For the 2025 school year, there are 25 public schools serving 12,246 students in Madison County, KY (there are 4 private schools, serving 549 private students). 96% of all K-12 students in Madison County, KY are educated in public schools (compared to the KY state average of 90%).
The top ranked public schools in Madison County, KY are Farristown Middle School, B. Michael Caudill Middle School and Shannon Johnson Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Madison County, KY public schools have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Kentucky public school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 45% statewide average). Schools in Madison County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of Kentucky public schools.
Minority enrollment is 18% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Kentucky public school average of 28% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Madison County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Farristown Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
751 Farristown Industrial Road
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 387-8600
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 387-8600
Gr: 6-8 | 446 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #22.
B. Michael Caudill Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1428 Robert R. Martin Bypass
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6172
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6172
Gr: 6-8 | 465 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #33.
Shannon Johnson Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
109 Oakwood Dr
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 387-3400
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 387-3400
Gr: PK-5 | 493 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #44.
Madison Southern High School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
279 Glades Rd
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 625-6148
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 625-6148
Gr: 9-12 | 1,230 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #55.
Boonesborough Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1342 Boonesborough Road
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 387-8400
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 387-8400
Gr: PK-5 | 420 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #66.
Glenn R Marshall Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1442 Robert R. Martin Bypass
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6076
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6076
Gr: 1-5 | 480 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #77.
Kirksville Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2399 Lancaster Rd
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 624-4582
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 624-4582
Gr: PK-5 | 620 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #88.
Madison County Day Treatment
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
300 Bellevue Dr
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6161
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6161
Gr: 6-12 | 11 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #99.
White Hall Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2166 Lexington Rd
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6134
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6134
Gr: 1-5 | 379 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #1010.
Foley Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
275 Glades Rd
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 625-6140
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 625-6140
Gr: 6-8 | 429 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1111.
Kingston Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2845 Battlefield Memorial Hwy
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 625-6091
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 625-6091
Gr: PK-5 | 609 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1212.
Kit Carson Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
450 Tates Creek Rd
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6103
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6103
Gr: 1-5 | 452 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1313.
Clark Moores Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1143 Berea Rd
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 624-4545
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 624-4545
Gr: 6-8 | 552 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #1414.
Berea Community High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1 Pirate Pkwy
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 986-4911
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 986-4911
Gr: 9-12 | 328 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1515.
Waco Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
359 Waco Loop
Waco, KY 40385
(859) 387-3600
Waco, KY 40385
(859) 387-3600
Gr: PK-5 | 422 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1616.
Madison Central High School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
705 N 2nd St
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6109
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6109
Gr: 9-12 | 2,250 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #1717.
Silver Creek Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
75 Old Us 25 N
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 387-3200
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 387-3200
Gr: PK-5 | 474 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1818.
Daniel Boone Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
710 N 2nd St
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6070
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6070
Gr: 1-5 | 493 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1919.
Madison Middle School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
101 Summit St
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 387-4200
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 387-4200
Gr: 6-8 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #2020.
Berea Community Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1 Pirate Pkwy
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 986-4911
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 986-4911
Gr: 6-8 | 210 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #2121.
Berea Community Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2 Pirate Pkwy
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 986-4065
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 986-4065
Gr: PK-5 | 467 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: n/an/a
Bellevue Transitional School
Alternative School
300 Bellevue Dr.
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6161
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6161
Gr: 6-12 | 10 students Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: n/an/a
Ignite Academy North
Vocational School
2075 Merchant Drive
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 624-4500
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 624-4500
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Ignite Academy South
Vocational School
123 Farristown Industrial Driv
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 624-4500
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 624-4500
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
300 Bond St.
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6050
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 625-6050
Gr: PK-K | 418 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Madison County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
1000 South Irvine Road
Richmond, KY 40475
(606) 723-4700
Richmond, KY 40475
(606) 723-4700
Gr: PK
Madison County Area Technology Center (Closed 2024)
Vocational School
703 North Second Street
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 624-4520
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 624-4520
Gr: 8-12
Madison County Virtual Academy (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
301 Highland Park Drive
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 624-4500
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 624-4500
Gr: K-8
Middle College At Eastern Kentucky (Closed 2016)
Alternative School
521 Lancaster Ave, Coates Cpo
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 622-7555
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 622-7555
Gr: 12 | 15 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
521 Lancaster Ave, Eastern Ken
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 622-3766
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 622-3766
Gr: K-5
521 Lancaster Ave, Eastern Ken
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 622-3766
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 622-3766
Gr: 6-12
521 Lancaster Ave, Eastern Ken
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 622-3766
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 622-3766
Gr: 6-8 | 190 students Student-teacher ratio: 190:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Madison County, KY?
The top ranked public schools in Madison County, KY include Farristown Middle School, B. Michael Caudill Middle School and Shannon Johnson Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Madison County?
25 public schools are located in Madison County.
What percentage of students in Madison County go to public school?
96% of all K-12 students in Madison County are educated in public schools (compared to the KY state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Madison County?
Madison County public schools minority enrollment is 18% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Kentucky public schools average of 28% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Madison County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Madison County include: Madison Central High School vs. Madison Southern High School, Berea Community High School vs. Madison Southern High School, Madison Southern High School vs. Madison Central High School
Recent Articles
Why Single-Sex Public Schools are Growing in Popularity
This article examines the growing trend of single-sex public schools in the United States. It explores the potential benefits, research findings, and controversies surrounding gender-specific education, as well as the factors driving its increasing popularity among parents and educators.
When Teachers Cheat: The Standardized Test Controversies
Teachers across the country are being accused of cheating on standardized tests, using erasers to conveniently change their students’ answers. However, are these teachers driven to cheat because the funding system is flawed?
When Field Trips Turn Deadly: Who is Responsible?
Recent deaths during field trips have parents and school officials questioning the safety of these excursions. Learn about these tragedies and what parameters should be in place to ensure a safe field trip.
