Hartstern Elementary
A Moore Zone resides elementary on Morningside Way with a 9:40 a.m. start
Resides and choice school · Grades K–5 · Moore Zone
- Grades: K–5
- How to get in: Address assignment or zone choice
- School day: 9:40 a.m.–4:20 p.m.
Hartstern is a Moore Zone neighborhood elementary on Morningside Way, not a Traditional magnet. If School Finder assigns this address here, that is the resides school and families register.
5200 Morningside Way, Louisville, KY 40219 · Okolona / southwest Jefferson County
Official starting points
- Official Hartstern 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
Hartstern sits at 5200 Morningside Way in Okolona / 40219 — southwest Jefferson County, on the Moore High cluster. The 2025–26 Individual School Data Book lists Laquetta Carter as principal, Title I Yes, hours 9:40–4:20, optimal capacity 553. JCPS restructured the board in May 2026 (five districts plus two at-large); check the current JCPS board map for this address. Grade span in that book is K–5. Official name: Fred J. Hartstern Elementary.
This campus is in the Moore Zone with Luhr, Smyrna, and Price. It is not one of the five Traditional magnets. If School Finder assigns the Morningside Way address here, families register.
Who runs the building
Principal Laquetta Carter
Assistant principals Sandra Hogue and Terri Griffin, Counselor Julia Tyson, and mental-health practitioner Melanie Mattingly were listed when checked. The current directory lists Rashaad Goodloe as FRC while school posts still name Aliya Cannon — confirm with the office. Confirm names on the day you tour — staff pages move.
School details
- Address
- 5200 Morningside Way, Louisville, KY 40219
- Phone
- (502) 485-8262
- Official JCPS site
- jefferson.kyschools.us/o/hartstern(opens in a new tab)
- Title I: Yes
- Moore Zone
- Listed capacity: 553
- 9:40 a.m. start
How families get in
If School Finder assigns Hartstern 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
- Hartstern is your resides or preferred Moore Zone school and you will use FRC and ESS as part of the plan.
- The 9:40 a.m. start works for your household.
- You want B.U.S. culture language, a large ELD program, weekly related arts, and the late-bell Moore cluster campus.
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 bands sit well below JCPS elementary averages.
Students
The Oct. 1, 2025 race/gender file counted 573 students against a listed capacity of 553, about 104% full. The Choices Guide used 612. Counts change during the year.
Diversity index
69%
Calculated from the Oct. 1, 2025 file. Hartstern is plurality-Hispanic (44%), not a one-group campus. The index is a snapshot of mix, not a grade.
| Group | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic / Latino | 253 | 44% |
| Black / African American | 158 | 28% |
| White | 98 | 17% |
| Other (2+, Asian, AI) | 64 | 11% |
Gender: Near even split (Oct. 1 race/gender file)
- Free or reduced-price lunch: 69% (395 of 573)
- Multilingual learners: 309 students (54%)
- Title I: Yes
Academics
Use the current Kentucky School Report Card first and confirm the testing year before comparing schools. The live JCPS Hartstern homepage banner posts these bands.
- Reading: 19% proficient and 7% distinguished; 25% official combined P+D.
- Math: 12% proficient and 4% distinguished; 16% displayed combined P+D.
- Both bands sit well below JCPS elementary averages (about 37% reading / 31% math) in the guide review.
Awards and recognition
Collaboration and high-quality instruction
Staff collaboration to implement best practices, with high expectations and engaging, student-focused teaching.
B.U.S. school culture
Positive school culture built on schoolwide B.U.S. expectations: Be responsible, Use respect, Stay safe.
Weekly related arts and ELD team
Weekly art, music, library, technology, and PE, alongside a school ELD team supporting a large multilingual-learner population.
Leader in Me and PBIS
The school site also describes Leader in Me and PBIS, though this is not on the current Choices Guide bullet list.
Location and daily life
The campus is on Morningside Way in Okolona / 40219, far southwest Jefferson County. Test the commute during the actual 9:40 a.m. arrival window.
Enrollment was over listed building capacity (about 104%) in the source snapshot. Ask which grades currently have space.
Recent news, in context
Hartstern was not on the March 2026 list of elementaries losing preschool classrooms.
Assistant principals Sandra Hogue and Terri Griffin, Counselor Julia Tyson, and mental-health practitioner Melanie Mattingly were listed when checked.
Compare before you commit
- Luhr / Smyrna / PriceOther Moore Zone elementaries. Luhr shares the same Choices Guide page.
- Cochran / McFerran / Whitney Young at EngelhardMoore Zone choice schools — a different door where families apply.
- Carter Traditional ElementaryA separate address-eligible Traditional magnet path with uniforms and no assumed magnet bus.
Questions to ask on a tour
- 1.Is Hartstern my resides school, or a Moore Zone option I have to rank?
- 2.What does a third-grade reading block look like, in minutes, not slogans?
- 3.What does B.U.S. look like in a third-grade classroom, not only on the posters?
- 4.What after-care exists on this 9:40–4:20 campus?
- 5.How long is the Morningside Way car line at 9:20?
- 6.If the building is over listed capacity, which grades currently have space?
- 7.If we want Moore High later, what middle does this address actually feed?
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.