Approximately 56% of public school students in Kentucky are eligible for free lunch (2025).
The public schools with the highest eligible for free lunch are listed below (where sufficient data available).
The public school with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Kentucky is Ackerly with 100% of students eligible.
Eligible for Free Lunch Range: 93%
100%
Avg. Eligible for Free Lunch: 98%
Public Schools Eligible For Free Lunch in Kentucky (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Eligible for Free Lunch
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Ackerly
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 5-12
200 E Chestnut St
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 629-6319
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 629-6319
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Barnabus Home High School
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 9-12
4500 Highway 30 W
Annville, KY 40402
(606) 364-2111
Annville, KY 40402
(606) 364-2111
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Bellewood
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: K-5
11103 Park Road
Louisville, KY 40223
(502) 753-5500
Louisville, KY 40223
(502) 753-5500
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Bluegrass Discovery Academy High School
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 9-12
551 Viking Drive
Morehead, KY 40351
(606) 780-9992
Morehead, KY 40351
(606) 780-9992
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Bluegrass Discovery Academy Middle School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-8
551 Viking Drive
Morehead, KY 40351
(606) 780-9992
Morehead, KY 40351
(606) 780-9992
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
The Brook-dupont
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-8
1405 Browns Ln
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 721-2342
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 721-2342
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Estill County Success Academy
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-12
253 Main St
Irvine, KY 40336
(606) 723-2181
Irvine, KY 40336
(606) 723-2181
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Foothills Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-12
107 Foothill Academy Spur
Albany, KY 42602
(606) 387-4673
Albany, KY 42602
(606) 387-4673
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Glen Dale Center
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-12
1030 Commerce Dr
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 506-1215
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 506-1215
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Green River School
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-12
363 Boy's Camp Rd
Cromwell, KY 42333
(270) 526-5276
Cromwell, KY 42333
(270) 526-5276
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: K-8
106 North Front Avenue
Prestonsburg, KY 41653
(606) 886-2354
Prestonsburg, KY 41653
(606) 886-2354
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Jefferson Regional Juvenile Detention Ce
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: K-12
8711 Lagrange Rd Building D
Louisville, KY 40242
(502) 485-7670
Louisville, KY 40242
(502) 485-7670
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Lake Cumberland Youth Development Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 8-12
9000 Hwy 1546
Monticello, KY 42633
(606) 348-1482
Monticello, KY 42633
(606) 348-1482
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Letcher County Alternative Education Center
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 8-12
185 Circle Dr
Whitesburg, KY 41858
(606) 633-5559
Whitesburg, KY 41858
(606) 633-5559
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
The Life Connection
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 4-12
81 Bud's Lake Road
Sonora, KY 42776
(270) 324-4956
Sonora, KY 42776
(270) 324-4956
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Mayfield Youth Development Center
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-12
3179 State Rt 45 S
Mayfield, KY 42066
(270) 247-9609
Mayfield, KY 42066
(270) 247-9609
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Newport Regional School
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-12
590 Columbia Street
Newport, KY 41071
(859) 292-6476
Newport, KY 41071
(859) 292-6476
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Otter Creek Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-12
1442 Old Bethel Church Rd
Monticello, KY 42633
(606) 343-0203
Monticello, KY 42633
(606) 343-0203
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 2-9
461 Fowler Lane
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 234-0591
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 234-0591
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Spring Meadows
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-12
310 Hope St
Mount Washington, KY 40047
(502) 538-1200
Mount Washington, KY 40047
(502) 538-1200
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK
Room 12 Erikson Hall
Lexington, KY 40506
(859) 257-7732
Lexington, KY 40506
(859) 257-7732
Rank: #1 - 221. - 22.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK
300 Helton St
Williamstown, KY 41097
(859) 824-4174
Williamstown, KY 41097
(859) 824-4174
Rank: #2323.
Black Mountain Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 99%
Grades: PK-8
1555 Hwy 215
Evarts, KY 40828
(606) 837-2214
Evarts, KY 40828
(606) 837-2214
Rank: #24 - 2624. - 26.
Eminence High School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 98%
Grades: 6-12
254 West Broadway St
Eminence, KY 40019
(502) 845-5427
Eminence, KY 40019
(502) 845-5427
Rank: #24 - 2624. - 26.
Owsley County High School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 98%
Grades: 6-12
177 Shepherd Lane
Booneville, KY 41314
(606) 593-5185
Booneville, KY 41314
(606) 593-5185
Rank: #24 - 2624. - 26.
Parker-bennett-curry School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 98%
Grades: K-5
165 Webb Dr
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 746-2270
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 746-2270
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Knox Appalachian School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 96%
Grades: 5-12
1909 Ky Hwy 3439
Barbourville, KY 40906
(606) 645-2842
Barbourville, KY 40906
(606) 645-2842
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Meece Middle School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 96%
Grades: 5-8
210 Barnett St
Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 678-5821
Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 678-5821
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Dishman Mcginnis Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 95%
Grades: K-5
375 Glen Lily Road
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 746-2250
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 746-2250
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Eminence Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 95%
Grades: PK-5
254 West Broadway St
Eminence, KY 40019
(502) 845-5427
Eminence, KY 40019
(502) 845-5427
Rank: #31 - 3331. - 33.
Fulton Independent School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 94%
Grades: PK-12
700 Stephen Beale Dr
Fulton, KY 42041
(270) 472-1741
Fulton, KY 42041
(270) 472-1741
Rank: #31 - 3331. - 33.
Learning Academy
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 94%
Grades: 9-12
305 Park Avenue
Hazard, KY 41701
(606) 439-5888
Hazard, KY 41701
(606) 439-5888
Rank: #31 - 3331. - 33.
Pike County Day Treatment
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 94%
Grades: 5-12
5279 North Mayo Trail
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 433-9250
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 433-9250
Rank: #34 - 3734. - 37.
College Street Campus
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 93%
Grades: 6-12
304 E College Street
Glasgow, KY 42141
(270) 629-6554
Glasgow, KY 42141
(270) 629-6554
Rank: #34 - 3734. - 37.
Cravens Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 93%
Grades: K-5
2741 Cravens Avenue
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1010
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1010
Show 100 more public schools in KY (out of 1,376 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kentucky average of public schools students eligible for free lunch?
The Kentucky average of public schools students eligible for free lunch is 56%% for 2025.
What are the public schools with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Kentucky?
The best top ranked public schools in Kentucky include Ackerly, Barnabus Home High School and Bellewood.
What is public high school and public elementary school with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Kentucky?
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