Atherton High

Summary:

Atherton High is a public magnet high school in Louisville, Kentucky, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,461 students. This school stands out as a top performer within the Jefferson County School District, which is ranked 141 out of 159 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Atherton High consistently ranks among the top high schools in Kentucky, with a statewide ranking between 7 and 31 over the past several years. The school has maintained a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for most of the past decade, indicating exceptional academic performance. Atherton High students significantly outperform their peers in the district and the state on standardized tests, such as the ACT and Kentucky State Assessments (KSA). For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 63% of Atherton High's 11th-grade students were proficient or better in ACT English, compared to 38% in the district and 44% statewide. Additionally, Atherton High has a 93.3% four-year graduation rate, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages.

Atherton High's academic performance stands out when compared to nearby schools in the Jefferson County School District. For instance, Newcomer Academy and Liberty High, which are both within a 3-mile radius, rank significantly lower in the state (286th and 261st, respectively) and have much lower test scores and graduation rates. Despite serving a significant population of economically disadvantaged students, with 39.08% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, Atherton High is able to achieve these exceptional academic outcomes, likely due to its access to additional resources and funding, as well as its low student-teacher ratio of 18:1.


Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

 3000 Dundee Road
       Louisville, KY  40205


(502) 485-8202

District: Jefferson County

SchoolDigger Rank:
17th of 290 Kentucky High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,017 Help


Feeder schools for Atherton High:

Elementary:    Field Elementary
    Hawthorne Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  18.0 Help
Number of students:  1,461

Racial breakdown:

White:
64.0%
African American:
20.1%
Hispanic:
7.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  39.1% Help


 See top rated Kentucky high schools

 Compare Atherton High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Atherton High ranks better than 94.1% of high schools in Kentucky. It also ranks 2nd among 24 ranked high schools in the Jefferson County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 87. (See more...)
Help
The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Atherton High freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Atherton High has the largest high school student body size in the Jefferson County School District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Atherton High is $17,017, which is the 15th highest among 24 high schools in the Jefferson County School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Atherton High:

SchoolDigger ranks Atherton High 17th of 290 Kentucky public high schools. (See Atherton High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Jefferson County:

SchoolDigger ranks Jefferson County 141st of 159 Kentucky school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Atherton High?

Rank History for Atherton High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2007 62.85 62nd 217 71.4%
2008 73.39 33rd 217 84.8%
2009 76.43 25th 217 88.5%
2010 72.91 44th 223 80.3%
2011 83.34 16th 226 92.9%
2012 79.26 27th 229 88.2%
2013 88.47 12th 291 95.9%
2014 83.45 25th 290 91.4%
2015 85.79 19th 295 93.6%
2016 88.96 13th 288 95.5%
2017 82.78 23rd 287 92.0%
2018 95.80 7th 271 97.4%
2019 85.95 23rd 285 91.9%
2021 88.85 14th 267 94.8%
2022 91.93 12th 271 95.6%
2023 76.96 31st 276 88.8%
2024 87.00 17th 290 94.1%
See the entire list of Kentucky High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 71.01 9th 39 76.9%
2022 80.61 8th 77 89.6%
2023 69.31 14th 76 81.6%
2024 71.59 17th 87 80.5%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 72.85 38th 226 83.2%
2023 44.13 73rd 162 54.9%
2024 82.40 12th 168 92.9%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.95 5th 232 97.8%
2019 78.22 33rd 254 87.0%
2021 83.91 14th 234 94.0%
2022 92.58 8th 266 97.0%
2023 68.52 49th 272 82.0%
2024 63.97 75th 274 72.6%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 95.49 5th 234 97.9%
2019 78.19 32nd 249 87.1%
2021 82.77 16th 236 93.2%
2022 88.34 14th 252 94.4%
2023 76.28 31st 253 87.7%
2024 84.85 18th 261 93.1%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 63.16 34th 166 79.5%
2019 50.59 71st 166 57.2%
2021 100.00 1st 154 99.4%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 26.92 19th 23 17.4%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.16 16th 237 93.2%
2019 69.56 57th 251 77.3%
2021 88.12 15th 238 93.7%
2022 92.19 8th 257 96.9%
2023 72.29 40th 259 84.6%
2024 84.46 21st 262 92.0%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 89.39 3rd 25 88.0%
2019 60.44 10th 23 56.5%
2021 78.71 6th 23 73.9%
2022 74.25 8th 28 71.4%
2023 84.13 3rd 26 88.5%
2024 71.41 10th 27 63.0%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 94.29 3rd 94 96.8%
2019 78.63 12th 89 86.5%
2021 96.53 3rd 78 96.2%
2022 75.43 13th 89 85.4%
2023 48.62 36th 83 56.6%
2024 35.58 58th 93 37.6%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.25 3rd 80 96.3%
2019 89.10 8th 88 90.9%
2021 90.85 5th 92 94.6%
2022 79.31 16th 114 86.0%
2023 69.93 17th 116 85.3%
2024 84.46 9th 124 92.7%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Atherton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 95.03 9th 198 95.5%
2019 75.34 38th 219 82.6%
2021 87.80 17th 203 91.6%
2022 94.33 8th 260 96.9%
2023 83.81 28th 264 89.4%
2024 92.79 9th 273 96.7%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Kentucky Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Atherton High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 




Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
Facebook Profile Picture by a student on FaceBook
Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Open Quote Atherton High School is amazing. Atherton is a 1 big diverse family. Race, sexual orientation, social class, religion, political views and etc do not matter to anyone at this school. Everyone is accepted for who they are. Bullying is not an issue at this school. Education standards are high. Atherton does not offer comprehensive classes unlike most schools. Atherton only has Honors, Ap, and the highest rated education program in the world which is the i.b. program. If your child wants to go to Atherton you should let them. Close Quote


by a student
Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Open Quote Atherton is a great school. They porvide Honors, AP, and a very rare program known has ib. ib is a program that allows juniors and seniors to take college courses. this program is featered in schools all over the world. Only 3 schools in Ky have this program. The student's at Atherton are very well behaved and your child would be lucky to go there. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Atherton High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 861 272 0 2 0 n/a n/a 0 1135
1989 817 277 5 4 0 n/a n/a 0 1103
1990 726 264 5 2 1 n/a n/a 0 998
1991 719 250 1 6 0 n/a n/a 0 976
1992 725 237 4 6 3 n/a n/a 0 975
1993 777 247 7 6 1 n/a n/a 0 1038
1994 781 251 6 7 0 n/a n/a 0 1045
1995 769 226 8 10 0 n/a n/a 0 1013
1996 769 226 8 10 0 n/a n/a 0 1013
1997 776 205 7 14 1 n/a n/a 0 1003
1998 791 260 11 16 1 n/a n/a 38 1117
1999 805 266 28 24 0 n/a n/a 40 1163
2000 800 255 26 27 0 n/a n/a 52 1160
2001 736 265 29 37 0 n/a n/a 71 1138
2002 671 258 25 59 1 n/a n/a 0 1014
2003 671 258 25 59 1 n/a n/a 0 1014
2004 589 273 19 65 4 n/a n/a 0 950
2005 580 294 15 70 0 n/a n/a 0 959
2006 657 301 24 83 1 n/a n/a 0 1066
2007 665 277 29 99 0 n/a n/a 16 1086
2008 683 267 34 99 1 n/a n/a 13 1097
2009 703 252 51 97 1 n/a n/a 20 1124
2010 729 242 69 95 0 n/a n/a 23 1158
2011 762 255 64 76 0 0 6 0 1163
2012 827 279 53 79 0 0 22 0 1260
2013 851 261 47 77 1 0 30 0 1267
2014 861 250 41 72 2 1 34 0 1261
2015 901 284 44 78 3 0 41 0 1351
2016 914 289 45 70 2 0 41 0 1361
2017 971 306 47 93 1 0 46 0 1464
2018 969 297 56 105 0 0 44 0 1471
2019 985 277 48 109 0 2 40 0 1461
2020 937 263 51 106 0 3 48 0 1408
2021 988 289 52 102 0 3 61 0 1495
2022 969 294 54 82 0 3 62 0 1464
2023 935 294 56 104 0 3 69 0 1461

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Atherton High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1135 70.5 16.0 n/a
1989 1103 63.5 17.3 n/a
1990 998 53.4 18.6 n/a
1991 976 55.5 17.5 n/a
1992 975 59.0 16.5 n/a
1993 1038 57.5 18.1 n/a
1994 1045 55.4 18.9 n/a
1995 1013 51.1 19.8 n/a
1996 1013 51.1 19.8 n/a
1997 1003 49.6 20.2 30.5
1998 1117 53.3 21.0 31.9
1999 1163 54.1 21.5 37.6
2000 1160 57.1 20.3 36.8
2001 1138 55.1 20.7 42.1
2002 1014 52.2 19.4 66.4
2003 1014 52.2 19.4 66.4
2004 950 56.6 16.8 n/a
2005 959 58.0 16.5 n/a
2006 1066 58.0 18.4 51.2
2007 1086 59.0 18.4 46.9
2008 1097 61.5 17.8 49.5
2009 1124 62.5 18.0 48.8
2010 1158 48.7 23.7 49.3
2011 1163 67.2 17.3 47.9
2012 1260 66.2 19.0 41
2013 1267 69.8 18.1 38.3
2014 1261 65.2 19.3 36.1
2015 1351 67.0 20.1 38.2
2016 1361 69.0 19.7 41.2
2017 1464 69.6 21.0 45.5
2018 1471 70.6 20.8 42.1
2019 1461 73.1 19.9 36.2
2020 1408 76.1 18.4 29.3
2021 1495 77.3 19.3 35.3
2022 1464 78.8 18.5 41.4
2023 1461 80.8 18.0 39.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Atherton High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1135 70.5 16.0 n/a
1989 1103 63.5 17.3 n/a
1990 998 53.4 18.6 n/a
1991 976 55.5 17.5 n/a
1992 975 59.0 16.5 n/a
1993 1038 57.5 18.1 n/a
1994 1045 55.4 18.9 n/a
1995 1013 51.1 19.8 n/a
1996 1013 51.1 19.8 n/a
1997 1003 49.6 20.2 30.5
1998 1117 53.3 21.0 31.9
1999 1163 54.1 21.5 37.6
2000 1160 57.1 20.3 36.8
2001 1138 55.1 20.7 42.1
2002 1014 52.2 19.4 66.4
2003 1014 52.2 19.4 66.4
2004 950 56.6 16.8 n/a
2005 959 58.0 16.5 n/a
2006 1066 58.0 18.4 51.2
2007 1086 59.0 18.4 46.9
2008 1097 61.5 17.8 49.5
2009 1124 62.5 18.0 48.8
2010 1158 48.7 23.7 49.3
2011 1163 67.2 17.3 47.9
2012 1260 66.2 19.0 41
2013 1267 69.8 18.1 38.3
2014 1261 65.2 19.3 36.1
2015 1351 67.0 20.1 38.2
2016 1361 69.0 19.7 41.2
2017 1464 69.6 21.0 45.5
2018 1471 70.6 20.8 42.1
2019 1461 73.1 19.9 36.2
2020 1408 76.1 18.4 29.3
2021 1495 77.3 19.3 35.3
2022 1464 78.8 18.5 41.4
2023 1461 80.8 18.0 39.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Atherton High

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $412 (2.9%) $344 (2.5%) $756 (5.4%) $10,888 (78.0%) $1,502 (10.8%) $12,390 (88.7%) $13,967
2019 $453 (3.2%) $315 (2.2%) $768 (5.4%) $11,060 (78.3%) $1,450 (10.3%) $12,510 (88.5%) $14,132
2020 $418 (2.9%) $331 (2.3%) $749 (5.2%) $11,488 (79.3%) $1,347 (9.3%) $12,835 (88.6%) $14,489
2021 $753 (5.3%) $660 (4.7%) $1,413 (10.0%) $10,718 (75.9%) $1,367 (9.7%) $12,085 (85.6%) $14,113
2022 $1,763 (10.4%) $1,387 (8.2%) $3,150 (18.5%) $11,189 (65.8%) $1,479 (8.7%) $12,668 (74.4%) $17,017

Data source: Kentucky Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Atherton High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 23rd of 285 High schoolsRanks 31st of 276 High schools
 3.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English (Atherton High)7567
 8%
   11th Grade English (Jefferson County)40.642
 1.4%
   11th Grade English (Kentucky)49.147
 2.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Atherton High)59.645
 14.6%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Jefferson County)32.228
 4.2%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Kentucky)36.433
 3.4%
11th Grade Reading (Atherton High)74.166
 8.1%
   11th Grade Reading (Jefferson County)39.340
 0.7%
   11th Grade Reading (Kentucky)4644
 2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students14611461
African American277294
 6.1%
American Indian00
Asian4856
 16.7%
Hispanic109104
 4.6%
Pacific Islander23
 50%
White985935
 5.1%
Two or More Races4069
 72.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients36.2%39.1%
 2.9%


Schools Near Atherton High









Frequently Asked Questions about Atherton High

Yes. Atherton High ranks in the top 5.9% of Kentucky high schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,461 students attended Atherton High.

Atherton High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Field Elementary
Elementary : Hawthorne Elementary

Students at Atherton High are 64% White, 20% African American, 7% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% Asian.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Kentucky Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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