Knox County Schools & Education
Knox County, Kentucky
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
62/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
90.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
90.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,345
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,894
School Score
62/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 57/100
State Score Position
#42
of 120 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Knox County
Measured School Summary
Knox County performs at an average level with a school score of 62/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.5%.
Funding Context
Knox County spends $8,345 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 9% above the Kentucky average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 21% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Knox 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
20 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
62/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #42 of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data.
Completion
90.5%
3.3 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,345
$1,451 above the state average
School coverage
20
2 districts 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
Knox County has 20 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 Knox 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
Knox County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 15 of 20 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#42
of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data. The county score is 5 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.
Knox County
Elementary to high school visible
3,943 students
15 listed schools in this county slice.
Barbourville Independent
High school only in this slice
692 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Knox County is the largest listed district slice, with 15 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 Knox County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Knox County district systems?
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 Knox 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 Broad Network for Knox County Youth
Knox County is home to 20 public schools that provide education for 5,410 students across two districts. The infrastructure includes seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and eight high schools, reflecting a strong emphasis on secondary options. This variety of levels ensures that students have specialized facilities for every stage of their education.
Two Districts Serving a Growing Community
The Knox County district is the primary provider with 15 schools and 3,943 students, while Barbourville Independent serves 692 students. No charter schools are active in the county, meaning all public funds support the traditional district schools. This dual-district system offers families a choice between a larger county network and a smaller independent city school.
Community-Scale Learning in Town Settings
Schools in Knox County average 301 students, offering a scale that allows for personalized attention. Fourteen schools are located in town settings, while six remain in rural areas, providing a balanced geographic mix. Knox Central High School is the largest in the area with 761 students, providing a traditional high school experience.
School Overview
Total Schools
20
in Knox County
Reported Enrollment
5,410
20 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Knox County
Knox County
GuideBarbourville Independent
20 Public Schools in Knox 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 20 of 20 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox Central High School | Record | Knox County | Barbourville, 40906Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 761 |
| Barbourville City School | Record | Barbourville Independent | Barbourville, 40906Town: Remote | PK–12 | Other | 685 |
| Corbin Middle School | Record | Corbin Independent | Corbin, 40701Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 646 |
| Lynn Camp Elementary School | Record | Knox County | Corbin, 40701Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 525 |
| Lynn Camp Middle High School | Record | Knox County | Corbin, 40701Rural: Fringe | 6–12 | High | 465 |
| Knox County Middle School | Record | Knox County | Barbourville, 40906Town: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 429 |
| Central Elementary School | Record | Knox County | Barbourville, 40906Town: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 362 |
| Jesse D Lay Elementary School | Record | Knox County | Barbourville, 40906Town: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 339 |
| Girdler Elementary School | Record | Knox County | Girdler, 40943Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 294 |
| G R Hampton Elementary School | Record | Knox County | Barbourville, 40906Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 268 |
| Flat Lick Elementary School | Record | Knox County | Flat Lick, 40935Town: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 190 |
| Corbin Preschool | Record | Corbin Independent | Corbin, 40701Town: Remote | PK | Other | 129 |
| Dewitt Elementary School | Record | Knox County | Flat Lick, 40935Rural: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 127 |
| Knox Inspire Academy | Record | Knox County | Barbourville, 40906Town: Remote | KG–12 | Virtual | 69 |
| Knox County Learning Academy | Record | Knox County | Barbourville, 40906Town: Remote | 7–12 | Alternative | 58 |
| Knox Appalachian School | Record | Knox County | Barbourville, 40906Town: Remote | 5–12 | Alternative | 40 |
| Knox County Day Treatment | Record | Knox County | Barbourville, 40906Town: Remote | 6–12 | Alternative | 16 |
| Barbourville Learning Center | Record | Barbourville Independent | Barbourville, 40906Town: Remote | 7–12 | Virtual | 7 |
| Knox County Area Technology Center | Record | Kentucky Tech System | Barbourville, 40906Town: Remote | 8–12 | Vocational | 0 |
| Knox County Career and Technical Center | Record | Knox County | Barbourville, 40906Town: Remote | 9–12 | Vocational | 0 |
Barbourville City School
Barbourville Independent
Barbourville, 40906 / Town: Remote
Jesse D Lay Elementary School
Knox County
Barbourville, 40906 / Town: Remote
G R Hampton Elementary School
Knox County
Barbourville, 40906 / Rural: Fringe
Knox County Learning Academy
Knox County
Barbourville, 40906 / Town: Remote
Knox Appalachian School
Knox County
Barbourville, 40906 / Town: Remote
Knox County Day Treatment
Knox County
Barbourville, 40906 / Town: Remote
Barbourville Learning Center
Barbourville Independent
Barbourville, 40906 / Town: Remote
Knox County Area Technology Center
Kentucky Tech System
Barbourville, 40906 / Town: Remote
Knox County Career and Technical Center
Knox County
Barbourville, 40906 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,345
State avg $6,894
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Knox 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 Knox County?
What is the graduation rate in Knox County?
How much does Knox County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Knox County, Kentucky — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Knox County, Kentucky?
Knox County is home to 20 public schools that provide education for 5,410 students across two districts. The infrastructure includes seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and eight high schools, reflecting a strong emphasis on secondary options. This variety of levels ensures that students have specialized facilities for every stage of their education.
What are the major school districts in Knox County, Kentucky?
The Knox County district is the primary provider with 15 schools and 3,943 students, while Barbourville Independent serves 692 students. No charter schools are active in the county, meaning all public funds support the traditional district schools. This dual-district system offers families a choice between a larger county network and a smaller independent city school.
What is the school experience like in Knox County?
Schools in Knox County average 301 students, offering a scale that allows for personalized attention. Fourteen schools are located in town settings, while six remain in rural areas, providing a balanced geographic mix. Knox Central High School is the largest in the area with 761 students, providing a traditional high school experience.
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.