Hardin County Schools & Education
Hardin County, Kentucky
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
34/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
89.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
89.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,298
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,894
School Score
34/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 57/100
State Score Position
#115
of 120 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Hardin County
Measured School Summary
Hardin County faces educational challenges with a school score of 34/100 and a graduation rate of 89.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,298 per pupil, Hardin County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 41% below the Kentucky average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Hardin 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
33 public schools and 2 districts 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
34/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #115 of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data.
Completion
89.4%
4.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,298
$596 below the state average
School coverage
33
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Hardin County has 33 public schools across 2 districts, 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 Hardin 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
Hardin County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 26 of 33 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#115
of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data. The county score is 23 points below 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.
Hardin County
Elementary to high school visible
14,675 students
26 listed schools in this county slice.
Elizabethtown Independent
Elementary to high school visible
2,465 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Hardin County is the largest listed district slice, with 26 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 Hardin County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Hardin County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Hardin 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.
A Major Educational Hub in Kentucky
Hardin County is home to a massive network of 33 public schools serving 17,140 students across two districts. The landscape includes 16 elementary schools, six middle schools, seven high schools, and four alternative programs.
Strong Outcomes for a Large System
Despite its size, the county maintains an 89.4% graduation rate, beating the national average. While spending $6,298 per pupil is below the state median, the district manages to serve a diverse population effectively.
Hardin County and Elizabethtown Districts
The Hardin County district is one of the state's largest with 14,675 students across 26 schools. Elizabethtown Independent adds a further seven schools and 2,465 students to the mix, with zero charter schools currently operating.
Diverse Urban and Rural Locales
Hardin County offers a rare mix of city, suburban, and rural school settings with an average school size of 536. Central Hardin High is the county's largest school, enrolling 1,914 students in a comprehensive campus environment.
School Overview
Total Schools
33
in Hardin County
Reported Enrollment
17,140
33 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Hardin County
Hardin County
GuideElizabethtown Independent
33 Public Schools in Hardin County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 33 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Hardin High School | Profile | Hardin County | Cecilia, 42724City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,914 |
| North Hardin High School | Profile | Hardin County | Radcliff, 40160Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,651 |
| Elizabethtown High School | Record | Elizabethtown Independent | Elizabethtown, 42701City: Small | 9–12 | High | 824 |
| G C Burkhead Elementary School | Record | Hardin County | Elizabethtown, 42701Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 811 |
| John Hardin High School | Record | Hardin County | Elizabethtown, 42701Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 790 |
| East Hardin Middle School | Record | Hardin County | Elizabethtown, 42701Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 780 |
| James T Alton Middle School | Record | Hardin County | Vine Grove, 40175Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 666 |
| North Park Elementary School | Record | Hardin County | Radcliff, 40160Suburb: Small | PK–KG | Primary | 609 |
| Bluegrass Middle School | Record | Hardin County | Elizabethtown, 42701Suburb: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 578 |
| North Middle School | Record | Hardin County | Radcliff, 40160Suburb: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 578 |
| Lincoln Trail Elementary School | Record | Hardin County | Elizabethtown, 42701Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 564 |
| Heartland Elementary School | Record | Hardin County | Elizabethtown, 42701Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 559 |
| Talton K Stone Middle School | Record | Elizabethtown Independent | Elizabethtown, 42701City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 545 |
| Woodland Elementary School | Record | Hardin County | Radcliff, 40160Suburb: Small | 1–5 | Primary | 537 |
| Rineyville Elementary School | Record | Hardin County | Rineyville, 40162Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 527 |
| Vine Grove Elementary School | Record | Hardin County | Vine Grove, 40175Rural: Fringe | 1–5 | Primary | 511 |
| West Hardin Middle School | Record | Hardin County | Cecilia, 42724Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 509 |
| Meadow View Elementary School | Record | Hardin County | Radcliff, 40160Suburb: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 503 |
| New Highland Elementary School | Record | Hardin County | Elizabethtown, 42701Suburb: Small | PK–5 | Primary | 501 |
| Lakewood Elementary School | Record | Hardin County | Cecilia, 42724Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 459 |
Central Hardin High School
Hardin County
Cecilia, 42724 / City: Small
North Hardin High School
Hardin County
Radcliff, 40160 / Suburb: Small
Elizabethtown High School
Elizabethtown Independent
Elizabethtown, 42701 / City: Small
G C Burkhead Elementary School
Hardin County
Elizabethtown, 42701 / Rural: Fringe
East Hardin Middle School
Hardin County
Elizabethtown, 42701 / Rural: Fringe
James T Alton Middle School
Hardin County
Vine Grove, 40175 / Rural: Fringe
North Park Elementary School
Hardin County
Radcliff, 40160 / Suburb: Small
Lincoln Trail Elementary School
Hardin County
Elizabethtown, 42701 / Rural: Fringe
Heartland Elementary School
Hardin County
Elizabethtown, 42701 / Rural: Fringe
Talton K Stone Middle School
Elizabethtown Independent
Elizabethtown, 42701 / City: Small
Rineyville Elementary School
Hardin County
Rineyville, 40162 / Rural: Fringe
Vine Grove Elementary School
Hardin County
Vine Grove, 40175 / Rural: Fringe
Meadow View Elementary School
Hardin County
Radcliff, 40160 / Suburb: Small
New Highland Elementary School
Hardin County
Elizabethtown, 42701 / Suburb: Small
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,298
State avg $6,894
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Hardin 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 Hardin County?
What is the graduation rate in Hardin County?
How much does Hardin County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Hardin County, Kentucky — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Hardin County, Kentucky?
Hardin County is home to a massive network of 33 public schools serving 17,140 students across two districts. The landscape includes 16 elementary schools, six middle schools, seven high schools, and four alternative programs.
How do schools in Hardin County perform academically?
Despite its size, the county maintains an 89.4% graduation rate, beating the national average. While spending $6,298 per pupil is below the state median, the district manages to serve a diverse population effectively.
What are the major school districts in Hardin County, Kentucky?
The Hardin County district is one of the state's largest with 14,675 students across 26 schools. Elizabethtown Independent adds a further seven schools and 2,465 students to the mix, with zero charter schools currently operating.
What is the school experience like in Hardin County?
Hardin County offers a rare mix of city, suburban, and rural school settings with an average school size of 536. Central Hardin High is the county's largest school, enrolling 1,914 students in a comprehensive campus environment.
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.