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Hardin County Courthouse in ElizabethtownPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
C+
Schools in Elizabethtown · Hardin County School District

Elizabethtown’s public schools score below 63% of Kentucky districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Elizabethtown, 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.

#100of 139 Kentucky townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Kentucky state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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
44%
▼ 1 pts vs KY 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
35%
▼ 3 pts vs KY 38%
2021–22
Graduate on time
91%
▼ 0 pts vs KY 91%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.1K
▼ 11% vs KY $14.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.6
KY 15.4
Schools in town
11
3,804 students on the public path
In brief

Elizabethtown’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 44% of tested students were proficient in reading and 35% in math, against 45% and 38% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

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

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,057 per student, against $14,752 across Kentucky (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is East Hardin Middle School, then Central Hardin High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. James Catholic School (private) is in town. HCS Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

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 Elizabethtown’s grade

B− Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 37% of Kentucky school districts, #100 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 37%
Lower resultsHigher results
Kentucky towns with similar household incomes (204)Better than 36%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 7,304 test results and a graduating class of 1,134 could put Elizabethtown anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Elizabethtown’s students in the tested grades sat them (7,305 in math, 7,304 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA−
6–8East Hardin Middle SchoolHardin County School DistrictA−
9–12Central Hardin High SchoolHardin County School DistrictA−

Elizabethtown’s public schools are run by Hardin County School District, which also serves Radcliff, Sonora, Upton and Vine Grove and others. Parts of Elizabethtown (18% of its land) are served by Elizabethtown Independent instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Hardin County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 26 schools · 14,583 students · 15.6 per teacher (KY 15.4)
$13,057KY $14,752 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading44%
State average 44.7% · 7304 students tested
Math35%
State average 37.8% · 7305 students tested

Elizabethtown vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ElizabethtownC+Hardin County
RadcliffC+Hardin County

Every school in Elizabethtown

12 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 Elizabethtownby address
G C Burkhead Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
634 students14:1Rate it →
Heartland Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
564 students14:1Rate it →
East Hardin Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A−
775 students18:1Rate it →
Central Hardin High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Cecilia
A−
1,831 students19:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
College View Campus
Grades K–12
D−
Alternative Education
210 students6:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Elizabethtownrun by other districts or the state
Elizabethtown High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
757 students17:1Rate it →
Helmwood Heights Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 1–5
B
461 students14:1Rate it →
Morningside Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 1–5
C+
455 students13:1Rate it →
Talton K Stone Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
526 students17:1Rate it →
Panther Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–K
222 students15:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Elizabethtownnot counted as local schools
HCS Virtual Academy
Grades K–12
Online
123 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. James Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
448 students18:1Rate it →

Left off: 4 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Glen Dale Center, Valley View Education Center, Hardin County Day Treatment Center and Early College and Career Center).

Questions about Elizabethtown’s schools

Are Elizabethtown’s schools good?

On Kentucky’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Elizabethtown children attend score below 63% of Kentucky’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #100 of 139 Kentucky towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 36%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Elizabethtown in?

Hardin County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 14,583 students in 26 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Elizabethtown are served by Elizabethtown Independent.

Where do Elizabethtown kids go to high school?

Central Hardin High School in Cecilia, with 1,831 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Elizabethtown’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Elizabethtown spend per student?

$13,057 in Hardin County School District (FY2024), against $14,752 across Kentucky. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Elizabethtown?

Yes: St. James Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 448 students).

Parents talk

What Elizabethtown families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Elizabethtown → 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.