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Schools in Jackson · Breathitt County School District, Jackson Independent School District

Jackson’s public schools score below 88% of Kentucky districts on tests and graduation

34% of students in Jackson’s public schools are proficient in reading, below the Kentucky average (45%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Jackson, 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.

K–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

34%

▼ 10 pts vs KY 45%

2021–22

Math proficiency

30%

▼ 8 pts vs KY 38%

2021–22

Graduate on time

85–89%

▼ 2–6 pts vs KY 91%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$15.5K

▲ 5% vs KY $14.8K

FY2024 · Breathitt County

Students per teacher

16.1

KY 15.4 · larger classes

Schools in town

1,804 students on the public path

In brief

Jackson’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 34% of tested students were proficient in reading and 30% in math, against 45% and 38% statewide; 99% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 91% across Kentucky (the state reports Jackson’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Breathitt County spends $15,523 per student and Jackson Independent $14,565, 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 Jackson’s grade

C⁻ Test scoresD Graduation

D: better than 12% of Kentucky school districts. Both inputs trail the Kentucky average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Kentucky school districts we grade (172)Better than 12%

Lower resultsHigher results

Kentucky towns with similar household incomes (93)Better than 8%

D⁻CA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,026 test results and a graduating class of 123 could put Jackson anywhere from D− to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 99% of Jackson’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,026 in math, 1,027 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

Kindergarten in Jackson · depends on your address

Breathitt Elementary

Grades PK–2 · 371 students · 16:1 students per teacher

No scores

Jackson City School

Grades PK–12 · 371 students · 16:1 students per teacher

B⁻

The path, start to finish

PK–122 schoolsDepends on your addressB⁻

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

Two districts serve Jackson

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

Breathitt County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 1,671 students, up 8% since 2020–21 · 16.1 per teacher (KY 15.4)

$15,523KY $14,752 · FY2024

Jackson Independent School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 1 schools · 371 students, up 15% since 2020–21 · 16.1 per teacher (KY 15.4)

$14,565KY $14,752 · FY2024

Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Breathitt County School District32%

State average 44.7% · 873 students tested

Math · PK–12, Breathitt County School District29%

State average 37.8% · 872 students tested

Reading · PK–12, Jackson Independent School District47%

State average 44.7% · 154 students tested

Math · PK–12, Jackson Independent School District37%

State average 37.8% · 154 students tested

Jackson vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Jackson	D	Breathitt County PK–12 · Jackson Independent PK–12

Every school in Jackson

4 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 Jacksonby address

Breathitt Elementary

Elementary · Grades PK–2

371 students16:1Rate it →

Jackson City School

Grades PK–12

B⁻

371 students16:1Rate it →

Sebastian Elementary School

Elementary · Grades 3–6

393 students18:1Rate it →

Breathitt County High School

High · Grades 7–12

C⁺

669 students16:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Breathitt County Area Technology Center).

Questions about Jackson’s schools

Are Jackson’s schools good?

On Kentucky’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Jackson children attend score below 88% of Kentucky’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 8%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Jackson in?

Two districts: Breathitt County School District runs grades PK–12, and Jackson Independent School District runs grades PK–12.

What is Jackson’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Breathitt County School District graduated in four years, against 91% across Kentucky.

How much does Jackson spend per student?

$15,523 in Breathitt County School District and $14,565 in Jackson Independent School District (FY2024), against $14,752 across Kentucky. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Jackson families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Jackson → 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.