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Berea Kentucky City HallPhoto: Dwight Burdette · CC BY 3.0
B
Schools in Berea · Madison County School District, Berea Independent School District

Berea’s public schools outscore 64% of Kentucky districts

On the state reading tests, 52% of Berea’s students scored proficient, above the Kentucky average (45%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Berea, 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.

#63of 139 Kentucky townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Kentucky state tests taken in spring 2022, when 99% 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
52%
▲ 7 pts vs KY 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
41%
▲ 3 pts vs KY 38%
2021–22
Graduate on time
92%
▲ 1 pts vs KY 91%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.2K
▼ 17% vs KY $14.8K
FY2024 · Madison County
Students per teacher
15.8
KY 15.4
Schools in town
8
4,050 students on the public path
In brief

Berea’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 52% and math 41% across both districts in spring 2022, against 45% and 38% statewide; 92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 91%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Madison County spends $12,220 per student and Berea Independent $17,981, 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 Berea’s grade

A− Test scoresC Graduation

B: better than 64% of Kentucky school districts, #63 of 139 Kentucky towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Kentucky average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Kentucky school districts we grade (172)Better than 64%
Lower resultsHigher results
Kentucky towns with similar household incomes (208)Better than 67%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 6,476 test results and a graduating class of 823 could put Berea anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 99% of Berea’s students in the tested grades sat them (6,476 in math, 6,475 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to A
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB

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

Two districts serve Berea

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

Madison County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 20 schools · 11,132 students · 16.1 per teacher (KY 15.4)
$12,220KY $14,752 · FY2024
B+
Berea Independent School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 971 students, down 14% since 2020–21 · 12.6 per teacher (KY 15.4)
$17,981KY $14,752 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Madison County School District53%
State average 44.7% · 5935 students tested
Math · PK–12, Madison County School District42%
State average 37.8% · 5937 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Berea Independent School District38%
State average 44.7% · 540 students tested
Math · PK–12, Berea Independent School District28%
State average 37.8% · 539 students tested

Berea vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BereaBMadison County PK–12 · Berea Independent PK–12

Every school in Berea

8 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 Bereaby address
Silver Creek Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
490 students14:1Rate it →
Shannon Johnson Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A
473 students15:1Rate it →
Berea Community Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
448 students13:1Rate it →
Farristown Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A
463 students17:1Rate it →
Foley Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
429 students18:1Rate it →
Berea Community Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
214 students11:1Rate it →
Madison Southern High School
High · Grades 9–12
B
1,224 students18:1Rate it →
Berea Community High School
High · Grades 9–12
B
309 students14:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Ignite Academy South).

Questions about Berea’s schools

Are Berea’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Kentucky: the public schools Berea children attend outscore 64% of Kentucky’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #63 of 139 Kentucky towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 67%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Berea in?

Two districts: Madison County School District runs grades PK–12, and Berea Independent School District runs grades PK–12.

Where do Berea kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Madison Southern High School and Berea Community High School.

What is Berea’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Madison County School District graduated in four years, against 91% across Kentucky.

How much does Berea spend per student?

$12,220 in Madison County School District and $17,981 in Berea Independent School District (FY2024), against $14,752 across Kentucky. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

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What Berea families are saying about school.

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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.