Letcher County Schools & Education
Letcher 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
96.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
96.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,990
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,894
School Score
65/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 57/100
State Score Position
#34
of 120 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Letcher County
Measured School Summary
Letcher County performs at an average level with a school score of 65/100 and a solid graduation rate of 96.0%.
Funding Context
At $6,990 per pupil, Letcher County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 15% above the Kentucky average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Letcher 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
11 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
65/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #34 of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data.
Completion
96.0%
2.2 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,990
$96 above the state average
School coverage
11
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
Letcher County has 11 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 Letcher 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
Letcher County carries most of the listed public-school system, with 9 of 11 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#34
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.
Letcher County
Elementary to high school visible
2,596 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
Jenkins Independent
Other grade structure
475 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Letcher County is the largest listed district slice, with 9 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 Letcher County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Letcher 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 Letcher 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.
Broad School Options in Letcher County
Letcher County features 11 public schools including five elementary, two middle, and three high schools. These facilities support 3,071 students across two distinct school districts.
Two Districts Serving Local Students
The Letcher County district is the largest, serving 2,596 students across nine schools, while Jenkins Independent serves 475 students. There are no charter schools in the county, though one alternative school is available to meet diverse student needs.
Cozy Rural Campuses and Specialized Schools
All 11 schools are located in rural settings, maintaining an average school size of 307 students. Letcher County Central High is the largest with 779 students, while West Whitesburg Elementary offers a mid-sized environment with 415 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
11
in Letcher County
Reported Enrollment
3,071
11 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Letcher County
Letcher County
Jenkins Independent
11 Public Schools in Letcher 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 11 of 11 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letcher County Central High School | Record | Letcher County | Whitesburg, 41858Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 779 |
| Jenkins Independent School | Record | Jenkins Independent | Jenkins, 41537Rural: Remote | PK–12 | Other | 475 |
| West Whitesburg Elementary School | Record | Letcher County | Whitesburg, 41858Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 415 |
| Letcher Elementary & Middle School | Record | Letcher County | Blackey, 41804Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 374 |
| Martha Jane Potter Elementary School | Record | Letcher County | Whitesburg, 41858Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 320 |
| Cowan Elementary School | Record | Letcher County | Whitesburg, 41858Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 254 |
| Fleming Neon Middle School | Record | Letcher County | Neon, 41840Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 167 |
| Whitesburg Middle School | Record | Letcher County | Whitesburg, 41858Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 165 |
| Arlie Boggs Elementary School | Record | Letcher County | Eolia, 40826Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 121 |
| Letcher County Alternative Education Ctr | Record | Letcher County | Whitesburg, 41858Rural: Remote | 8–12 | Alternative | 1 |
| Letcher County Area Technology Center | Record | Kentucky Tech System | Whitesburg, 41858Rural: Remote | 8–12 | Vocational | 0 |
Letcher County Central High School
Letcher County
Whitesburg, 41858 / Rural: Remote
Jenkins Independent School
Jenkins Independent
Jenkins, 41537 / Rural: Remote
West Whitesburg Elementary School
Letcher County
Whitesburg, 41858 / Rural: Remote
Letcher Elementary & Middle School
Letcher County
Blackey, 41804 / Rural: Remote
Martha Jane Potter Elementary School
Letcher County
Whitesburg, 41858 / Rural: Remote
Cowan Elementary School
Letcher County
Whitesburg, 41858 / Rural: Distant
Arlie Boggs Elementary School
Letcher County
Eolia, 40826 / Rural: Distant
Letcher County Alternative Education Ctr
Letcher County
Whitesburg, 41858 / Rural: Remote
Letcher County Area Technology Center
Kentucky Tech System
Whitesburg, 41858 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,990
State avg $6,894
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Letcher 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 Letcher County?
What is the graduation rate in Letcher County?
How much does Letcher County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Letcher County, Kentucky — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Letcher County, Kentucky?
Letcher County features 11 public schools including five elementary, two middle, and three high schools. These facilities support 3,071 students across two distinct school districts.
What are the major school districts in Letcher County, Kentucky?
The Letcher County district is the largest, serving 2,596 students across nine schools, while Jenkins Independent serves 475 students. There are no charter schools in the county, though one alternative school is available to meet diverse student needs.
What is the school experience like in Letcher County?
All 11 schools are located in rural settings, maintaining an average school size of 307 students. Letcher County Central High is the largest with 779 students, while West Whitesburg Elementary offers a mid-sized environment with 415 students.
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.