Systems and methods for improving database system performance are described. In one embodiment, a database system includes a database application cluster including at least one read-write node and a plurality of read nodes, a shared memory, and a multiplexer coupled to the database application cluster and shared memory. The multiplexer is configured to receive a request from a client computing system which includes a database query. Based on a lookup in the shared memory, the multiplexer determines that the database query can be routed to one of the plurality of read nodes. In response, the database query is routed to one of the read nodes for execution.