Laurel County Schools & Education
Laurel County, Kentucky
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
20/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
84.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
84.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,246
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,894
School Score
20/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 57/100
State Score Position
#120
of 120 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Laurel County
Measured School Summary
Laurel County faces educational challenges with a school score of 20/100 and a graduation rate of 84.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,246 per pupil, Laurel County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 65% below the Kentucky average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 9.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Laurel 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
20/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #120 of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data.
Completion
84.0%
9.8 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,246
$648 below the state average
School coverage
20
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
Laurel 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 Laurel 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
Laurel County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 19 of 20 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#120
of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data. The county score is 37 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.
Laurel County
Elementary to high school visible
8,801 students
19 listed schools in this county slice.
East Bernstadt Independent
Elementary school only in this slice
523 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Laurel County is the largest listed district slice, with 19 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 Laurel County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Laurel 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 Laurel 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 Network in Laurel County
Laurel County manages a significant school infrastructure with 20 public schools serving 9,324 students. The system is built around 12 elementary schools, two middle schools, and six high schools. This extensive layout ensures that students across the county have local access to primary and secondary campuses.
Two Districts Serving Laurel Students
The Laurel County district is the dominant provider, managing 19 schools and 8,801 students, while East Bernstadt Independent operates one school with 523 students. Charter schools do not currently operate here, meaning all students are served by traditional public institutions. This structure provides a mix of a large county system and a focused independent option.
Large Campuses in a Town-Rural Mix
Laurel County features several large campuses, including North Laurel High with 1,300 students and South Laurel High with 1,108. The average school size is 491, with facilities split between 11 town and nine rural locales. This mix offers students the resources of a large school while maintaining a connection to the local community.
School Overview
Total Schools
20
in Laurel County
Reported Enrollment
9,324
20 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Laurel County
Laurel County
GuideEast Bernstadt Independent
20 Public Schools in Laurel County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 4 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 20 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Laurel High School | Profile | Laurel County | London, 40741Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 1,300 |
| South Laurel High School | Profile | Laurel County | London, 40744Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 1,108 |
| North Laurel Middle School | Profile | Laurel County | London, 40741Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 1,003 |
| South Laurel Middle School | Profile | Laurel County | London, 40741Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 979 |
| Hunter Hills Elementary School | Record | Laurel County | Corbin, 40701Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 568 |
| London Elementary School | Record | Laurel County | London, 40741Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 543 |
| Bush Elementary School | Record | Laurel County | London, 40741Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 528 |
| East Bernstadt Elementary School | Record | East Bernstadt Independent | East Bernstadt, 40729Town: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 523 |
| Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary | Record | Laurel County | London, 40744Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 424 |
| Colony Elementary School | Record | Laurel County | London, 40741Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 371 |
| Hazel Green Elementary School | Record | Laurel County | East Bernstadt, 40729Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 344 |
| Johnson Elementary School | Record | Laurel County | London, 40741Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 334 |
| Sublimity Elementary School | Record | Laurel County | London, 40744Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 310 |
| Camp Ground Elementary School | Record | Laurel County | London, 40744Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 306 |
| Keavy Elementary School | Record | Laurel County | Keavy, 40737Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 282 |
| Cold Hill Elementary School | Record | Laurel County | London, 40741Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 281 |
| Laurel County Day Treatment | Record | Laurel County | London, 40741Rural: Distant | 6–12 | Alternative | 68 |
| McDaniel Learning Center | Record | Laurel County | London, 40744Town: Remote | 9–12 | Alternative | 46 |
| Laurel County Virtual Academy | Record | Laurel County | London, 40741Town: Remote | 6–12 | Virtual | 6 |
| Laurel Co Schools Center for Innovation | Record | Laurel County | London, 40741Town: Remote | 10–12 | Vocational | 0 |
North Laurel High School
Laurel County
London, 40741 / Town: Remote
South Laurel High School
Laurel County
London, 40744 / Town: Remote
North Laurel Middle School
Laurel County
London, 40741 / Rural: Fringe
South Laurel Middle School
Laurel County
London, 40741 / Town: Remote
Hunter Hills Elementary School
Laurel County
Corbin, 40701 / Town: Remote
East Bernstadt Elementary School
East Bernstadt Independent
East Bernstadt, 40729 / Town: Remote
Hazel Green Elementary School
Laurel County
East Bernstadt, 40729 / Rural: Fringe
Camp Ground Elementary School
Laurel County
London, 40744 / Rural: Fringe
Laurel County Day Treatment
Laurel County
London, 40741 / Rural: Distant
Laurel Co Schools Center for Innovation
Laurel County
London, 40741 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,246
State avg $6,894
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Laurel 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 Laurel County?
What is the graduation rate in Laurel County?
How much does Laurel County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Laurel County, Kentucky — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Laurel County, Kentucky?
Laurel County manages a significant school infrastructure with 20 public schools serving 9,324 students. The system is built around 12 elementary schools, two middle schools, and six high schools. This extensive layout ensures that students across the county have local access to primary and secondary campuses.
What are the major school districts in Laurel County, Kentucky?
The Laurel County district is the dominant provider, managing 19 schools and 8,801 students, while East Bernstadt Independent operates one school with 523 students. Charter schools do not currently operate here, meaning all students are served by traditional public institutions. This structure provides a mix of a large county system and a focused independent option.
What is the school experience like in Laurel County?
Laurel County features several large campuses, including North Laurel High with 1,300 students and South Laurel High with 1,108. The average school size is 491, with facilities split between 11 town and nine rural locales. This mix offers students the resources of a large school while maintaining a connection to the local community.
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.