Farmer Elementary
A Jeffersontown Zone resides elementary on Gellhaus Lane with a 9:40 a.m. start
Resides and choice school · Grades K–5 · Jeffersontown Zone
- Grades: K–5
- How to get in: Address assignment or zone choice
- School day: 9:40 a.m.–4:20 p.m.
Farmer is a Jeffersontown Zone neighborhood elementary on Gellhaus Lane, not a magnet. Hours 9:40–4:20, Title I Yes — new for 2026–27. Jeffersontown Elementary shares Choices page 44 — do not import that profile.
6405 Gellhaus Lane, Louisville, KY 40299 · eastern Jefferson County
Official starting points
- Official Farmer 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
Farmer sits at 6405 Gellhaus Lane in 40299 — eastern Jefferson County / Jeffersontown cluster. Hours 9:40–4:20. Title I Yes — new for 2026–27. K–5. Melinda Stivers is principal. AP: Jessica Goodman. Counselor: Shereika Lovelace / James Talley. FRC: confirm with school. MHP: Kelly Parker.
Resides families in the Jeffersontown Zone sit with Cochrane, Jeffersontown, Tully, and Watterson. Perry is also listed in the current Jeffersontown Zone. Jeffersontown Elementary shares Choices page 44 — do not import that profile. JCPS closed Farmer's Early Childhood site after 2025–26.
Who runs the building
Principal Melinda Stivers
AP Jessica Goodman, Counselors Shereika Lovelace and James Talley, and mental-health practitioner Kelly Parker were listed on the current staff roster. FRC: confirm with school. Confirm names on the day you tour — staff pages move.
School details
- Address
- 6405 Gellhaus Lane, Louisville, KY 40299
- Phone
- (502) 485-8625
- Official JCPS site
- jefferson.kyschools.us/o/farmer(opens in a new tab)
- Title I: No
- Jeffersontown Zone
- Listed capacity: 703
- 9:40 a.m. start
How families get in
If School Finder assigns Farmer Elementary to the address, register rather than submitting a magnet application. Families seeking another eligible option use the School Choices section.
- Register first if the child is new to JCPS or entering kindergarten.
- Returning students who have not moved do not need to reapply to stay.
- Use School Finder to confirm the resides school, zone, and later school path.
- Complete Transportation Verification and confirm the current stop.
2027–28 application window
- November 2–December 18, 2026
- Confirm dates with JCPS before applying
Resides students use the regular elementary transportation system. Eligibility can change; confirm the route and the household plan for the 9:40 a.m. bell.
Who it tends to fit
A good match when
- Farmer is your resides or preferred Jeffersontown Zone school and you will use the FRC and school support services as part of the plan.
- The 9:40 a.m. start works for your household.
- You want a 9:40 Jeffersontown Zone campus with two counselors, an FRC, special areas, and a child-centered mission.
Think twice when
- You need a 7:30 a.m. campus instead of the 9:40 a.m. start here.
- You want a Traditional uniform culture or a districtwide theme magnet.
- You are choosing mostly on test-score rankings — current Farmer bands are actually above the JCPS elementary averages (56% reading P+D and 50% math P+D), so this is not a fit concern here.
Students
The 2025–26 Data Book counted 705 students against a listed capacity of 703, about 100% full. The Choices Guide used 728. Counts change during the year.
Diversity index
68%
Calculated from the 2025–26 Data Book. Farmer is plurality-White (47%), not a one-group campus. The index is a snapshot of mix, not a grade.
| Group | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| White | 334 | 47% |
| Black / African American | 151 | 21% |
| Other (Asian 66, two-or-more 68) | 134 | 19% |
| Hispanic / Latino | 86 | 12% |
Gender: Confirm with school (use current office count)
- Economically disadvantaged: 50.5% (2025–26 school profile)
- Multilingual learners: 137 students (about 19%)
- Title I: No
Academics
Use the current Kentucky School Report Card first and confirm the testing year before comparing schools. The live JCPS Farmer homepage banner posts these bands.
- Reading: 35% proficient and 21% distinguished; 56% displayed combined P+D.
- Math: 40% proficient and 10% distinguished; 50% displayed combined P+D.
- Both bands sit above JCPS elementary averages (about 37% reading / 31% math) in the guide review.
Awards and recognition
Child-centered mission
James E. Farmer Elementary: a lifetime of purposeful learning, igniting the imagination in a nurturing environment, per the Choices Guide page.
Special areas and full-time supports
Special areas on the current staff roster include art, music, STEM, library, and practical living, alongside two counselors, a Family Resource Center, mental-health practitioner, and full-time nurse.
PTA and family events
PTA and family events appear in current school communications.
Location and daily life
The campus is on Gellhaus Lane in 40299, eastern Jefferson County. Test the commute during the actual 9:40 a.m. arrival window.
Enrollment was at listed building capacity (about 100%) in the source snapshot. Ask which grades currently have space.
Recent news, in context
JCPS closed Farmer's Early Childhood site after 2025–26 as it moved to center-based preschool; ask the school about placement with Early Childhood.
Current directory: Melinda Stivers, principal; Jessica Goodman, AP; Shereika Lovelace / James Talley, counselor; Kelly Parker, mental-health counselor. FRC: confirm with the school.
Compare before you commit
- Cochrane / Jeffersontown / Tully / WattersonOther Jeffersontown Zone resides campuses. Jeffersontown Elementary shares Choices page 44.
- Kennedy / MaupinCurrent listed choice schools. The original guide listed King before its closure.
- Carter Traditional ElementaryA separate address-eligible Traditional magnet path with uniforms and no assumed magnet bus.
Questions to ask on a tour
- 1.Is Farmer my resides school, or a Jeffersontown Zone option I have to rank?
- 2.What does a third-grade reading block look like, in minutes, not slogans?
- 3.What do social-emotional supports and the published activity list look like in a third-grade day?
- 4.What before- and after-care exists on this 9:40–4:20 campus?
- 5.How long is the Gellhaus Lane car line at 9:20?
- 6.The building is at listed capacity (705 of 703) — which grades currently have space?
- 7.If we want Jeffersontown High later, what middle does this address actually feed?
- 8.If Farmer is full, what is the next Jeffersontown Zone campus?
What to do next
- 1.Run School Finder and record the resides school, zone, middle school, and high school.
- 2.Register first if the child is new to JCPS or entering kindergarten.
- 3.Apply during the on-time window only when choosing another eligible option.
- 4.Tour at late-bell reality and ask about current grade-level space.
- 5.Complete Transportation Verification and confirm the route.