Watterson Elementary

Summary:

Watterson Elementary is a public elementary school in Louisville, Kentucky, serving 494 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Jefferson County school district, which is ranked 141 out of 159 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Watterson Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Kentucky elementary schools over the past decade, with its statewide ranking ranging from 441 to 656 out of around 700 schools. The school's performance has been relatively stagnant, with a 1-star or 2-star rating from SchoolDigger for most years. Watterson Elementary consistently underperforms compared to the Jefferson County and Kentucky state averages in core subject areas like Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Social Studies. The school also struggles to support the academic achievement of various student subgroups, including African American, White, and Low Socioeconomic Status students.

While the nearby schools in the Jefferson County district, such as Alex R. Kennedy Elementary, Rangeland Elementary, and Luhr Elementary, also struggle with academic performance, some schools like Hawthorne Elementary and Greathouse/Shryock Traditional have significantly higher academic achievement and statewide rankings, suggesting that there is potential for improvement within the district. Despite the relatively high spending and reasonable student-teacher ratio at Watterson Elementary, the school's academic performance remains significantly below the state and district averages, indicating that factors beyond just funding and staffing may be contributing to the school's challenges.


Detail:

Public K-5

 3900 Breckinridge Lane
       Louisville, KY  40218


(502) 485-8342

District: Jefferson County

SchoolDigger Rank:
654th of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $18,364 Help


Students who attend Watterson Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Ramsey Middle
High:    Fern Creek High

Student/teacher ratio:  13.9 Help
Number of students:  484

Racial breakdown:

African American:
37.8%
White:
33.9%
Hispanic:
17.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  70.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Watterson Elementary ranks worse than 95.5% of elementary schools in Kentucky. It also ranks 64th among 87 ranked elementary schools in the Jefferson County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 7.93. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a 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
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Compare Details Student population at Watterson Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (37.8%), White (33.9%), Hispanic (17.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 70.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Watterson Elementary is 13.9, which is the 26th best among 87 elementary schools in the Jefferson County School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Watterson Elementary employs 34.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Watterson Elementary is $18,364. 61 elementary schools in the Jefferson County School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Watterson Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Watterson Elementary 654th of 685 Kentucky public elementary schools. (See Watterson Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
White students:


Jefferson County:

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

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Watterson Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Watterson Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2007 32.14 467th 638 26.8%
2008 32.20 478th 651 26.6%
2009 12.02 602nd 658 8.5%
2010 5.69 649th 683 5.0%
2011 13.80 627th 688 8.9%
2012 24.65 601st 713 15.7%
2013 32.23 549th 719 23.6%
2014 36.11 500th 705 29.1%
2015 27.27 562nd 698 19.5%
2016 40.28 444th 690 35.7%
2017 37.02 483rd 694 30.4%
2018 39.84 441st 691 36.2%
2019 21.58 596th 700 14.9%
2022 7.05 656th 684 4.1%
2023 14.51 616th 687 10.3%
2024 7.93 654th 685 4.5%
See the entire list of Kentucky Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Watterson Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.35 12th 59 79.7%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Watterson Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 22.41 57th 65 12.3%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Watterson Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 24.53 545th 661 17.5%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Watterson Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.86 307th 631 51.3%
2019 22.53 570th 664 14.2%
2022 11.77 636th 667 4.6%
2023 15.79 616th 670 8.1%
2024 10.96 638th 665 4.1%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Watterson Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.53 339th 663 48.9%
2019 36.70 490th 671 27.0%
2022 8.00 622nd 641 3.0%
2023 23.40 520th 639 18.6%
2024 6.55 623rd 644 3.3%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Watterson Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 21.79 387th 445 13.0%
2019 15.90 449th 474 5.3%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Watterson Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.34 508th 665 23.6%
2019 13.80 621st 676 8.1%
2022 8.91 622nd 657 5.3%
2023 11.69 618th 652 5.2%
2024 9.17 620th 652 4.9%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Watterson Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 66.96 41st 184 77.7%
2019 42.86 106th 185 42.7%
2022 15.62 111th 118 5.9%
2023 50.08 53rd 129 58.9%
2024 17.21 125th 140 10.7%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Watterson Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 64.20 37th 153 75.8%
2019 71.18 32nd 152 78.9%
2023 53.33 48th 120 60.0%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Watterson Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 51.76 290th 593 51.1%
2019 26.20 484th 592 18.2%
2022 22.09 544th 656 17.1%
2023 16.25 593rd 658 9.9%
2024 4.86 653rd 659 0.9%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary 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.

Watterson Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
50%

0%

0%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Open Quote As a parent with a child here in 2018, I cannot say how ill the idea makes me that my son goes here. There is a SEVERE lack of attention paid to the children to help them grow, they "dumb down" the curriculum because most of the students are behind, so any child (like mine) that is advanced in any area is going to be bored, let down, and not challenged.

There are 4 other schools in the area I would rather have my son attend than this place. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Open Quote I'm new to the school. And it has been an excellent school. The teachers and staff really care. And she loves it there as well. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Watterson Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 347 151 3 3 0 n/a n/a 0 504
1989 330 149 5 2 1 n/a n/a 0 487
1990 299 136 5 1 0 n/a n/a 0 441
1991 350 142 0 9 0 n/a n/a 0 501
1992 364 134 8 9 0 n/a n/a 0 515
1993 375 140 5 3 0 n/a n/a 0 523
1994 377 151 6 6 0 n/a n/a 0 540
1995 358 164 6 5 0 n/a n/a 0 533
1996 358 164 6 5 0 n/a n/a 0 533
1997 148 369 5 5 0 n/a n/a 0 527
1998 378 161 3 12 0 n/a n/a 5 559
1999 360 160 6 16 0 n/a n/a 0 542
2000 343 190 7 12 0 n/a n/a 0 552
2001 341 222 4 7 1 n/a n/a 0 575
2002 309 248 6 10 0 n/a n/a 0 573
2003 309 248 6 10 0 n/a n/a 0 573
2004 344 213 6 15 1 n/a n/a 0 579
2005 348 201 5 17 0 n/a n/a 0 571
2006 336 185 6 21 0 n/a n/a 0 548
2007 313 198 6 25 0 n/a n/a 29 571
2008 298 198 18 33 0 n/a n/a 34 581
2009 271 219 16 36 0 n/a n/a 48 590
2010 223 245 26 42 1 n/a n/a 54 591
2011 218 269 13 45 1 8 39 0 593
2012 213 278 11 43 1 8 51 0 605
2013 218 269 17 39 0 5 54 0 602
2014 239 257 20 40 0 3 46 0 605
2015 224 241 23 47 0 4 50 0 589
2016 200 234 18 55 0 2 44 0 553
2017 199 246 18 54 0 3 46 0 566
2018 193 237 15 60 0 2 34 0 541
2019 191 208 15 44 0 1 39 0 498
2020 195 215 16 50 0 1 40 0 517
2021 166 205 21 55 0 1 35 0 483
2022 143 201 29 62 0 1 25 0 461
2023 160 213 27 68 0 1 25 0 494
2024 164 183 18 86 0 1 32 0 484

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 Watterson Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 504 23.5 21.4 n/a
1989 487 22.7 21.4 n/a
1990 441 24.7 17.8 n/a
1991 501 25.8 19.4 n/a
1992 515 26.0 19.8 n/a
1993 523 26.5 19.7 n/a
1994 540 27.6 19.6 n/a
1995 533 32.1 16.6 n/a
1996 533 32.1 16.6 n/a
1997 527 30.6 17.2 36.8
1998 559 29.1 19.2 31.8
1999 542 17.8 31.0 42.1
2000 552 18.0 31.4 44
2001 575 n/a 0.0 41.6
2002 573 25.5 22.5 71.4
2003 573 25.5 22.5 71.4
2004 579 29.0 20.0 n/a
2005 571 27.0 21.1 n/a
2006 548 29.0 18.9 66.2
2007 571 34.0 16.8 62.5
2008 581 35.0 16.6 59.4
2009 590 36.0 16.4 64.4
2010 591 30.0 19.7 67.8
2011 593 35.0 16.9 67.8
2012 605 34.5 17.5 64.3
2013 602 34.5 17.4 65.8
2014 605 29.5 20.4 67.4
2015 589 33.0 17.8 61.5
2016 553 32.0 17.2 69.8
2017 566 33.3 16.9 67.3
2018 541 33.7 16.0 73.8
2019 498 34.7 14.3 59.8
2020 517 31.2 16.5 60.5
2021 483 31.7 15.1 61.5
2022 461 32.7 14.0 74
2023 494 32.4 15.2 69.8
2024 484 34.7 13.9 70.5

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 Watterson Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 504 23.5 21.4 n/a
1989 487 22.7 21.4 n/a
1990 441 24.7 17.8 n/a
1991 501 25.8 19.4 n/a
1992 515 26.0 19.8 n/a
1993 523 26.5 19.7 n/a
1994 540 27.6 19.6 n/a
1995 533 32.1 16.6 n/a
1996 533 32.1 16.6 n/a
1997 527 30.6 17.2 36.8
1998 559 29.1 19.2 31.8
1999 542 17.8 31.0 42.1
2000 552 18.0 31.4 44
2001 575 n/a 0.0 41.6
2002 573 25.5 22.5 71.4
2003 573 25.5 22.5 71.4
2004 579 29.0 20.0 n/a
2005 571 27.0 21.1 n/a
2006 548 29.0 18.9 66.2
2007 571 34.0 16.8 62.5
2008 581 35.0 16.6 59.4
2009 590 36.0 16.4 64.4
2010 591 30.0 19.7 67.8
2011 593 35.0 16.9 67.8
2012 605 34.5 17.5 64.3
2013 602 34.5 17.4 65.8
2014 605 29.5 20.4 67.4
2015 589 33.0 17.8 61.5
2016 553 32.0 17.2 69.8
2017 566 33.3 16.9 67.3
2018 541 33.7 16.0 73.8
2019 498 34.7 14.3 59.8
2020 517 31.2 16.5 60.5
2021 483 31.7 15.1 61.5
2022 461 32.7 14.0 74
2023 494 32.4 15.2 69.8
2024 484 34.7 13.9 70.5

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 Watterson Elementary

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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 $689 (4.7%) $459 (3.1%) $1,148 (7.9%) $11,241 (77.0%) $1,289 (8.8%) $12,530 (85.8%) $14,605
2019 $851 (5.7%) $415 (2.8%) $1,266 (8.5%) $11,531 (77.7%) $1,184 (8.0%) $12,715 (85.7%) $14,845
2020 $913 (6.2%) $474 (3.2%) $1,387 (9.4%) $11,314 (76.8%) $1,167 (7.9%) $12,481 (84.7%) $14,741
2021 $867 (5.5%) $905 (5.7%) $1,772 (11.2%) $12,252 (77.6%) $1,135 (7.2%) $13,387 (84.8%) $15,791
2022 $2,455 (13.4%) $1,197 (6.5%) $3,652 (19.9%) $12,056 (65.7%) $1,353 (7.4%) $13,409 (73.0%) $18,364

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Watterson Elementary

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 596th of 700 Elementary schoolsRanks 616th of 687 Elementary schools
 4.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students498494
 0.8%
African American208213
 2.4%
American Indian00
Asian1527
 80%
Hispanic4468
 54.5%
Pacific Islander11
White191160
 16.2%
Two or More Races3925
 35.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients59.8%69.8%
 10%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Watterson Elementary

Students who attend Watterson Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ramsey Middle
High : Fern Creek High

In the 2023-24 school year, 484 students attended Watterson Elementary.

Watterson Elementary ranks in the bottom 4.5% of Kentucky elementary schools.

Students at Watterson Elementary are 38% African American, 34% White, 18% Hispanic, 7% 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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