Carter County Schools & Education
Carter County, Kentucky
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
65/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
98.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
98.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,692
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,894
School Score
65/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 57/100
State Score Position
#36
of 120 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Carter County
Measured School Summary
Carter County performs at an average level with a school score of 65/100 and a solid graduation rate of 98.0%.
Funding Context
At $6,692 per pupil, Carter County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 14% above the Kentucky average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Carter County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
12 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
65/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #36 of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data.
Completion
98.0%
4.2 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,692
$202 below the state average
School coverage
12
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Carter County has 12 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Carter County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Carter County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 12 of 12 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#36
of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data. The county score is 8 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Carter County
Elementary to high school visible
4,137 students
12 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Carter County is the largest listed district slice, with 12 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Carter County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Carter County, Kentucky
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Comprehensive School Coverage in Carter County
Twelve public schools serve Carter County, supporting a total enrollment of 4,137 students. The district includes six elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools.
A Single District Serving Carter County
The Carter County school district handles the entire local student population across 12 schools. Charter schools are not present in the area, ensuring a focused and traditional public education path for all residents.
A Predominantly Rural Learning Experience
Nine of the county's schools are rural, complemented by three town-based campuses. East Carter County High is the largest school with 729 students, while the county average sits at a comfortable 376 students per school.
School Overview
Total Schools
12
in Carter County
Reported Enrollment
4,137
12 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Carter County
12 Public Schools in Carter County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 12 of 12 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Carter County High School | Record | Carter County | Grayson, 41143Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 729 |
| Prichard Elementary School | Record | Carter County | Grayson, 41143Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 635 |
| West Carter County High School | Record | Carter County | Olive Hill, 41164Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 522 |
| East Carter Middle School | Record | Carter County | Grayson, 41143Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 505 |
| Olive Hill Elementary School | Record | Carter County | Olive Hill, 41164Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 381 |
| West Carter Middle School | Record | Carter County | Olive Hill, 41164Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 366 |
| Heritage Elementary School | Record | Carter County | Grayson, 41143Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 349 |
| Tygart Creek Elementary School | Record | Carter County | Olive Hill, 41164Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 342 |
| Carter City Elementary School | Record | Carter County | Grayson, 41143Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 144 |
| Star Elementary School | Record | Carter County | Rush, 41168Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 133 |
| Carter Virtual Academy | Record | Carter County | Olive Hill, 41164Rural: Distant | KG–12 | Virtual | 31 |
| Carter County Career and Technical Center | Record | Carter County | Olive Hill, 41164Rural: Distant | 9–12 | Vocational | 0 |
West Carter County High School
Carter County
Olive Hill, 41164 / Rural: Distant
Olive Hill Elementary School
Carter County
Olive Hill, 41164 / Rural: Distant
Tygart Creek Elementary School
Carter County
Olive Hill, 41164 / Rural: Distant
Carter City Elementary School
Carter County
Grayson, 41143 / Rural: Distant
Carter County Career and Technical Center
Carter County
Olive Hill, 41164 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,692
State avg $6,894
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Carter County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Kentucky counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Kentucky?
How should I read the school score in Carter County?
What is the graduation rate in Carter County?
How much does Carter County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Carter County, Kentucky — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Carter County, Kentucky?
Twelve public schools serve Carter County, supporting a total enrollment of 4,137 students. The district includes six elementary schools, two middle schools, and three high schools.
What are the major school districts in Carter County, Kentucky?
The Carter County school district handles the entire local student population across 12 schools. Charter schools are not present in the area, ensuring a focused and traditional public education path for all residents.
What is the school experience like in Carter County?
Nine of the county's schools are rural, complemented by three town-based campuses. East Carter County High is the largest school with 729 students, while the county average sits at a comfortable 376 students per school.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.