Top Rankings
Owensboro Independent School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Kentucky for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 13 public schools serving 4,961 students in Owensboro Independent School District. This district's average testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Kentucky.
Public Schools in Owensboro Independent School District have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the Kentucky public school average of 38%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Kentucky public school average of 28% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (KY)
# Schools
13 Schools
1,537 Schools
# Students
4,961 Students
657,239 Students
# Teachers
380 Teachers
43,057 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Owensboro Independent School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 171 school districts in Kentucky (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has increased from 86% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#99 out of 172 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
37%
38%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
39%
45%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
17%
22%
Graduation Rate
90%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.64
0.46
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
3%
2%
% Hispanic
14%
10%
% Black
14%
11%
% White
56%
72%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
13%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,272 is higher than the state median of $14,242. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,563 is higher than the state median of $13,981. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$71 MM
$9,360 MM
Spending
$77 MM
$9,189 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,272
$14,242
Spending / Student
$15,563
$13,981
Best Owensboro Independent School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Newton Parrish Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
510 Byers Ave
Owensboro, KY 42303
(270) 686-1100
Owensboro, KY 42303
(270) 686-1100
Grades: K-5
| 547 students
Rank: #22.
Emerson Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1335 W 11th Street
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1087
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1087
Grades: 9-12
| 98 students
Rank: #33.
Owensboro Innovation Academy
Vocational School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 65-69% )
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2631 S Griffith Avenue
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1000
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1000
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Rank: #44.
Sutton Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2060 Lewis Ln
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1140
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1140
Grades: K-5
| 514 students
Rank: #55.
Owensboro Innovation Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2631 S Griffith Ave
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1128
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1128
Grades: 6-8
| 312 students
Rank: #66.
Foust Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
601 Foust Ave
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1060
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1060
Grades: K-5
| 412 students
Rank: #77.
Owensboro High School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1800 Frederica St
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1110
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1110
Grades: 9-12
| 1,329 students
Rank: #88.
Owensboro Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1300 Booth Ave
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1130
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1130
Grades: 6-8
| 786 students
Rank: #99.
Estes Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1675 Leitchfield Rd
Owensboro, KY 42303
(270) 686-1030
Owensboro, KY 42303
(270) 686-1030
Grades: PK-5
| 444 students
Rank: #1010.
Cravens Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2741 Cravens Avenue
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1010
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1010
Grades: K-5
| 377 students
Rank: n/an/a
1701 West 7th Street
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1125
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 686-1125
Grades: PK
| 142 students
Rank: n/an/a
Kentucky Tech - Owensboro Campus
Vocational School
1501 Frederica Street
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 687-7255
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 687-7255
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Owensboro Technical College
Vocational School
1501 Frederica Street
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 687-7255
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 687-7255
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Owensboro Independent School District?
Owensboro Independent School District manages 13 public schools serving 4,961 students.
What is the rank of Owensboro Independent School District?
Owensboro Independent School District is ranked #101 out of 171 school districts in Kentucky (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Kentucky school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%), Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%) and Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Owensboro Independent School District?
56% of Owensboro Independent School District students are White, 14% of students are Black, 14% of students are Hispanic, 13% of students are Two or more races, and 3% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Owensboro Independent School District?
Owensboro Independent School District has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is lower than the Kentucky state average of 15:1.
What is Owensboro Independent School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $15,563 is higher than the state median of $13,981. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Recent Articles
Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
The issue of school choice and a voucher system is currently being revisited in Houston and across the state of Texas, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
What if NFL players came to your school? With the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, nutrition and exercise are promoted during the school day. NFL players participate in the program by coming to schools and talking to students about fitness. Learn more about the program and some of the schools that are implementing it.
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
Students all over the nation go hungry every day not because their schools don’t offer lunch, but because they refuse them to children with outstanding debts. Read on to learn about the horror that is lunch shaming and what can be done about it.
