Dunn Elementary

A K–5 Ballard Zone resides school with a 9:40 a.m. start.

Ballard Zone neighborhood elementary · Project-based learning, STEAM Lab and Spanish · Title I beginning in 2026–27

Grades: K–5
How to get in: Resides assignment or Ballard Zone choice
School day: 9:40 a.m.–4:20 p.m.

Dunn is a Ballard Zone neighborhood elementary in the Ballard High cluster. It is not a magnet and also serves as the Waggener Elementary Zone satellite for incoming kindergartners and students new to that zone.

2010 Rudy Lane in Louisville’s 40207 area

Official starting points

School Choice:(502) 485-6250 schoolchoice@jefferson.kyschools.us

What this school is

Dunn serves grades K–5 in east Jefferson County. The school day runs from 9:40 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.

The school offers project-based learning, a STEAM Lab, arts and humanities, Spanish, and gifted and talented and Art Talent Pool opportunities.

Dunn is a Ballard Zone resides school for some addresses. It is not a Traditional or MicroSociety magnet.

School leadership

Charles Marshall

Charles Marshall is listed as principal for 2026–27.

The directory also lists Lori Lightcap as counselor and Courtney Mimms with the Family Resource Center. Confirm staff names with the school because assignments and directory pages may change.

School details

Address: 2010 Rudy Lane, Louisville, KY 40207
Phone: (502) 485-8240
Official JCPS site: Official Dunn Elementary site(opens in a new tab)

Grades K–5
School day: 9:40 a.m.–4:20 p.m.
Title I: Yes, beginning in 2026–27
Ballard High cluster; confirm the assigned middle school in School Finder

How families get in

Dunn is the resides elementary for some Ballard Zone addresses. Use School Finder for the exact address before registering or ranking a school choice.

If School Finder assigns Dunn as the resides school, register with JCPS. No magnet application is required to stay at Dunn.
Students entering kindergarten or new to JCPS register first, then apply when an application is required.
Families seeking another Ballard Zone campus use the School Choices section of the Elementary Application.
Returning students who are staying at the same school and have not moved do not need to apply.
An application is required after a move or when requesting a magnet or another school option.

2027–28 application window

November 2, 2026 through December 18, 2026
Register first if the student is entering kindergarten or is new to JCPS.

Resides students use the regular elementary transportation system, but eligibility and stops can change. Complete the Transportation Verification form and confirm the actual stop with JCPS. A seat at another school does not automatically preserve a Dunn bus.

Who it tends to fit

A good match when

A 9:40 a.m. start and 4:20 p.m. dismissal work for the household.
The family wants project-based learning, STEAM Lab, Spanish, or gifted and talented and Art Talent Pool opportunities.
Dunn is the assigned or selected school, including use as the Waggener Elementary Zone satellite.
The family expects to use the PTA, Family Resource Center or other school support services.

Think twice when

The household needs a 7:30 a.m. elementary schedule.
The decision depends almost entirely on test-score rankings rather than the full school setting.
The family assumes a middle- or high-school path without checking the exact address in School Finder.

Assignment, available space, transportation eligibility and staff can change. Confirm current details with JCPS and the school office.

Students

The official October 1, 2025 K–5 count was 463. The Choices Guide lists 433 students separately, and the 2026–27 projection is 472 students against an optimal capacity of 641. Counts can shift after the first month.

Diversity index

59%

This is the chance that two students selected at random are from different reported groups, based on the October 1, 2025 count. It is a snapshot of student mix, not a school grade.

Reported race and ethnicity counts for Dunn Elementary
Group	Students	Share
White	273	59%
Hispanic / Latino	42	9%
Black / African American	83	18%
Other	65	14%

Gender: Confirm with the school Use the current school office count.

Economically disadvantaged: about 27% in the current figure cited by the guide
Multilingual learners: 47 students, about 10% of the October 1, 2025 count
Projected 2026–27 enrollment: 472 of 641 optimal capacity, about 74%
Choices Guide enrollment: 433, listed separately from the October 1 count

Academics

Use the Kentucky School Report Card for the current official results. The figures below were displayed on Dunn’s JCPS homepage when the guide was checked.

Reading: 32% proficient and 30% distinguished, or 62% combined.
Math: 33% proficient and 20% distinguished, or 53% combined.
The guide compares these with JCPS elementary averages of about 37% in reading and 31% in math.
The school’s listed learning approach includes project-based and personalized learning.

Awards and recognition

2023 KSA Blue rating
Dunn received an overall Blue performance rating for 2023, the highest performance band.

Location and daily life

Dunn is on Rudy Lane in Louisville’s 40207 area, in east Jefferson County.

The school belongs to the Ballard Zone and Ballard High cluster. Confirm the assigned middle school through School Finder.

The late-bell schedule makes before- and after-school arrangements an important tour question.

Resides transportation is subject to current eligibility rules and completion of transportation verification.

Recent news, in context

Dunn is listed as a Title I school beginning in 2026–27.

Dunn is the Waggener Elementary Zone satellite for incoming kindergartners and students new to that zone.

The 2026–27 projection is 472 students, about 74% of the listed optimal capacity of 641.

Compare before you commit

Chancey, Norton Commons, Norton, Portland and WilderContinuing Ballard Zone options. Zachary Taylor is closed.
Carter TraditionalA different admissions route: an address-eligible Traditional magnet with uniforms and no assumed magnet bus.
Ballard ZoneThe high-school cluster attached to Dunn. Confirm the assigned middle school for the exact address.

Questions to ask on a tour

1.Is Dunn the resides school for this address, or a Ballard Zone option that must be ranked?
2.What does a third-grade reading block look like in minutes?
3.How do social-emotional supports and student activities fit into a typical third-grade day?
4.What before- and after-school care is available for the 9:40 a.m.–4:20 p.m. schedule?
5.How long is the car line before and around 9:20 a.m.?
6.Which grades currently have space?
7.What middle school does this address feed?
8.If Dunn is full, what is the next Ballard Zone option?

What to do next

1.Use School Finder for the exact address. Record the resides elementary, zone, middle school and high-school cluster.
2.Register first if the child is entering kindergarten or is new to JCPS.
3.If Dunn is the resides school and the family has not moved, no application is needed to stay. Transportation verification is still required.
4.Visit during the late-bell arrival period and ask about before- and after-school arrangements.
5.For a magnet or another school option, apply between November 2 and December 18, 2026 for 2027–28.
6.Ask the school office how families can work with the Family Resource Center.