Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Clark Elementary School (rated 7.9/10, 1.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Paducah, see our Paducah schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.5 mi
School Distance Rating
ST MARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Paducah 0.2 mi 6.7
Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School Paducah 0.7 mi 7.2
Paducah Middle School Paducah 1.2 mi 6.5
Clark Elementary School Paducah 1.2 mi 7.9
Lone Oak Elementary School Paducah 1.4 mi 7.3
Lone Oak Middle School Paducah 1.6 mi 8.3
Lone Oak Intermediate School Paducah 1.6 mi 6.6
Morgan Elementary School Paducah 1.6 mi 8.3
Paducah Tilghman High School Paducah 1.9 mi 6.9
McNabb Elementary School Paducah 2.4 mi 5.1
McCracken Regional School Paducah 3.1 mi
Choices Educational Center Paducah 3.1 mi
Concord Elementary School Paducah 3.1 mi 7.1
Paducah Head Start Preschool Paducah 3.3 mi 7.7
Brookport Elementary School Brookport 5.2 mi 6.9
COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY K-12 Paducah 5.2 mi 6.3
McCracken County High School Paducah 5.1 mi 6.1
Unity Elem School Brookport 7.7 mi 4.5
Reidland Middle School Paducah 6.5 mi 6.0
Reidland Intermediate School Paducah 6.5 mi 7.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 42003 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$54,052

Median Home Value

$160,700

Median Rent

$696/mo

Population

29,384

College Educated

21.7%

Homeownership

69.3%

Avg Commute

16.8 min

Poverty Rate

16.8%

Median Age

41.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding St Mary School System has a median household income of $54,052. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $160,700, with a median rent of $696/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.8%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 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
Cloverport Independent School Cloverport, KY 7.7
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS ACADEMY Hopkinsville, KY 7.7
Fulton Independent School Fulton, KY 7.6
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Hopkinsville, KY 7.6
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF BOWLING GREEN Bowling Green, KY 7.5
THE FRANKFORT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Frankfort, KY 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St Mary School System

What grades does St Mary School System serve?

St Mary School System serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend St Mary School System?

St Mary School System has an enrollment of approximately 335 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St Mary School System?

The student-teacher ratio at St Mary School System is 7.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St Mary School System rank in KY?

St Mary School System is ranked #34 out of 219 private schools in KY.

What is St Mary School System's MySchoolScout rating?

St Mary School System has a composite rating of 7.7 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.

Is St Mary School System a private school?

Yes, St Mary School System is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is St Mary School System a religious school?

St Mary School System has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
45 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
31 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,095/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Paducah). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
335
Gender Split
53% M / 47% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
6.8 hours
Days Per Year
175 days
Setting
Remote Town
County
MCCRACKEN
Data Year
2022–2023

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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