Mercer County Schools & Education
Mercer County, Kentucky
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
69/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
96.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
96.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 93.8%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,215
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,894
School Score
69/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 57/100
State Score Position
#22
of 120 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Mercer County
Measured School Summary
Mercer County performs at an average level with a school score of 69/100 and a solid graduation rate of 96.1%.
Funding Context
At $7,215 per pupil, Mercer County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 21% above the Kentucky average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Mercer 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
8 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
69/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #22 of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data.
Completion
96.1%
2.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,215
$321 above the state average
School coverage
8
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
Mercer County has 8 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 Mercer 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.
Small-system county
Mercer County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#22
of 120 Kentucky counties with school score data. The county score is 12 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.
Mercer County
Elementary to high school visible
2,721 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Burgin Independent
Other grade structure
495 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Mercer County is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Mercer County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mix of Town and Rural Schools
Mercer County supports 3,216 students across 8 public schools, managed by two distinct districts. The system includes two elementary, one middle, and four high school programs to meet varied community needs.
Dual Districts Serving the Community
Mercer County is the primary district with 2,721 students, followed by the Burgin Independent district which serves 495 students. There are no charter schools in the county, meaning 100% of the schools are traditional public or alternative institutions.
Centrally Located Schools with Town Character
Six schools are located in town settings while two remain rural, with an average enrollment of 459 students. Mercer County Senior High is the largest with 731 students, nearly equaled by Mercer County Elementary's 730-student population.
School Overview
Total Schools
8
in Mercer County
Reported Enrollment
3,216
8 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Mercer County
Mercer County
Burgin Independent
8 Public Schools in Mercer 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 8 of 8 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County Senior High School | Record | Mercer County | Harrodsburg, 40330Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 731 |
| Mercer County Elementary School | Record | Mercer County | Harrodsburg, 40330Town: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 730 |
| Kenneth D. King Middle School | Record | Mercer County | Harrodsburg, 40330Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 610 |
| Mercer County Intermediate School | Record | Mercer County | Harrodsburg, 40330Town: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 593 |
| Burgin Independent School | Record | Burgin Independent | Burgin, 40310Rural: Distant | PK–12 | Other | 495 |
| Mercer Central | Record | Mercer County | Harrodsburg, 40330Town: Distant | 9–12 | Alternative | 45 |
| Mercer County Day Treatment | Record | Mercer County | Harrodsburg, 40330Town: Distant | 6–12 | Alternative | 12 |
| Trailblazer Academy | Record | Kentucky Tech System | Harrodsburg, 40330Town: Distant | 8–12 | Vocational | 0 |
Mercer County Senior High School
Mercer County
Harrodsburg, 40330 / Rural: Fringe
Mercer County Elementary School
Mercer County
Harrodsburg, 40330 / Town: Distant
Kenneth D. King Middle School
Mercer County
Harrodsburg, 40330 / Town: Distant
Mercer County Intermediate School
Mercer County
Harrodsburg, 40330 / Town: Distant
Burgin Independent School
Burgin Independent
Burgin, 40310 / Rural: Distant
Mercer County Day Treatment
Mercer County
Harrodsburg, 40330 / Town: Distant
Trailblazer Academy
Kentucky Tech System
Harrodsburg, 40330 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,215
State avg $6,894
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Mercer 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 Mercer County?
What is the graduation rate in Mercer County?
How much does Mercer County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Mercer County, Kentucky — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Mercer County, Kentucky?
Mercer County supports 3,216 students across 8 public schools, managed by two distinct districts. The system includes two elementary, one middle, and four high school programs to meet varied community needs.
What are the major school districts in Mercer County, Kentucky?
Mercer County is the primary district with 2,721 students, followed by the Burgin Independent district which serves 495 students. There are no charter schools in the county, meaning 100% of the schools are traditional public or alternative institutions.
What is the school experience like in Mercer County?
Six schools are located in town settings while two remain rural, with an average enrollment of 459 students. Mercer County Senior High is the largest with 731 students, nearly equaled by Mercer County Elementary's 730-student population.
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.