Jacob Elementary
An Iroquois Zone resides elementary with small-group instruction and co-teaching
Resides and choice school · Grades K–5 · South Louisville
- Grades: K–5
- How to get in: Address assignment or zone choice
- School day: 9:40 a.m.–4:20 p.m.
Jacob is a Title I neighborhood elementary in the Iroquois Zone, with small-group literacy and math, ECE and multilingual co-teaching, and a late start.
3701 East Wheatmore Drive · South Louisville · Louisville, Kentucky
Official starting points
- Official Jacob 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
Jacob is a resides school for assigned addresses and an Iroquois Zone option for some other families. It is not a Traditional magnet. School Finder determines the path.
The school lists differentiated small-group literacy and math, ECE and multilingual co-teaching, Advance and Gifted and Talented programs, Primary Talent Pool, and an anti-bullying and neuroscience curriculum.
Who runs the building
Principal Karen Waggoner
The September 2026 directory also listed assistant principals Kim Harding and Anita Overall and Family Resource Center coordinator Hunter Pittman. Confirm current staff when you tour.
School details
- Address
- 3701 East Wheatmore Drive, Louisville, KY 40215
- Phone
- (502) 485-8271
- Official JCPS site
- jefferson.kyschools.us/o/jacob(opens in a new tab)
- Title I school
- Iroquois High cluster
- Late-bell schedule
- FRC and Norton telehealth
How families get in
If School Finder assigns Jacob, register rather than submitting a magnet application. Families selecting another Iroquois Zone school 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.
- Magnet schools and programs are selected separately from zone choices.
- Complete Transportation Verification and confirm the stop for the current year.
2027–28 application window
- November 2–December 18, 2026
- Confirm dates with JCPS before applying
JCPS announced Jacob's Early Childhood site would close for 2026–27, while older school pages still referenced preschool. Confirm placement with JCPS Early Childhood.
Who it tends to fit
A good match when
- Jacob is your resides or preferred Iroquois Zone school.
- The 9:40 a.m. start works for your household.
- You value small-group instruction, co-teaching, enrichment, athletics, and family supports.
Think twice when
- You need a 7:30 a.m. school day.
- You want a Traditional uniform culture or districtwide theme magnet.
- You are choosing mainly by state test rankings.
Students
JCPS counted 493 students on October 1, 2025; the Choices Guide used 519. Counts change during the year.
Diversity index
59%
Calculated from the October 1, 2025 file. Jacob was majority Black; the index describes mix, not school quality.
| Group | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Black / African American | 292 | 59% |
| White | 85 | 17% |
| Hispanic / Latino | 73 | 15% |
| Other reported groups | 43 | 9% |
Gender: 232 female · 261 male
- Free or reduced-price lunch: 423 students (86%)
- Multilingual learners: 184 students (37%)
- Title I school
- Grade span: K–5 for 2026–27
Academics
Use the current Kentucky School Report Card first and confirm the testing year before comparing schools.
- Reading: 15% proficient and 3% distinguished; 18% combined P+D.
- Math: 9% proficient and 2% distinguished; 11% combined P+D.
- Both displayed bands were below JCPS elementary averages in the guide's September 2026 review.
Awards and recognition
2025 KDE best-practice recognition
Recognition for MTSS, school culture, and tiered math support.
Co-teaching model
Support for ECE and multilingual learners within classrooms.
Student opportunities
Academic, arts, garden, mentoring, athletics, and step-team options are listed; confirm current sponsors.
Location and daily life
The Wheatmore Drive campus is in south and southwest Louisville. Test the commute during the actual arrival window.
The 4:20 p.m. dismissal makes after-school care an important planning question.
Recent news, in context
JCPS announced the Jacob Early Childhood site would close for 2026–27. The K–5 school remains open; preschool families should verify placement separately.
Compare before you commit
- Cane Run ElementaryAnother Iroquois Zone elementary.
- Carter Traditional ElementaryA separate address-eligible Traditional magnet path.
- Other Iroquois Zone schoolsFrayser, Gutermuth, Hazelwood, Mill Creek, Rutherford, and Semple use the same zone framework.
Questions to ask on a tour
- 1.Is Jacob my resides school or an Iroquois Zone option I need to rank?
- 2.What does small-group literacy and math look like in third grade?
- 3.How does ECE and multilingual co-teaching work during the day?
- 4.What after-school care exists after the 4:20 p.m. dismissal?
- 5.What is the current early-childhood arrangement?
- 6.What transportation applies to my exact address?
What to do next
- 1.Run School Finder and record the resides school and assigned clusters.
- 2.Register first if the child is new to JCPS or entering kindergarten.
- 3.Tour during late-bell arrival and ask to see small-group instruction.
- 4.Apply during the on-time window only when choosing another eligible option.