Enrollment
918
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Louisville, KY
Pathfinder School of Innovation
Federal NCES profile for Pathfinder School of Innovation, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 210299001947
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 74
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pathfinder School of Innovation earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Kentucky schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #26 of 68
- schools in Louisville · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.8:1
- small classes for Kentucky
- 68.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Pathfinder School of Innovation has class sizes smaller than 77% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pathfinder School of Innovation ranks #26 of 68 schools in Louisville, KY.
School address
District: Jefferson County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210299001947 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
72.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.8:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.9%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+16% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Pathfinder School of Innovation compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Pathfinder School of Innovation
Pathfinder School of Innovation is a higher-need, large combined-grade school in Louisville, Kentucky, enrolling 918 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.8:1 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 68.9% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Kentucky, bigger than 93% of state schools at 918 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Against 191 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #24.
Its student body is led by White (48%) and African American (35%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 131 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 49.3% 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.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 4 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Louisville's public schools, it stands alongside Marion C. Moore School (1,892 students): Pathfinder School of Innovation is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.8:1 vs 14.9:1).
Jefferson County also operates Ballard High (2,148 students) and Dupont Manual High (1,899 students) alongside Pathfinder School of Innovation.
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 Pathfinder School of Innovation compares
Pathfinder School of Innovation on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.8:1 | ▼ 16% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.9% | ▲ 16% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 918 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.8:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
918
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.8:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 23% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
49.3%
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
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 131 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
68
in-school suspensions + 59 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 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
White 47.6%
African American 34.5%
Hispanic or Latino 10.3%
Two or More 6.0%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 47.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.0, Pathfinder School of Innovation is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 10
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Jefferson County, which includes Pathfinder School of Innovation.
$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 Pathfinder School of Innovation Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dupont Manual High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Marion C. Moore School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastern High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pleasure Ridge Park High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pathfinder School of Innovation'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 other schools in Louisville
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Marion C. Moore School
Standard public school
1,892 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
The Academy @ Shawnee
Standard public school
1,051 students 26.3:1 students per teacher
J. Graham Brown School
Standard public school
800 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Tully Elementary
Standard public school
791 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Stopher Elementary
Standard public school
781 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Farmer Elementary
Standard public school
737 students 18:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~918 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Pathfinder School of Innovation's federal record.
- Compare Pathfinder School of Innovation 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 Pathfinder School of Innovation
How many students attend Pathfinder School of Innovation?
Pathfinder School of Innovation has 918 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Louisville, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pathfinder School of Innovation?
The student-teacher ratio at Pathfinder School of Innovation is 12.8:1, which is 16% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 18% 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 Pathfinder School of Innovation?
68.9% of students at Pathfinder School of Innovation are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pathfinder School of Innovation?
The largest demographic group at Pathfinder School of Innovation is White at 47.6% of enrollment, in Louisville, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pathfinder School of Innovation?
Pathfinder School of Innovation has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 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 Pathfinder School of Innovation rank among schools in Louisville?
By Resource Investment Index, Pathfinder School of Innovation ranks #26 of 68 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 schools in Louisville on the city page.
Is Pathfinder School of Innovation a good school?
Pathfinder School of Innovation earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Kentucky schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Pathfinder School of Innovation, 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.