Ballard High

Summary:

Ballard High, a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Louisville, Kentucky, has an enrollment of 2,014 students and is part of the Jefferson County School District. Despite the district's overall low ranking and 1-star rating, Ballard High stands out as an exceptional institution, consistently ranking among the top 30 high schools in Kentucky and earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Ballard High's students consistently outperform the district and state averages on standardized tests, including the ACT and Kentucky State Assessments (KSA). For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 59% of Ballard High's 11th-grade students were proficient or better in ACT English, compared to 38% for the district and 44% for the state. The school also boasts a 91.1% four-year graduation rate, significantly higher than the district and state averages. Ballard High's diverse student population, with representation from various racial and ethnic groups, is another positive aspect of the school.

When compared to nearby schools, Atherton High is another high-performing institution in the Jefferson County School District, ranking 17th out of 290 Kentucky high schools. In contrast, schools like Newcomer Academy and Brooklawn serve more specialized student populations and have significantly lower rankings and performance. This highlights the need for targeted interventions and support to improve the academic outcomes of these schools, while Ballard High's success could serve as a model for other schools within the district.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 6000 Brownsboro Road
       Louisville, KY  40222


(502) 485-8206

District: Jefferson County

SchoolDigger Rank:
29th of 290 Kentucky High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,270 Help


Feeder schools for Ballard High:

Elementary:    Dunn Elementary
    Norton Commons Elementary
    Norton Elementary
    Wilder Elementary
Middle:    Kammerer Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  18.5 Help
Number of students:  2,014

Racial breakdown:

White:
54.1%
African American:
26.5%
Hispanic:
8.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  34.1% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Ballard High ranks better than 90% of high schools in Kentucky. It also ranks 3rd 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 80.11. (See more...)
Help
The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Ballard 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
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Compare Details Ballard 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 Ballard High is $16,270. 17 high schools in the Jefferson County School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ballard High:

SchoolDigger ranks Ballard High 29th of 290 Kentucky public high schools. (See Ballard High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented 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.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Ballard High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2007 92.09 10th 217 95.4%
2008 87.91 17th 217 92.2%
2009 87.52 14th 217 93.5%
2010 87.28 13th 223 94.2%
2011 85.54 11th 226 95.1%
2012 82.37 24th 229 89.5%
2013 86.11 20th 291 93.1%
2014 84.27 21st 290 92.8%
2015 79.50 36th 295 87.8%
2016 78.61 35th 288 87.8%
2017 75.75 45th 287 84.3%
2018 91.48 16th 271 94.1%
2019 75.75 40th 285 86.0%
2021 82.68 26th 267 90.3%
2022 86.05 17th 271 93.7%
2023 85.14 16th 276 94.2%
2024 80.11 29th 290 90.0%
See the entire list of Kentucky High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 86.52 3rd 42 92.9%
2021 79.11 5th 49 89.8%
2022 79.62 9th 77 88.3%
2023 71.47 11th 76 85.5%
2024 77.16 14th 87 83.9%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 99.95 1st 37 97.3%
2023 87.73 2nd 41 95.1%
2024 89.19 2nd 48 95.8%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 69.42 46th 226 79.6%
2023 58.89 34th 162 79.0%
2024 57.39 41st 168 75.6%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.86 24th 232 89.7%
2019 51.71 129th 254 49.2%
2021 55.55 76th 234 67.5%
2022 73.58 35th 266 86.8%
2023 63.33 68th 272 75.0%
2024 50.82 122nd 274 55.5%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.48 26th 234 88.9%
2019 63.98 80th 249 67.9%
2021 70.50 41st 236 82.6%
2022 83.14 17th 252 93.3%
2023 86.27 14th 253 94.5%
2024 80.32 25th 261 90.4%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.54 18th 166 89.2%
2019 66.01 40th 166 75.9%
2021 84.77 13th 154 91.6%
2022 73.93 16th 153 89.5%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 75.31 7th 23 69.6%
2024 58.80 8th 17 52.9%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 92.81 11th 237 95.4%
2019 77.66 34th 251 86.5%
2021 86.20 17th 238 92.9%
2022 84.63 19th 257 92.6%
2023 83.91 18th 259 93.1%
2024 75.87 37th 262 85.9%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 86.12 4th 25 84.0%
2019 76.01 4th 23 82.6%
2021 66.12 8th 23 65.2%
2022 63.70 10th 28 64.3%
2023 71.78 8th 26 69.2%
2024 84.63 4th 27 85.2%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 87.53 7th 94 92.6%
2019 60.25 27th 89 69.7%
2021 70.56 13th 78 83.3%
2022 73.12 15th 89 83.1%
2023 81.46 7th 83 91.6%
2024 61.36 28th 93 69.9%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 59.17 27th 80 66.3%
2019 69.18 23rd 88 73.9%
2021 76.75 14th 92 84.8%
2022 79.80 14th 114 87.7%
2023 70.80 16th 116 86.2%
2024 63.42 32nd 124 74.2%
See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Ballard High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools KY State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 94.24 10th 198 94.9%
2019 85.87 19th 219 91.3%
2021 88.65 15th 203 92.6%
2022 94.01 9th 260 96.5%
2023 92.36 10th 264 96.2%
2024 88.94 17th 273 93.8%
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.

Ballard 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: 3)
50%

0%

0%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Monday, December 27, 2021

Open Quote Another JCPS school with a behavior problem. Kids can't learn due to disruptions in class. Outside of class, fights are a constant issue. The office staff along with the JCPS Board are useless. God Bless those who have to send their kid there! Close Quote


by a student
Sunday, October 9, 2011

Open Quote im a student that go to ballard high school that's the best school for your kid to go to Close Quote



Enrollment information for Ballard High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1207 398 28 22 0 n/a n/a 0 1655
1989 1167 397 29 7 10 n/a n/a 0 1610
1990 1171 344 10 10 5 n/a n/a 0 1540
1991 1189 377 26 3 10 n/a n/a 0 1605
1992 1242 328 40 6 2 n/a n/a 0 1618
1993 1356 371 46 9 1 n/a n/a 0 1783
1994 1331 359 40 8 1 n/a n/a 0 1739
1995 1287 298 40 11 1 n/a n/a 0 1637
1996 1287 298 40 11 1 n/a n/a 0 1637
1997 1287 279 32 8 6 n/a n/a 0 1612
1998 1281 338 35 5 0 n/a n/a 15 1674
1999 1290 395 32 8 0 n/a n/a 13 1738
2000 1322 357 34 8 1 n/a n/a 17 1739
2001 1329 348 35 10 3 n/a n/a 20 1745
2002 1273 328 60 20 1 n/a n/a 0 1682
2003 1273 328 60 20 1 n/a n/a 0 1682
2004 1217 377 70 20 9 n/a n/a 0 1693
2005 1163 398 77 22 1 n/a n/a 0 1661
2006 1152 444 68 24 1 n/a n/a 0 1689
2007 1143 443 64 29 1 n/a n/a 24 1704
2008 1120 503 57 36 0 n/a n/a 23 1739
2009 1088 480 56 36 0 n/a n/a 37 1697
2010 1130 500 59 45 0 n/a n/a 36 1770
2011 1127 570 73 47 1 2 19 0 1839
2012 1204 582 80 54 1 2 37 0 1960
2013 1208 555 79 62 2 1 31 0 1938
2014 1195 613 76 75 3 2 29 0 1993
2015 1171 615 74 81 3 3 32 0 1979
2016 1111 618 73 93 3 5 42 0 1945
2017 1079 631 73 94 2 5 55 0 1939
2018 1029 609 81 87 3 6 66 0 1881
2019 1078 586 82 95 5 4 69 0 1919
2020 1078 588 97 116 4 1 77 0 1961
2021 1099 601 103 130 6 2 94 0 2035
2022 1086 560 95 145 6 0 89 0 1981
2023 1089 534 106 163 6 1 115 0 2014

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 Ballard High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1655 88.0 18.8 n/a
1989 1610 85.0 18.9 n/a
1990 1540 81.8 18.8 n/a
1991 1605 84.0 19.1 n/a
1992 1618 85.5 18.9 n/a
1993 1783 87.5 20.4 n/a
1994 1739 97.1 17.9 n/a
1995 1637 84.5 19.4 n/a
1996 1637 84.5 19.4 n/a
1997 1612 78.0 20.7 9.5
1998 1674 85.5 19.6 9.8
1999 1738 80.4 21.6 13.7
2000 1739 83.7 20.8 13
2001 1745 83.0 21.0 12.1
2002 1682 80.0 21.0 19.5
2003 1682 80.0 21.0 19.5
2004 1693 87.5 19.3 n/a
2005 1661 85.5 19.4 n/a
2006 1689 88.5 19.1 23.5
2007 1704 93.0 18.3 21
2008 1739 87.7 19.8 26.6
2009 1697 90.0 18.9 28
2010 1770 80.7 21.9 29.7
2011 1839 99.0 18.5 31
2012 1960 100.4 19.5 28.6
2013 1938 108.0 17.9 28
2014 1993 101.3 19.6 31.1
2015 1979 103.0 19.2 33.6
2016 1945 104.0 18.7 35.8
2017 1939 99.9 19.4 36.5
2018 1881 100.4 18.7 36.4
2019 1919 99.7 19.2 33
2020 1961 101.4 19.3 33.5
2021 2035 104.4 19.4 33.9
2022 1981 104.9 18.8 38.7
2023 2014 108.4 18.5 34.1

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 Ballard High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1655 88.0 18.8 n/a
1989 1610 85.0 18.9 n/a
1990 1540 81.8 18.8 n/a
1991 1605 84.0 19.1 n/a
1992 1618 85.5 18.9 n/a
1993 1783 87.5 20.4 n/a
1994 1739 97.1 17.9 n/a
1995 1637 84.5 19.4 n/a
1996 1637 84.5 19.4 n/a
1997 1612 78.0 20.7 9.5
1998 1674 85.5 19.6 9.8
1999 1738 80.4 21.6 13.7
2000 1739 83.7 20.8 13
2001 1745 83.0 21.0 12.1
2002 1682 80.0 21.0 19.5
2003 1682 80.0 21.0 19.5
2004 1693 87.5 19.3 n/a
2005 1661 85.5 19.4 n/a
2006 1689 88.5 19.1 23.5
2007 1704 93.0 18.3 21
2008 1739 87.7 19.8 26.6
2009 1697 90.0 18.9 28
2010 1770 80.7 21.9 29.7
2011 1839 99.0 18.5 31
2012 1960 100.4 19.5 28.6
2013 1938 108.0 17.9 28
2014 1993 101.3 19.6 31.1
2015 1979 103.0 19.2 33.6
2016 1945 104.0 18.7 35.8
2017 1939 99.9 19.4 36.5
2018 1881 100.4 18.7 36.4
2019 1919 99.7 19.2 33
2020 1961 101.4 19.3 33.5
2021 2035 104.4 19.4 33.9
2022 1981 104.9 18.8 38.7
2023 2014 108.4 18.5 34.1

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 Ballard 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 $386 (2.9%) $333 (2.5%) $718 (5.4%) $10,342 (77.7%) $1,401 (10.5%) $11,742 (88.2%) $13,318
2019 $422 (3.2%) $272 (2.1%) $694 (5.2%) $10,181 (76.9%) $1,338 (10.1%) $11,519 (87.0%) $13,247
2020 $386 (2.9%) $394 (3.0%) $780 (6.0%) $10,267 (78.4%) $1,298 (9.9%) $11,565 (88.3%) $13,097
2021 $730 (5.6%) $695 (5.3%) $1,425 (10.9%) $9,762 (74.7%) $1,283 (9.8%) $11,045 (84.5%) $13,077
2022 $1,792 (11.0%) $1,278 (7.9%) $3,070 (18.9%) $10,229 (62.9%) $1,468 (9.0%) $11,697 (71.9%) $16,270

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Ballard 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 40th of 285 High schoolsRanks 16th of 276 High schools
 8.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English (Ballard High)53.162
 8.9%
   11th Grade English (Jefferson County)40.642
 1.4%
   11th Grade English (Kentucky)49.147
 2.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Ballard High)51.353
 1.7%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Jefferson County)32.228
 4.2%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Kentucky)36.433
 3.4%
11th Grade Reading (Ballard High)55.760
 4.3%
   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 Students19192014
 5%
African American586534
 8.9%
American Indian56
 20%
Asian82106
 29.3%
Hispanic95163
 71.6%
Pacific Islander41
 75%
White10781089
 1%
Two or More Races69115
 66.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients33%34.1%
 1.1%


Schools Near Ballard High









Frequently Asked Questions about Ballard High

Yes. Ballard High ranks in the top 10.0% of Kentucky high schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,014 students attended Ballard High.

Students at Ballard High are 54% White, 27% African American, 8% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 5% Asian.

Ballard High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Dunn Elementary
Elementary : Norton Commons Elementary
Elementary : Norton Elementary
Elementary : Wilder Elementary
Middle : Kammerer Middle


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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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