Harlan County School District

251 Ball Park Rd
Harlan, KY 40831
(District boundaries shown in map)
6/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Harlan County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Kentucky for:

Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there is 1 public high school serving 945 students in Harlan County School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Kentucky.
Public High School in Harlan County School District have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the Kentucky public high school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 33% (versus the 44% statewide average).
Public High School in Harlan County School District have a Graduation Rate of 91%, which is less than the Kentucky average of 92%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Harlan County High School, with 91% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Kentucky or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 6% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the Kentucky public high school average of 29% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (KY)
# Schools
11 Schools
518 Schools
# Students
3,310 Students
212,834 Students
# Teachers
251 Teachers
13,366 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Harlan County School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 171 school districts in Kentucky (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 91% has decreased from 96% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (KY)
#86 out of 172 school districts
(Top 50%)
39%
38%
42%
45%
18%
22%
91%
90%
(2022-23)
47.3%
28%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.10
0.47
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
2%
10%
% Black
1%
12%
% White
95%
71%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,570 is higher than the state median of $14,273. The school district revenue/student has grown by 36% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,378 is higher than the state median of $14,011. The school district spending/student has grown by 27% over four school years.
This School District
This State (KY)
Total Revenue
$55 MM
$9,360 MM
Spending
$54 MM
$9,189 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,570
$14,273
Spending / Student
$16,378
$14,011

Best Harlan County School District Public High Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Harlan County High School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
4000 N Us Hwy 119
Baxter, KY 40806
(606) 574-2020
Gr: 9-12 | 945 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 6%

Recent Articles

Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 11 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,310 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 5%
  • : 91% (Top 50% in KY)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 39% (Top 50%)
  • : 42% (Btm 50%)
  • : 18% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), KY Dept. of Education

Quick Links