McCracken County Schools & Education
McCracken County, Kentucky
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
49/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,991
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,894
School Score
49/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 57/100
State Score Position
#90
of 120 counties by score
Education Data Brief: McCracken County
Measured School Summary
McCracken County performs at an average level with a school score of 49/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.2%.
Funding Context
At $6,991 per pupil, McCracken County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 14% below the Kentucky average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read McCracken 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
22 public schools and 3 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
49/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #90 of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data.
Completion
91.2%
2.6 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,991
$97 above the state average
School coverage
22
3 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
McCracken County has 22 public schools across 3 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 McCracken 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
Kentucky Tech System carries most of the listed public-school system, with 57 of 22 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#90
of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data. The county score is 8 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.
McCracken County
Elementary to high school visible
6,968 students
14 listed schools in this county slice.
Paducah Independent
Elementary to high school visible
3,119 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
Kentucky Tech System
High school only in this slice
0 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Kentucky Tech System is the largest listed district slice, with 57 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 McCracken County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different McCracken 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 McCracken 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 Diverse and Large Educational Network
McCracken County is home to 22 public schools serving 10,087 students across three different districts. The infrastructure includes 10 elementary, four middle, and three high schools, plus five specialized campuses.
Stable Performance in a Large System
The county maintains a 91.2% graduation rate, exceeding the national average by over four points. Per-pupil expenditure is $6,991, supporting a broad range of programs across the diverse district landscape.
A Multi-District Educational Structure
The McCracken County district serves 6,968 students, while Paducah Independent manages 3,119. There are no charter schools in the county, though three alternative schools provide specialized support for students.
Large Campuses in an Active Town Locale
With 17 schools located in town settings, the area has a bustling, centralized feel. McCracken County High School is one of the state's largest with 1,999 students, significantly higher than the county average of 504.
School Overview
Total Schools
22
in McCracken County
Reported Enrollment
10,087
22 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in McCracken County
McCracken County
GuidePaducah Independent
Kentucky Tech System
22 Public Schools in McCracken County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 22 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCracken County High School | Profile | McCracken County | Paducah, 42001Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,999 |
| Paducah Tilghman High School | Record | Paducah Independent | Paducah, 42003Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 878 |
| Lone Oak Middle School | Record | McCracken County | Paducah, 42001Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 796 |
| Paducah Middle School | Record | Paducah Independent | Paducah, 42001Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 652 |
| Clark Elementary School | Record | Paducah Independent | Paducah, 42001Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 617 |
| Concord Elementary School | Record | McCracken County | Paducah, 42001Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 614 |
| Reidland Elementary School | Record | McCracken County | Paducah, 42003Town: Remote | PK–3 | Primary | 587 |
| Lone Oak Elementary School | Record | McCracken County | Paducah, 42001Town: Remote | PK–3 | Primary | 520 |
| Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School | Record | McCracken County | Paducah, 42003Town: Remote | PK–3 | Primary | 489 |
| Heath Elementary School | Record | McCracken County | West Paducah, 42086Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 484 |
| Lone Oak Intermediate School | Record | McCracken County | Paducah, 42001Town: Remote | 4–5 | Primary | 426 |
| Heath Middle School | Record | McCracken County | West Paducah, 42086Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 410 |
| Morgan Elementary School | Record | Paducah Independent | Paducah, 42003Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 380 |
| Reidland Middle School | Record | McCracken County | Paducah, 42001Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 330 |
| McNabb Elementary School | Record | Paducah Independent | Paducah, 42001Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 322 |
| Paducah Head Start Preschool | Record | Paducah Independent | Paducah, 42003Town: Remote | PK | Other | 233 |
| Reidland Intermediate School | Record | McCracken County | Paducah, 42003Town: Remote | 4–5 | Primary | 222 |
| McCracken Open Campus School | Record | McCracken County | West Paducah, 42086Rural: Fringe | KG–12 | Alternative | 56 |
| Choices Educational Center | Record | Paducah Independent | Paducah, 42003Town: Remote | KG–12 | Alternative | 37 |
| McCracken Regional School | Record | McCracken County | Paducah, 42001Rural: Fringe | 4–12 | Alternative | 35 |
McCracken County High School
McCracken County
Paducah, 42001 / Rural: Fringe
Paducah Tilghman High School
Paducah Independent
Paducah, 42003 / Town: Remote
Clark Elementary School
Paducah Independent
Paducah, 42001 / Town: Remote
Reidland Elementary School
McCracken County
Paducah, 42003 / Town: Remote
Lone Oak Elementary School
McCracken County
Paducah, 42001 / Town: Remote
Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School
McCracken County
Paducah, 42003 / Town: Remote
Heath Elementary School
McCracken County
West Paducah, 42086 / Rural: Fringe
Lone Oak Intermediate School
McCracken County
Paducah, 42001 / Town: Remote
Morgan Elementary School
Paducah Independent
Paducah, 42003 / Town: Remote
McNabb Elementary School
Paducah Independent
Paducah, 42001 / Town: Remote
Paducah Head Start Preschool
Paducah Independent
Paducah, 42003 / Town: Remote
Reidland Intermediate School
McCracken County
Paducah, 42003 / Town: Remote
McCracken Open Campus School
McCracken County
West Paducah, 42086 / Rural: Fringe
Choices Educational Center
Paducah Independent
Paducah, 42003 / Town: Remote
McCracken Regional School
McCracken County
Paducah, 42001 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,991
State avg $6,894
Compare Nearby Counties
Review McCracken 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 McCracken County?
What is the graduation rate in McCracken County?
How much does McCracken County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in McCracken County, Kentucky — FAQ
What does the school system look like in McCracken County, Kentucky?
McCracken County is home to 22 public schools serving 10,087 students across three different districts. The infrastructure includes 10 elementary, four middle, and three high schools, plus five specialized campuses.
How do schools in McCracken County perform academically?
The county maintains a 91.2% graduation rate, exceeding the national average by over four points. Per-pupil expenditure is $6,991, supporting a broad range of programs across the diverse district landscape.
What are the major school districts in McCracken County, Kentucky?
The McCracken County district serves 6,968 students, while Paducah Independent manages 3,119. There are no charter schools in the county, though three alternative schools provide specialized support for students.
What is the school experience like in McCracken County?
With 17 schools located in town settings, the area has a bustling, centralized feel. McCracken County High School is one of the state's largest with 1,999 students, significantly higher than the county average of 504.
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.