Enrollment
440
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Louisville, KY
Grace M. James Academy of Excellence
Federal NCES profile for Grace M. James Academy of Excellence, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 210299002507
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 88
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Grace M. James Academy of Excellence earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Kentucky schools.
- #1 of 21
- middle schools in Louisville · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 20:1
- large classes for Kentucky
- 56.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Grace M. James Academy of Excellence has class sizes larger than 93% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Grace M. James Academy of Excellence ranks #1 of 21 middle schools in Louisville, KY.
School address
District: Jefferson County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210299002507 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
+32% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
56.0%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
-5% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Grace M. James Academy of Excellence compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence
Grace M. James Academy of Excellence is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Louisville, Kentucky, enrolling 440 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20:1 is larger than about 93% of Kentucky schools and 32% above the 15.2:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 56.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 440 students, its enrollment sits close to the Kentucky median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 91% of the 1,389 Kentucky schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 495 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #11, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (79%) and Two or More (8%) (diversity index 36/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 220 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance holds up well here: only 4.8% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
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.
Among Louisville's middle schools, it stands alongside Stuart Academy (1,166 students): Grace M. James Academy of Excellence is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20:1 vs 18.8:1).
Jefferson County also operates Ballard High (2,148 students) and Dupont Manual High (1,899 students) alongside Grace M. James Academy of Excellence.
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 Grace M. James Academy of Excellence compares
Grace M. James Academy of Excellence on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20:1 | ▲ 32% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.0% | ▼ 5% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 440 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
440
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
56.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% 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
20:1
students per teacher
- 32% above state mean
Top 93% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
4.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 220 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
22
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 79.1%
Two or More 8.0%
White 5.9%
Hispanic or Latino 5.5%
Asian 1.6%
Largest group: African American at 79.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.1, Grace M. James Academy of Excellence is about as mixed as the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Jefferson County, which includes Grace M. James Academy of Excellence.
$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 Grace M. James Academy of Excellence Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dupont Manual High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Marion C. Moore School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Eastern High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pleasure Ridge Park High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Grace M. James Academy of Excellence'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 middle schools in Louisville
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Stuart Academy
Standard public school
1,166 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
Noe Middle
Standard public school
1,155 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Ramsey Middle
Standard public school
1,151 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Westport Middle
Standard public school
988 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Thomas Jefferson Middle
Standard public school
943 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Lassiter Middle
Standard public school
921 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~440 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Grace M. James Academy of Excellence's federal record.
- Compare Grace M. James Academy of Excellence 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 Grace M. James Academy of Excellence
How many students attend Grace M. James Academy of Excellence?
Grace M. James Academy of Excellence has 440 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Louisville, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence?
The student-teacher ratio at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence is 20:1, which is 32% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence?
56.0% of students at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Grace M. James Academy of Excellence?
The largest demographic group at Grace M. James Academy of Excellence is African American at 79.1% of enrollment, in Louisville, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Grace M. James Academy of Excellence?
Grace M. James Academy of Excellence has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Grace M. James Academy of Excellence rank among middle schools in Louisville?
By Resource Investment Index, Grace M. James Academy of Excellence ranks #1 of 21 middle 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 middle schools in Louisville on the city page.
Is Grace M. James Academy of Excellence a good school?
Grace M. James Academy of Excellence earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Kentucky schools. 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 Grace M. James Academy of Excellence, 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.