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Knox County Kentucky CourthousePhoto: W.marsh · CC BY-SA 3.0
C
Schools in Barbourville · Barbourville Independent School District, Knox County School District

Barbourville’s public schools score below 72% of Kentucky districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Barbourville, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Kentucky, not nationally.

≈could be anywhere from D to B−#112of 139 Kentucky townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Kentucky state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
42%
▼ 3 pts vs KY 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
35%
▼ 3 pts vs KY 38%
2021–22
Graduate on time
88%
▼ 3 pts vs KY 91%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.4K
▲ 11% vs KY $14.8K
FY2024 · Knox County
Students per teacher
12.9
KY 15.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
6
2,566 students on the public path
In brief

Barbourville’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 23 Kentucky towns with household incomes within a quarter of Barbourville’s, its schools beat 57%, higher than their 28% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 42% of tested students were proficient in reading and 35% in math, against 45% and 38% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 91% across Kentucky. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Barbourville Independent spends $11,895 per student and Knox County $16,392, against $14,752 across Kentucky (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Barbourville’s grade

B− Test scoresD Graduation

C: better than 28% of Kentucky school districts, #112 of 139 Kentucky towns. Both inputs trail the Kentucky average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Kentucky school districts we grade (172)Better than 28%
Lower resultsHigher results
Kentucky towns with similar household incomes (23)Better than 57%
DB−A rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 2,305 test results and a graduating class of 303 could put Barbourville anywhere from D to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Barbourville’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,305 in math, 2,306 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Barbourville, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A
6–122 schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B+

Barbourville runs its own schools through grade 12 (Barbourville Independent School District). From grade PK, students attend the Knox County School District, shared with Corbin. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Barbourville

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Barbourville Independent School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 757 students, up 9% since 2022–23 · 16.8 per teacher (KY 15.4)
$11,895KY $14,752 · FY2024
A−
Knox County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 13 schools · 3,717 students, down 5% since 2022–23 · 12.4 per teacher (KY 15.4)
$16,392KY $14,752 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Barbourville Independent School District54%
State average 44.7% · 343 students tested
Math · PK–12, Barbourville Independent School District41%
State average 37.8% · 343 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Knox County School District40%
State average 44.7% · 1963 students tested
Math · PK–12, Knox County School District34%
State average 37.8% · 1962 students tested

Barbourville vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Kentucky towns that share Barbourville’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BarbourvilleCBarbourville Independent PK–12 · Knox County PK–12

Every school in Barbourville

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Kentucky’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Barbourvilleby address
Barbourville City School
Grades PK–12
B+
755 students17:1Rate it →
Jesse D Lay Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
325 students13:1Rate it →
G R Hampton Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A
244 students14:1Rate it →
Knox County Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
522 students12:1Rate it →
Knox Central High School
High · Grades 9–12
D
720 students14:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Knox County Learning Academy
High · Grades 6–12
Alternative Education
52 students6:1Rate it →

Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Barbourville Learning Center, Knox Inspire Academy and Knox County Career and Technical Center).

Questions about Barbourville’s schools

Are Barbourville’s schools good?

On Kentucky’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Barbourville children attend score below 72% of Kentucky’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #112 of 139 Kentucky towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 57%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Barbourville in?

Two districts: Barbourville Independent School District runs grades PK–12, and Knox County School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Corbin.

What is Barbourville’s graduation rate?

88% of the class of 2023 in Knox County School District graduated in four years, against 91% across Kentucky.

How much does Barbourville spend per student?

$11,895 in Barbourville Independent School District and $16,392 in Knox County School District (FY2024), against $14,752 across Kentucky. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Barbourville families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Barbourville → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Kentucky. Stars are from neighbors.