Bates Elementary
A Fern Creek Zone resides elementary and Leader in Me Lighthouse school
Resides elementary · Grades K–5 · Fern Creek
- Grades: K–5
- How to get in: Address assignment
- School day: 9:40 a.m.–4:20 p.m.
Bates is a Fern Creek Zone neighborhood elementary with a late bell, Leader in Me Lighthouse identity, and enrollment above its listed capacity.
7601 Bardstown Road · Fern Creek · Louisville, Kentucky
Official starting points
- Official Bates Elementary site(opens in a new tab)
- JCPS student assignment and apply(opens in a new tab)
- Current Choices Guide(opens in a new tab)
- JCPS School Finder(opens in a new tab)
- KDE School Report Card(opens in a new tab)
School Choice:(502) 485-6250schoolchoice@jefferson.kyschools.us
What this school is
Bates is a resides elementary in the Fern Creek Zone, not a Traditional magnet. If School Finder assigns Bates, the family registers rather than applying for a magnet seat.
The school emphasizes Leader in Me, student leadership, STLP, STEM, a student newscast, performing arts, sports, and counseling support.
Who runs the building
Principal Sara Nethery
Assistant Principal Melanie Page-Hayden, counselors Anglette Braden and Elizabeth Atchison, and Family Resource Center coordinator Jessica Cherry were listed when this guide was checked.
School details
- Address
- 7601 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40291
- Phone
- (502) 485-8208
- Official JCPS site
- jefferson.kyschools.us/o/bates(opens in a new tab)
- Title I school
- Bears
- Leader in Me Lighthouse school
- Listed capacity: 546
How families get in
For most families, Bates is the elementary assigned by the home address. Start with School Finder because zone placement and available seats can change.
- Register with JCPS if Bates is the assigned school.
- No magnet application is needed to remain at the resides school.
- Use the school-choice window only when requesting another eligible option.
- Complete Transportation Verification even when staying at the resides school.
2027–28 application window
- November 2–December 18, 2026
- Confirm dates on the JCPS Student Assignment page
The October 2025 count was above listed capacity. Ask School Choice which grades have room rather than assuming every seat is available.
Who it tends to fit
A good match when
- Bates is your assigned school.
- The 9:40 a.m. start works for your household.
- You want Leader in Me, student leadership, and a broad activity list.
Think twice when
- You need a 7:30 a.m. elementary schedule.
- You want a Traditional or districtwide magnet model.
- You assume an over-capacity campus has space in every grade.
Students
JCPS counted 579 students on October 1, 2025 against a listed capacity of 546, about 106% full. The Choices Guide used a different snapshot of 588.
Diversity index
66%
Calculated from the October 1, 2025 JCPS enrollment file. It is a snapshot of student-body mix, not a school grade.
| Group | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| White | 295 | 51% |
| Black / African American | 107 | 18% |
| Hispanic / Latino | 91 | 16% |
| Other groups | 86 | 15% |
Gender: 274 female · 305 male
- Multilingual learners: 125 (22%)
- ECE: about 76 students (13%)
- Gifted and talented: 78 students (13%)
- Free or reduced-price lunch: 268 students (46%)
Academics
The figures below use the school guide's September 2026 review of JCPS and Kentucky reporting. Confirm the testing year before comparing schools.
- Reading: 35% proficient and 19% distinguished; 54% combined P+D.
- Math: 35% proficient and 15% distinguished; 50% combined P+D.
- The published combined bands were above the JCPS elementary averages in the same table. Confirm the current year on the state report card.
Awards and recognition
Leader in Me Lighthouse
Bates describes itself as a nationally recognized Lighthouse school.
Student media and technology
The guide lists STLP, STEM, and the WBES student newscast.
Two counselors
The school lists two full-time counselors alongside its Family Resource Center.
Location and daily life
Bates is on Bardstown Road in southeast Jefferson County. The late 9:40 a.m. start makes after-school care an important planning question.
The building opened in 1955 and was above listed capacity in the October 2025 count.
Recent news, in context
Bates was not on the March 2026 list of elementary sites losing preschool classrooms. Confirm current early-childhood placement separately.
Compare before you commit
- Fern Creek Zone elementariesFern Creek, Price, Wheeler, and Wilt use the same zone framework but have different schedules and capacity.
- Carter Traditional ElementaryA boundary-based Traditional magnet with an application and uniform expectations.
Questions to ask on a tour
- 1.Is Bates my resides school or another zone option?
- 2.Which grades currently have space?
- 3.What does Leader in Me look like during a regular class day?
- 4.How many minutes are in the third-grade reading block?
- 5.What before- and after-school care fits the late schedule?
- 6.How long is the Bardstown Road arrival line?
What to do next
- 1.Run School Finder.
- 2.Register if the child is new to JCPS or entering kindergarten.
- 3.Complete Transportation Verification.
- 4.Tour during the 9:40 a.m. arrival and ask which grades are full.