Thomas Nelson High School

Q: Is Thomas Nelson High School a good school?

Thomas Nelson High School ranks 179 th of 290 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Thomas Nelson High School is a public high school located in Bardstown, Kentucky, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 669 students. The school is part of the Nelson County School District, which is ranked 148 out of 159 districts in Kentucky and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Over the past few years, Thomas Nelson High School has seen a decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from 17th out of 288 Kentucky high schools in 2015-2016 to 179th out of 290 in the current 2023-2024 school year. The school's SchoolDigger rating has also decreased from 5 stars to 2 stars during this time. Additionally, the school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with female students, white students, and low socioeconomic status students lagging behind their peers statewide. For instance, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's proficiency rates in ACT Mathematics (24%) and KSA Mathematics for 10th grade (31%) were significantly lower than the state averages of 30% and 36%, respectively.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Bardstown High School, which is located just 3 miles away, Thomas Nelson High School generally performs worse on key metrics like test scores and statewide rankings. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, Bardstown High School outperformed Thomas Nelson High School in ACT English (59% vs. 41%), ACT Mathematics (34% vs. 24%), and KSA Mathematics for 10th grade (31% vs. 28%). The school's low Nelson County School District ranking and the high percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients (38.12% in 2022-2023) may be contributing factors to the school's overall performance challenges.

Detail:

Public 9-12

150 Generals Blvd
Bardstown, KY 40004

(502) 349-4650

District: Nelson County

SchoolDigger Rank:
179^th of 290 Kentucky High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,115

Feeder schools for Thomas Nelson High School:

Elementary:	Boston School
	The New Haven School
Middle:	Old Kentucky Home Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 20.9

Number of students: 669

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.9%

Hispanic:

3.3%

African American:

1.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 38.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Thomas Nelson High School ranks worse than 61.7% of high schools in Kentucky. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 39.02. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Thomas Nelson High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Thomas Nelson High School is $11,115.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Thomas Nelson High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Thomas Nelson High School 179^th of 290 Kentucky public high schools. (See Thomas Nelson High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Nelson County:

SchoolDigger ranks Nelson County 148^th of 159 Kentucky school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Thomas Nelson High School

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Rank History for all students at Thomas Nelson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2015	77.85	42^nd	295	85.8%
2016	88.50	17^th	288	94.1%
2017	74.57	54^th	287	81.2%
2018	69.21	68^th	271	74.9%
2019	69.72	61^st	285	78.6%
2021	56.28	79^th	267	70.4%
2022	39.36	168^th	271	38.0%
2023	36.58	176^th	276	36.2%
2024	39.02	179^th	290	38.3%

See the entire list of Kentucky High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Thomas Nelson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	52.41	108^th	226	52.2%
2024	37.93	92^nd	168	45.2%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Thomas Nelson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	63.00	66^th	232	71.6%
2019	76.01	39^th	254	84.6%
2021	51.78	93^rd	234	60.3%
2022	43.93	143^rd	266	46.2%
2023	31.96	196^th	272	27.9%
2024	33.86	184^th	274	32.8%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Thomas Nelson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	83.93	22^nd	234	90.6%
2019	62.12	85^th	249	65.9%
2021	51.26	94^th	236	60.2%
2022	35.61	173^rd	252	31.3%
2023	30.74	191^st	253	24.5%
2024	36.76	170^th	261	34.9%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Thomas Nelson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	32.12	120^th	166	27.7%
2021	18.05	136^th	154	11.7%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Thomas Nelson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	50.65	116^th	237	51.1%
2019	59.28	89^th	251	64.5%
2021	53.11	79^th	238	66.8%
2022	49.16	112^th	257	56.4%
2023	38.52	158^th	259	39.0%
2024	34.94	173^rd	262	34.0%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Thomas Nelson High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	60.07	64^th	198	67.7%
2019	53.42	102^nd	219	53.4%
2021	49.22	80^th	203	60.6%
2022	32.04	179^th	260	31.2%
2023	25.79	200^th	264	24.2%
2024	27.97	199^th	273	27.1%

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.

Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Thomas Nelson High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2013	527	7	1	8	1	0	2	546
2014	706	8	2	16	0	0	2	734
2015	699	3	3	14	0	1	4	724
2016	696	5	1	12	0	1	5	720
2017	663	4	2	16	0	0	3	688
2018	647	7	7	11	0	1	5	678
2019	640	9	8	12	1	1	9	680
2020	614	8	6	14	0	1	6	649
2021	660	8	6	14	0	1	9	698
2022	659	9	5	17	0	0	8	698
2023	628	10	4	22	0	0	5	669

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 Thomas Nelson High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	546	26.2	20.8	43.2
2014	734	32.6	22.5	38.8
2015	724	33.0	21.9	40.9
2016	720	32.0	22.5	46.3
2017	688	35.6	19.2	45.8
2018	678	31.1	21.7	43.4
2019	680	30.6	22.2	40.6
2020	649	30.8	21.0	34.1
2021	698	30.5	22.8	42.1
2022	698	32.2	21.6	46.6
2023	669	32.0	20.9	38.1

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 Thomas Nelson High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	546	26.2	20.8	43.2
2014	734	32.6	22.5	38.8
2015	724	33.0	21.9	40.9
2016	720	32.0	22.5	46.3
2017	688	35.6	19.2	45.8
2018	678	31.1	21.7	43.4
2019	680	30.6	22.2	40.6
2020	649	30.8	21.0	34.1
2021	698	30.5	22.8	42.1
2022	698	32.2	21.6	46.6
2023	669	32.0	20.9	38.1

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 Thomas Nelson High School

Year	Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Total Expenditures from Federal Funds	Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$334 (3.5%)	$48 (0.5%)	$383 (4.0%)	$7,280 (76.2%)	$1,887 (19.8%)	$9,167 (96.0%)	$9,549
2019	$117 (1.1%)	$40 (0.4%)	$257 (2.4%)	$7,051 (66.3%)	$2,010 (18.9%)	$9,061 (85.2%)	$10,638
2020	$164 (1.5%)	$65 (0.6%)	$229 (2.1%)	$7,770 (70.0%)	$1,912 (17.2%)	$9,682 (87.3%)	$11,094
2021	$315 (2.6%)	$231 (1.9%)	$546 (4.5%)	$7,766 (64.4%)	$2,497 (20.7%)	$10,263 (85.2%)	$12,051
2022	$382 (3.4%)	$264 (2.4%)	$646 (5.8%)	$7,677 (69.1%)	$2,626 (23.6%)	$10,303 (92.7%)	$11,115

Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Thomas Nelson High School

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 61^st of 285 High schools	Ranks 176^th of 276 High schools	42.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English (Thomas Nelson High School)	57.5	39	18.5%
11th Grade English (Nelson County)	49.9	42	7.9%
11th Grade English (Kentucky)	49.1	47	2.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Thomas Nelson High School)	45.1	22	23.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Nelson County)	38.5	20	18.5%
11th Grade Mathematics (Kentucky)	36.4	33	3.4%
11th Grade Reading (Thomas Nelson High School)	53.6	34	19.6%
11th Grade Reading (Nelson County)	46.9	40	6.9%
11th Grade Reading (Kentucky)	46	44	2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	680	669	1.6%
African American	9	10	11.1%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	8	4	50%
Hispanic	12	22	83.3%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	640	628	1.9%
Two or More Races	9	5	44.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	40.6%	38.1%	2.5%

Schools Near Thomas Nelson High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				KSA Mathematics (2024)	KSA Reading (2024)	KSA Writing (2024)	KSA Social Studies (2024)	KSA Editing and Mechanics (2024)	ACT English (2024)	ACT Mathematics (2024)	ACT Reading (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 11th Grade	ACT English 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Reading 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Thomas Nelson High School	Public	9-12	150 Generals Blvd	Bardstown	40004	Nelson County	Nelson County	No	No	No	Yes	(502) 349-4650	669	32	20.9	38.1%	628 (93.9%)	10 (1.5%)	22 (3.3%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	39	179^th of 290 public high schools	38.3%		36.6	176^th of 276 public high schools	36.2%	3	31.0	38.0	37.0	29.0	37.0	41.0	24.0	38.0	$11,115	$382	$264	$646	$7,677	$2,626	$10,303
Bardstown High School	Public	9-12	400 N 5th St	Bardstown	40004	Nelson County	Bardstown Independent	No	No	No	No	(502) 331-8802	655	39	16.7	46.0%	430 (65.6%)	86 (13.1%)	51 (7.8%)	18 (2.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (10.5%)	63.4	91^st of 290 public high schools	68.6%		62.9	77^th of 276 public high schools	72.1%	14	31.0	38.0	55.0	37.0	52.0	59.0	34.0	52.0	$19,783	$404	$231	$635	$11,706	$2,384	$14,090
The Up Center	Public	6-12	1060 Bloomfield Rd.	Bardstown	40004	Nelson County	Nelson County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(502) 348-9096	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Nelson County High School	Public	9-12	1070 Bloomfield Rd	Bardstown	40004	Nelson County	Nelson County	No	No	No	Yes	(502) 349-7010	784	37	21.1	42.5%	719 (91.7%)	16 (2.0%)	25 (3.2%)	7 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.2%)	34.4	190^th of 290 public high schools	34.5%		29.5	196^th of 276 public high schools	29.0%	6	28.0	36.0	28.0	29.0	34.0	41.0	22.0	40.0	$11,529	$421	$248	$669	$7,750	$2,952	$10,702
Heartland Youth Village	Public	6-12	1013 Granite Drive	Bardstown	40004	Nelson County	Nelson County	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(502) 849-3440	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Spring Meadows	Public	6-12	310 Hope St	Mount Washington	40047	Bullitt County	Bullitt County	No	No	No	No	(502) 538-1200	17	2	8.5	17.6%	12 (70.6%)	3 (17.6%)	2 (11.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Bullitt East High School	Public	9-12	11450 Hwy 44E	Mount Washington	40047	Bullitt County	Bullitt County	No	No	No	No	(502) 869-6400	1,565	81	19.3	29.0%	1,424 (91.0%)	24 (1.5%)	50 (3.2%)	11 (0.7%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	52 (3.3%)	70.5	66^th of 290 public high schools	77.2%		56	103^rd of 276 public high schools	62.7%	37	42.0	49.0	55.0	35.0	51.0	53.0	44.0	49.0	$15,700	$803	$286	$1,089	$8,596	$1,847	$10,442
Bullitt Central High School	Public	9-12	1330 Hwy 44 E	Shepherdsville	40165	Bullitt County	Bullitt County	No	No	No	Yes	(502) 869-6000	1,363	77	17.7	52.7%	1,244 (91.3%)	16 (1.2%)	50 (3.7%)	5 (0.4%)	6 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (3.1%)	24.1	216^th of 290 public high schools	25.5%		22.3	218^th of 276 public high schools	21.0%	2	25.0	26.0	24.0	17.0	25.0	36.0	24.0	35.0	$17,358	$760	$242	$1,002	$9,335	$1,644	$10,980
Bullitt Alternative Center	Public	6-12	381 High School Dr	Shepherdsville	40165	Bullitt County	Bullitt County	No	No	No	No	(502) 869-6700	36	6	6.0	80.6%	28 (77.8%)	5 (13.9%)	2 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.8%)								(n/a)
Bullitt County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	395 High School Drive	Shepherdsville	40165	Bullitt County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(502) 543-7018	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Thomas Nelson High School

What is the racial makeup of Thomas Nelson High School?

Students at Thomas Nelson High School are 94% White, 3% Hispanic, 1% African American.

How many students attend Thomas Nelson High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 669 students attended Thomas Nelson High School.

Is Thomas Nelson High School a good school?

Thomas Nelson High School ranks 179^th of 290 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Thomas Nelson High School in?

Nelson County

What schools feed into Thomas Nelson High School?

Thomas Nelson High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Boston School
Elementary : The New Haven School
Middle : Old Kentucky Home Middle School

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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.