- Enrollment
- 756
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Bardstown, KY
Thomas Nelson High School
Federal NCES profile for Thomas Nelson High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 210441002324
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thomas Nelson High School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Kentucky schools.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in Bardstown · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.7:1
- large classes for Kentucky
- 36.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Thomas Nelson High School has class sizes larger than 93% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Nelson High School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Bardstown, KY.
School address
District: Nelson County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210441002324 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-26 students YoY
Thomas Nelson High School held near 643 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-26 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 32.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-26 students YoY 210441002324 · Bardstown, KY High · MID · TRAD
629 enr · 19.7:1 · 36.0% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Nelson County High School (756 students)
Thomas Nelson High School held near 643 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-26 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 32.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kentucky schools → · Find another →
Thomas Nelson High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Nelson County
Nelson County High School
756 students
- This school
Thomas Nelson High School
629 students
- Old Kentucky H
Old Kentucky Home Middle School
594 students
- Foster Heights
Foster Heights Elementary School
588 students
- Coxs Creek Ele
Coxs Creek Elementary School
474 students
- Bloomfield Mid 296
Bloomfield Middle School
296 students
What this shows Thomas Nelson High School reports 629 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thomas Nelson High School compares
Thomas Nelson High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.7:1 | ▲ 30% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.0% | ▼ 39% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 629 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.7:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
629
Bigger than 75% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.7:1
students per teacher
- 30% 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
28.5%
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
$14,451
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $14,362
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 315 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
366
in-school suspensions + 43 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 58.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 65.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 94.0%
Hispanic or Latino 2.9%
Two or More 1.6%
African American 1.3%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 94.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 11.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 11.5, Thomas Nelson High School is less mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 11
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Nelson County reports $14,451 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thomas Nelson High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Old Kentucky Home Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Foster Heights Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Coxs Creek Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bloomfield Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thomas Nelson High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 594
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 588
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 474
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 296
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar high schools in Bardstown
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~629 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thomas Nelson High School
How many students attend Thomas Nelson High School?
Thomas Nelson High School has 629 students enrolled. It is a high school in Bardstown, KY. CCD year-over-year: 669 (2022-23) → 643 (2023-24), nearly flat (-26).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Nelson High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Nelson High School is 19.7:1, which is 30% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thomas Nelson High School?
36.0% of students at Thomas Nelson High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thomas Nelson High School?
The largest demographic group at Thomas Nelson High School is White at 94.0% of enrollment, in Bardstown, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thomas Nelson High School?
Thomas Nelson High School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Thomas Nelson High School rank among high schools in Bardstown?
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Nelson High School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Bardstown, 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 Bardstown on the city page.
What other schools are in Nelson County?
Besides Thomas Nelson High School, Nelson County also operates Nelson County High School (756 students), Old Kentucky Home Middle School (594 students), and Foster Heights Elementary School (588 students). See the Nelson County district page for the complete list.