Enrollment
1,525
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Louisville, KY
Fern Creek High
Federal NCES profile for Fern Creek High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 210299000628
👥 S:T ratio 44
📚 AP courses 85
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fern Creek High earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also one of the largest schools in Kentucky.
- #12 of 18
- high schools in Louisville · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 55.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Fern Creek High has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fern Creek High ranks #12 of 18 high schools in Louisville, KY.
School address
District: Jefferson County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210299000628 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
108.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.1:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
55.8%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
-6% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Fern Creek High compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Fern Creek High
Fern Creek High is a higher-need, large high school in Louisville, Kentucky, enrolling 1,525 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 55.8% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Kentucky, bigger than 98% of state schools at 1,525 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Against 67 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #40.
Its student body is led by African American (33%) and White (32%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 17 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 381 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 53.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Jefferson County spends $17,376 per pupil, 32% above the Kentucky average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 22.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 780 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,525 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 19 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Louisville's high schools, it stands alongside Ballard High (2,148 students): Fern Creek High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.1:1 vs 19.9:1).
Jefferson County also operates Ballard High (2,148 students) and Dupont Manual High (1,899 students) alongside Fern Creek High.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Fern Creek High compares
Fern Creek High on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.1:1 | ▼ 7% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 55.8% | ▼ 6% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,525 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,525
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
55.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 37% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
53.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,376
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $13,211
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 381 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
506
in-school suspensions + 274 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 33.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 51.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 19 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 32.7%
White 32.4%
Hispanic or Latino 25.1%
Asian 6.1%
Two or More 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 32.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.0, Fern Creek High is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Jefferson County, which includes Fern Creek High.
$17,376
Per student
+32%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
+5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.8%
State 30.9%
Federal 22.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Fern Creek High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dupont Manual High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Marion C. Moore School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eastern High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pleasure Ridge Park High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fern Creek High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,148
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,899
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,892
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,790
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,777
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar high schools in Louisville
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Ballard High
Standard public school
2,148 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Dupont Manual High
Standard public school
1,899 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Pleasure Ridge Park High
Standard public school
1,777 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Louisville Male High
Standard public school
1,763 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
Southern High
Standard public school
1,725 students 21.6:1 students per teacher
Atherton High
Standard public school
1,466 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,525 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Fern Creek High's federal record.
- Compare Fern Creek High against another school. Compare schools
- Jefferson County's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Fern Creek High
How many students attend Fern Creek High?
Fern Creek High has 1,525 students enrolled. It is a high school in Louisville, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fern Creek High?
The student-teacher ratio at Fern Creek High is 14.1:1, which is 7% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fern Creek High?
55.8% of students at Fern Creek High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fern Creek High?
The largest demographic group at Fern Creek High is African American at 32.7% of enrollment, in Louisville, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fern Creek High?
Fern Creek High has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Fern Creek High rank among high schools in Louisville?
By Resource Investment Index, Fern Creek High ranks #12 of 18 high schools in Louisville, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Louisville on the city page.
Is Fern Creek High a good school?
Fern Creek High earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also one of the largest schools in Kentucky. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Jefferson County?
Besides Fern Creek High, Jefferson County also operates Ballard High (2,148 students), Dupont Manual High (1,899 students), and Marion C. Moore School (1,892 students). See the Jefferson County district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.