Private School Review - Established 2003
Bluegrass Christian Academy
Bethlehem High School/diocese Top 3 · Oldest Founding Date (KY)
St. Ann School Top 4 · Lowest Tuition (KY)

Best Nelson County Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 9 private schools serving 1,384 students in Nelson County, KY (there are 19 public schools, serving 7,107 public students). 16% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the KY state average of 10%).
The average acceptance rate is 100%, which is higher than the Kentucky private school average acceptance rate of 85%.
89% of private schools in Nelson County, KY are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Baptist).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked Nelson County Private Schools (2026-27)

Bethlehem High School/diocese Photo
Bethlehem High School/diocese
Gr: 9-12 | 279 students
Avg. class size: 16 students
Sports: 13 | Extracurriculars: 19
Catholic
309 W Stephen Foster Ave
Bardstown, KY 40004
(502) 827-3431
View Profile
St. Ann School Photo
St. Ann School
Gr: K-8 | 23 students
Avg. class size: 5 students
Catholic
7500 Howardstown Rd
New Haven, KY 40051
(502) 286-3181
View Profile
Map of St. Joseph School
St. Joseph School
Gr: PK-8 | 433 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Catholic
320 W Stephen Foster Ave
Bardstown, KY 40004
(502) 348-5994
View Profile
Bluegrass Christian Academy Photo
Bluegrass Christian Academy
Gr: PK-12 | 68 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 2
Baptist
2580 Springfield Road
Bardstown, KY 40004
(502) 348-3900
View Profile
Map of Nelson County Baptist School
Nelson County Baptist School
Gr: K-12 | 74 students
Baptist
55 Lutheran Church Rd
Bardstown, KY 40004
(502) 348-0117
View Profile
Map of Our Lady Of The Rosary
Our Lady Of The Rosary
Gr: PK-12 | 166 students
Alternative School (Catholic)
972 Bloomfield Road
Bardstown, KY 40004
(502) 348-1338
View Profile
Map of St. Catherine Academy
St. Catherine Academy
Gr: PK-8 | 105 students
Sports: 2
Catholic
413 N 1st St
New Haven, KY 40051
(502) 549-3680
View Profile
Map of St. Gregory Elementary School
St. Gregory Elementary School
Gr: PK-8 | 204 students
Catholic
350 Samuels Loop
Coxs Creek, KY 40013
(502) 348-9583
(1)
View Profile
Map of St. Joseph Montessori Childrens Center
St. Joseph Montessori Childrens Center
Gr: PK-K | 32 students
Avg. class size: 50 students
Extracurriculars: 1
Montessori School
161 West Drive
Nazareth, KY 40048
(502) 348-1540
View Profile
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Nelson County, Kentucky

Nelson County Private Schools (Closed)

Map of Unitas Honor Academy
Unitas Honor Academy
Gr: 5-10 | 9 students
Christian
112 S Elm Grove Ave
Bardstown, KY 40004
(502) 264-7683
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (KY)
US
# Schools
9 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearNelson County Total Schools
20259
202410
202310
20228
20218
20208
20198
20188
20177
20167
20157
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# Students
1,384 Students
71,944 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
2025154206179
2024139197172
2023141193174
2022159210185
2021159204180
2020161192171
2019162204175
2018160202172
2017173214180
2016173209178
2015173182167
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% Average Students of Color
6%
13%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
20256%13%34%
20246%12%34%
20233%11%33%
202210%11%33%
202110%11%32%
202011%10%32%
201911%9%31%
20189%9%31%
20174%15%32%
20164%14%32%
20154%12%32%
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Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
69 Teachers
5,914 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
202518:112:111:1
202417:112:111:1
202315:112:111:1
202214:112:111:1
202114:113:111:1
202014:113:112:1
201915:112:112:1
201815:112:112:1
201714:113:112:1
201614:113:112:1
201514:113:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
78%
73%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
202578%72%55%
202478%72%54%
202378%73%54%
202278%72%54%
202178%71%54%
202078%72%54%
201942%72%53%
201842%72%53%
201742%73%53%
201642%71%52%
201580%71%52%
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Average Class Size
21 students
16 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
2025211615
2024221515
2023221615
2022221615
2021221615
2020221515
2019231515
2018231615
2017271515
2016271515
2015261515
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Average Number of AP Courses
10 courses
13 courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
2025101313
2024101212
2023101211
2022101211
2021101211
2020101111
2019101111
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Average ACT score
25
(Out of 36)
25

ACT Score Trends (2019-2025)

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
2025252626
2024252526
2023252526
2022252526
2021252526
2020252525
2019252525
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Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$4,832
$10,325

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
2025$4,832$10,410$15,012
2024$4,832$7,395$13,254
2023$4,832$7,255$12,626
2022$5,036$7,105$12,187
2021$5,036$7,072$11,800
2020$5,036$6,947$11,512
2019$4,974$6,838$11,293
2018$4,761$6,369$11,017
2017$4,761$6,394$10,708
2016$3,248$5,871$10,356
2015$3,248$5,993$9,939
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Average % on Financial Aid
40%
28%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2016-2025)

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
202540%28%34%
202440%28%34%
202340%28%34%
202240%28%33%
202140%28%33%
202040%27%32%
201940%27%31%
201850%26%30%
201750%27%30%
201650%27%29%
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Average Acceptance Rate
100%
85%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
2025100%85%81%
2024100%93%85%
2023100%93%85%
2022100%93%85%
2021100%92%85%
2020100%93%85%
2019100%92%85%
2018100%92%85%
2017100%92%85%
2016100%91%85%
2015100%92%85%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.40
0.49

Diversity Score Trends

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
20250.400.490.65
20240.390.480.65
20230.340.460.65
20220.360.450.64
20210.360.440.64
20200.370.450.64
20190.390.420.63
20180.380.420.63
20170.390.400.61
20160.390.390.61
20150.390.400.61
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# American Indian Students
1 Student
114 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
18 Students
1,488 Students
% Asian Students
2%
2%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
20252%2%5%
20242%2%5%
20232%3%5%
20221%3%4%
20211%2%4%
20201%3%4%
20191%2%4%
20181%2%4%
20171%2%4%
20161%2%4%
20151%3%4%
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# Hispanic Students
28 Students
1,870 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
3%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
20252%3%9%
20242%3%9%
20231%2%9%
20221%2%8%
20211%2%9%
20201%2%9%
20191%2%8%
20181%2%8%
20171%2%8%
20161%2%8%
20151%1%8%
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# Black Students
16 Students
2,119 Students
% Black Students
1%
3%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
20251%3%7%
20241%3%7%
20231%3%8%
20221%2%7%
20211%3%7%
20201%2%8%
20191%3%7%
20181%3%7%
20171%2%7%
20161%2%7%
20151%2%8%
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# White Students
1,043 Students
46,820 Students
% White Students
75%
68%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
202575%68%52%
202475%68%52%
202379%70%52%
202278%71%54%
202178%72%54%
202077%71%54%
201975%74%56%
201876%74%56%
201775%75%58%
201675%76%58%
201575%75%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
1 Student
147 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
279 Students
16,708 Students
% of Others Students
20%
24%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearNelson County AverageKentucky (KY) AverageNational Average
202520%24%26%
202420%24%26%
202317%22%25%
202219%22%25%
202119%21%25%
202020%22%24%
201922%19%24%
201821%19%23%
201722%19%22%
201622%18%22%
201522%19%21%
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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
6 sports
8 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Nelson County, KY?
The top ranked private schools in Nelson County, KY include Bethlehem High School/diocese, St. Joseph School, and St. Ann School.
How many private schools are located in Nelson County?
9 private schools are located in Nelson County.
How diverse are private schools in Nelson County?
Nelson County private schools are approximately 6% minority students, which is lower than the Kentucky private school average of 13%.
What percentage of students in Nelson County go to private school?
16% of all K-12 students in Nelson County are educated in private schools (compared to the KY state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Nelson County?
89% of private schools in Nelson County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Baptist).
Which private schools in Nelson County are often viewed compared to one another?

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