Updated for the 2027-28 JCPS application cycle. Always double-check dates on jefferson.kyschools.us before you apply.
Louisville families are not choosing from one list. Public and private schools use different applications, different calendars, and different rules.
JCPS starts with the school tied to your address. The district calls that your resides school. Most students attend that campus. From there, families can stay in the assigned school or apply during the JCPS window for magnets, Traditional programs, arts campuses, academies, IB, JROTC, early-college options, and other district programs. Seats, transportation, and deadlines follow JCPS rules. Confirm them on the current Choices Guide and the individual school page.
Private schools are outside JCPS. They do not use School Finder or the JCPS magnet window. Each school runs its own admission, tuition, and calendar. Louisville options include Catholic parish and high schools, Islamic and Jewish schools, other Christian schools, independent campuses, classical and Montessori programs, and schools built around learning differences.
Choose the system your family is using. Public and private schools have different applications, calendars, and rules.
A parent reference
Magnets, academies, arts campuses, IB, Cambridge, career pathways, JROTC, and early-college programs
Start with the school tied to your home address — JCPS calls this your resides school. Most students attend that campus. Everything in this guide is an additional option.
Whole-school magnets and most specialized programs require an application during the district window. For the 2027-28 school year, JCPS lists that window as November 2 through December 18, 2026. A whole-school magnet means the entire campus is built around the theme. A magnet program is a theme housed inside another school; accepted students attend that school full time.
Sources: Jefferson County Public Schools 2026–27 Elementary, Middle, and High School Choices Guides.
Confirm your resides schools in School Finder. Review the current Elementary, Middle, and High School Choices Guides on the JCPS website.
During the application window, families may typically list up to two magnet schools or programs. Applications submitted on time are processed together after the deadline — not first-come, first-served. Late applications go to a late file and are considered only if seats remain.
Confirm acceptance and wait-list timing on the current JCPS Student Assignment pages before you plan around a letter date. Magnet transportation rules have changed in recent years; confirm current busing before you apply.
Office of School Choice: (502) 485-6250 · jefferson.kyschools.us
This reference organizes published 2026–27 JCPS offerings for parents. Pathway names, seat rules, transportation, and program details can change. Always verify against the current Choices Guide and the individual school page before applying.
Everything a Louisville family needs to choose a school: what your options actually are, when to apply, the rules that trip parents up, and the full JCPS directory at the bottom.
The full directory, by level. Each school links straight to its official JCPS page.
Kindergarten through grade 5, including traditional and magnet elementary programs.
Grades 6 through 8, where magnet and traditional applications matter most.
Grades 9 through 12, including magnet career themes and academic programs.
Academies, alternative placements, and district-wide specialty schools with their own application paths.
On-time applications are processed together after the deadline — not first-come, first-served. Late applications go to a late file and are considered only if seats remain.
Dates can move. Always verify on the official JCPS calendar before you plan around them.
Verify on the JCPS calendarRegister with JCPS first if your child is new to the district or entering kindergarten, then submit the school choice application inside the application window.
Winning a seat does not guarantee a bus. Some magnets, programs and every transfer can leave you responsible for getting your child to school. Check busing for the specific school before you accept a seat.
Check JCPS transportationTours and showcase events are the fastest way to compare schools. Most happen before the application window closes.
Looking at private or faith-based schools instead? See the Louisville private schools directory.