Kentucky Schools & Education

Public school metrics and education data for all 120 counties.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Avg Graduation Rate

93.8%

Avg Per-Pupil Spending

$6,894

Avg School Score

57/100

Total Schools

1,542

174 districts

State Overview

About Schools in Kentucky

This summary is generated from the NCES metrics shown on this page and reviewed against the source data by the Data Editor. It is not school advice.

Kentucky Graduates Outpace the National Average

Kentucky maintains an impressive 93.8% graduation rate, significantly exceeding the national average of 87.0%. Despite this success, the state spends only $6,894 per pupil, which is roughly half of the $13,000 national benchmark.

Broad Educational Consistency Across 120 Counties

Education outcomes remain relatively stable across the Commonwealth's 120 counties, with school scores averaging 55.3. Graduation rates range from 84.0% in Jefferson County to a near-perfect 99.0% in Rockcastle County.

High Graduation Rates on a Lean Budget

The state achieves a strong return on investment, delivering high graduation rates despite spending far less than the national median. While Nicholas County spends a low $4,566 per student, Wolfe County invests $9,307 to drive its performance.

Knott, Wolfe, and Johnson Lead the State

Knott and Wolfe counties share the top school score of 59.6, paired with graduation rates of 97.0% and 92.0% respectively. Johnson County follows closely with a 59.5 score and an exceptional 97.5% graduation rate.

State Score Context

How Kentucky Counties Are Distributed

120 of 120 counties have enough NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data to receive a county school score. Use this distribution to understand whether the state has a concentrated cluster of high, midrange, or lower measured signals.

Scored county coverage

Counties with complete enough data for the composite score

100%

Higher measured signal

Score range 70-100

Midrange measured signal

Score range 40-69

Lower measured signal

Score range 0-39

Scores are comparative signals from available federal data, not ratings of individual schools.

Highest Measured School Signals

Knott County

81/100

School score

Johnson County

81/100

School score

Carroll County

80/100

School score

Bell County

77/100

School score

Campbell County

76/100

School score

Lowest Measured School Signals

#1 lowest

Laurel County

20/100

School score

#2 lowest

Bath County

25/100

School score

#3 lowest

Powell County

26/100

School score

#4 lowest

Webster County

28/100

School score

#5 lowest

Nicholas County

34/100

School score

All Kentucky Counties

County-level school score, graduation rate, and per-pupil spending for Kentucky.
County	School Score	Graduation Rate	Per-Pupil Spending
Knott County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $8,123	81/100	97.0%	$8,123
Johnson County Graduation 97.5% Per pupil $7,940	81/100	97.5%	$7,940
Carroll County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,946	80/100	97.0%	$7,946
Bell County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,726	77/100	97.0%	$7,726
Campbell County Graduation 96.8% Per pupil $7,711	76/100	96.8%	$7,711
Rockcastle County Graduation 99.0% Per pupil $7,470	75/100	99.0%	$7,470
Calloway County Graduation 96.3% Per pupil $7,700	75/100	96.3%	$7,700
Monroe County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,551	75/100	97.0%	$7,551
McCreary County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,528	75/100	97.0%	$7,528
Wolfe County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $9,307	74/100	92.0%	$9,307
Martin County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,476	74/100	97.0%	$7,476
Cumberland County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,347	72/100	97.0%	$7,347
Elliott County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,341	72/100	97.0%	$7,341
Whitley County Graduation 96.5% Per pupil $7,377	72/100	96.5%	$7,377
Hickman County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $7,577	71/100	95.0%	$7,577
Marion County Graduation 96.0% Per pupil $7,370	71/100	96.0%	$7,370
Taylor County Graduation 98.5% Per pupil $7,103	70/100	98.5%	$7,103
Union County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,172	70/100	97.0%	$7,172
Clark County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,140	70/100	97.0%	$7,140
Leslie County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,132	69/100	97.0%	$7,132
Boyd County Graduation 92.3% Per pupil $8,151	69/100	92.3%	$8,151
Mercer County Graduation 96.1% Per pupil $7,215	69/100	96.1%	$7,215
Oldham County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,033	68/100	97.0%	$7,033
McLean County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,020	68/100	97.0%	$7,020
Clinton County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $8,213	67/100	92.0%	$8,213
Simpson County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $7,322	67/100	95.0%	$7,322
Boone County Graduation 96.1% Per pupil $7,094	67/100	96.1%	$7,094
Floyd County Graduation 94.0% Per pupil $7,498	67/100	94.0%	$7,498
Fulton County Graduation 93.2% Per pupil $7,637	66/100	93.2%	$7,637
Pulaski County Graduation 97.8% Per pupil $6,808	66/100	97.8%	$6,808
Larue County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,871	66/100	97.0%	$6,871
Hart County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,869	66/100	97.0%	$6,869
Carlisle County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $7,198	66/100	95.0%	$7,198
Letcher County Graduation 96.0% Per pupil $6,990	65/100	96.0%	$6,990
Adair County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,807	65/100	97.0%	$6,807
Carter County Graduation 98.0% Per pupil $6,692	65/100	98.0%	$6,692
Woodford County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,776	65/100	97.0%	$6,776
Green County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $7,905	64/100	92.0%	$7,905
Rowan County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,680	63/100	97.0%	$6,680
Lincoln County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $7,752	63/100	92.0%	$7,752
Graves County Graduation 96.3% Per pupil $6,730	62/100	96.3%	$6,730
Knox County Graduation 90.5% Per pupil $8,345	62/100	90.5%	$8,345
Magoffin County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,574	62/100	97.0%	$6,574
Breckinridge County Graduation 96.3% Per pupil $6,659	62/100	96.3%	$6,659
Boyle County Graduation 92.3% Per pupil $7,487	61/100	92.3%	$7,487
Owsley County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $6,898	61/100	95.0%	$6,898
Fleming County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,495	61/100	97.0%	$6,495
Butler County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,459	61/100	97.0%	$6,459
Caldwell County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,428	61/100	97.0%	$6,428
Greenup County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,392	60/100	97.0%	$6,392
Owen County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,356	60/100	97.0%	$6,356
Jackson County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $7,515	60/100	92.0%	$7,515
Barren County Graduation 93.2% Per pupil $7,107	59/100	93.2%	$7,107
Anderson County Graduation 94.0% Per pupil $6,912	59/100	94.0%	$6,912
Bracken County Graduation 95.5% Per pupil $6,512	58/100	95.5%	$6,512
Lewis County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,222	58/100	97.0%	$6,222
Nelson County Graduation 93.4% Per pupil $6,971	58/100	93.4%	$6,971
Warren County Graduation 96.0% Per pupil $6,378	58/100	96.0%	$6,378
Fayette County Graduation 88.0% Per pupil $8,810	58/100	88.0%	$8,810
Perry County Graduation 93.4% Per pupil $6,919	57/100	93.4%	$6,919
Russell County Graduation 96.0% Per pupil $6,343	57/100	96.0%	$6,343
Todd County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,156	57/100	97.0%	$6,156
Pike County Graduation 95.2% Per pupil $6,425	57/100	95.2%	$6,425
Livingston County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $7,292	57/100	92.0%	$7,292
Franklin County Graduation 93.7% Per pupil $6,829	57/100	93.7%	$6,829
Trigg County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $7,270	56/100	92.0%	$7,270
Jessamine County Graduation 94.0% Per pupil $6,713	56/100	94.0%	$6,713
Pendleton County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,040	56/100	97.0%	$6,040
Henderson County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $7,808	55/100	90.0%	$7,808
Hancock County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $7,150	55/100	92.0%	$7,150
Morgan County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $5,955	55/100	97.0%	$5,955
Daviess County Graduation 89.7% Per pupil $7,930	55/100	89.7%	$7,930
Menifee County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $7,145	55/100	92.0%	$7,145
Washington County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $5,939	55/100	97.0%	$5,939
Grant County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $6,241	53/100	95.0%	$6,241
Wayne County Graduation 94.0% Per pupil $6,455	53/100	94.0%	$6,455
Lawrence County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $7,016	53/100	92.0%	$7,016
Madison County Graduation 92.9% Per pupil $6,733	53/100	92.9%	$6,733
Casey County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,993	53/100	92.0%	$6,993
Lyon County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $6,174	53/100	95.0%	$6,174
Kenton County Graduation 92.1% Per pupil $6,840	52/100	92.1%	$6,840
Mason County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,950	52/100	92.0%	$6,950
Robertson County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $7,490	51/100	90.0%	$7,490
Christian County Graduation 93.0% Per pupil $6,471	51/100	93.0%	$6,471
Harrison County Graduation 96.0% Per pupil $5,733	51/100	96.0%	$5,733
Muhlenberg County Graduation 91.0% Per pupil $7,184	51/100	91.0%	$7,184
Trimble County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,783	50/100	92.0%	$6,783
Garrard County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,768	50/100	92.0%	$6,768
Allen County Graduation 93.0% Per pupil $6,318	49/100	93.0%	$6,318
McCracken County Graduation 91.2% Per pupil $6,991	49/100	91.2%	$6,991
Meade County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $5,813	49/100	95.0%	$5,813
Bourbon County Graduation 90.5% Per pupil $7,090	48/100	90.5%	$7,090
Hopkins County Graduation 92.3% Per pupil $6,373	47/100	92.3%	$6,373
Grayson County Graduation 91.0% Per pupil $6,885	47/100	91.0%	$6,885
Gallatin County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,480	46/100	92.0%	$6,480
Breathitt County Graduation 91.7% Per pupil $6,670	46/100	91.7%	$6,670
Harlan County Graduation 91.6% Per pupil $6,682	46/100	91.6%	$6,682
Crittenden County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,430	46/100	92.0%	$6,430
Jefferson County Graduation 84.0% Per pupil $8,382	45/100	84.0%	$8,382
Montgomery County Graduation 94.0% Per pupil $5,680	45/100	94.0%	$5,680
Scott County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,348	45/100	92.0%	$6,348
Spencer County Graduation 93.0% Per pupil $5,981	45/100	93.0%	$5,981
Bullitt County Graduation 91.0% Per pupil $6,749	45/100	91.0%	$6,749
Marshall County Graduation 91.0% Per pupil $6,739	45/100	91.0%	$6,739
Metcalfe County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,286	44/100	92.0%	$6,286
Logan County Graduation 90.9% Per pupil $6,670	43/100	90.9%	$6,670
Edmonson County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,106	42/100	92.0%	$6,106
Ballard County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,075	42/100	92.0%	$6,075
Ohio County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,032	41/100	92.0%	$6,032
Henry County Graduation 89.1% Per pupil $6,696	38/100	89.1%	$6,696
Lee County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $5,674	37/100	92.0%	$5,674
Estill County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $5,547	37/100	92.0%	$5,547
Shelby County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $6,928	35/100	87.0%	$6,928
Clay County Graduation 89.0% Per pupil $6,451	35/100	89.0%	$6,451
Hardin County Graduation 89.4% Per pupil $6,298	34/100	89.4%	$6,298
Nicholas County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $4,566	34/100	92.0%	$4,566
Webster County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $6,311	28/100	87.0%	$6,311
Powell County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $6,167	26/100	87.0%	$6,167
Bath County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $6,080	25/100	87.0%	$6,080
Laurel County Graduation 84.0% Per pupil $6,246	20/100	84.0%	$6,246

— = data not available for this county.

Compare county school profiles in Kentucky

Use the comparison tool to review school scores, graduation rates, and spending side by side.

Compare Counties

Frequently Asked Questions About Kentucky Schools

Which Kentucky counties have the highest graduation rates?

Rockcastle County (99.0%), Taylor County (98.5%), and Carter County (98.0%) currently lead Kentucky among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Kentucky?

Across Kentucky counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,894. The highest current county values are Wolfe County ($9,307), Fayette County ($8,810), and Jefferson County ($8,382). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

Which Kentucky county has the strongest measured school score?

Knott County has the highest school score in Kentucky with a score of 81/100, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data.

What is the average graduation rate in Kentucky?

The average high school graduation rate across Kentucky counties is 93.8%, based on NCES data.

Which county in Kentucky has the lowest school score?

Laurel County has the lowest school score in Kentucky with a score of 20/100. School scores reflect available graduation-rate and per-pupil spending signals.

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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