Noe Middle School

What this school is

Noe Middle School opened in 1974 as JCPS's first middle school. It sits at 121 West Lee Street in Old Louisville, next to the high-school arts corridor around duPont Manual and YPAS and a short walk from the University of Louisville. The building is named for Samuel V. Noe, a former Louisville superintendent.

Noe is three things at once: a resides middle school for part of Old Louisville and nearby neighborhoods; the district's only middle-school Gifted and Talented magnet; and a visual and performing-arts magnet in dance, drama, music, and visual art. The school's own page says about 42 percent of students come from the resides area or designated programs and about 58 percent come through magnets, with families from across Jefferson County.

It is large. The 2025–26 data book listed 1,142 students and a capacity of 1,196. That size is the point for some families and the drawback for others. Noe also runs the Advance Program, Algebra I for high school credit, ESL, and ECE.

How families get in

There is more than one door. Some students attend because Noe is their resides school. Others apply for the Gifted and Talented magnet or the visual and performing-arts magnet during the JCPS choice window. The 2026–27 Middle School Choices Guide describes both magnets. It does not list a Western-style required audition packet for Noe's arts program. Confirm the current extra forms on Noe's magnet page before you apply.

• Resides families: start with School Finder. If Noe is your assigned middle school, you do not apply for a magnet seat unless you want a different campus.
• Magnet families: apply in the on-time window. For 2026–27 that was November 3–December 19, 2025, with notices in April 2026. The working 2027–28 window is November 2–December 18, 2026.
• The GT magnet is the only districtwide middle-school gifted magnet JCPS lists. Students are expected to work above grade level. Advance Program screening (CogAT and teacher input) is a related but separate process.
• The arts magnet offers daily work in dance, drama, music, and visual art and is described as preparation for a possible high-school arts magnet. It is not the same campus as Western Middle School for the Arts.
• No sibling preference for magnets. Waitlists do not carry over. A seat does not automatically include a bus.

Who it tends to fit

Students

Source: JCPS Individual School Data Book for Noe Middle, 2025–26, unless noted. Enrollment 1,142. Capacity 1,196. Full-time teachers 59. Magnet applications 731. Magnet / academy enrollment 851. Gifted and talented identified: 610.

Gender: 641 girls (56%) · 501 boys (44%)

• Gifted and talented 610
• ECE 81
• 504 plans 55
• Multilingual learners 39
• Free lunch 427
• Reduced 33
• Paid 682

Academics

Use the Kentucky School Report Card first. Ranking sites help only as a second look.

• Noe's JCPS page: reading 29% proficient and 40% distinguished; math 35% proficient and 28% distinguished (about 69% reading PD and 63% math PD).
• The 2025–26 middle-school profile lists the same 2024–25 bands and a high (blue) KDE indicator rating.
• U.S. News 2026: No. 25 among Kentucky middle schools, overall score 92.05. SchoolDigger placed Noe 23rd of 320 Kentucky middle schools.
• This is one of the stronger testing middle schools in JCPS. Size and magnet mix are part of that picture. Ask how GT, Advance, arts, and resides students are grouped.

Awards and recognition

• U.S. News 2026

  No. 25 of Kentucky middle schools

• SchoolDigger 2025

  23 of 320 Kentucky middle schools

• Magnet Schools of America

  National certification listed in the Choices Guide

• Historical honors

  Kentucky Blue Ribbon, School to Watch, Magnet School of Merit — confirm dates on a tour

Location and daily life

Old Louisville is central. That helps families already near UofL, Manual, or I-65. It is a different trip from the far East End or Southwest. Listed feeder elementaries in the 2025–26 profile: Cochran, Engelhard, Goldsmith, Indian Trail, Klondike, and McFerran.

The extras list is long: Governor's Cup, MATHCOUNTS, Quick Recall, Science Olympiad, FPS, KYA, KUNA, robotics, STLP, BSU, a capella, jazz band, and a full middle-school sports slate from archery to volleyball. Ask which of those actually run this year and what time students leave the building.

Compare before you commit

• Western Middle School for the ArtsWhole-school arts magnet with a required audition. Different model.
• Meyzeek Middle(opens the official JCPS page in a new tab)Another high-demand academic middle school families put on the same list.
• Barret Traditional Middle(opens the official JCPS page in a new tab)Traditional magnet. Structure first.
• Your resides middle schoolNo magnet application if you stay put.
• duPont Manual / YPAS later(opens the official JCPS page in a new tab)Nearby high-school options. Noe does not guarantee a Manual seat.

Questions to ask on a tour

1. 1.Is my child applying as resides, GT magnet, or arts magnet — and what does that change in the schedule?
2. 2.How are GT, Advance, arts, and resides students grouped for core classes?
3. 3.What share of eighth graders later land at Manual, YPAS, or their resides high school?
4. 4.How crowded are hallways and lunch at 1,100-plus students?
5. 5.Does my address currently qualify for magnet transportation to Lee Street?
6. 6.Which academic teams and arts classes have space this year?

What to do next

1. 1.Run School Finder first. Know whether Noe is already your resides school.
2. 2.If you want GT or arts, apply in the on-time JCPS window and list Noe as a magnet choice.
3. 3.Tour. Size is easier to judge in the building than on paper.
4. 4.If offered a magnet seat, hit the deadline on the placement letter.
5. 5.Call transportation before you assume the bus.