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Whitesburg Historic DistrictWhitesburg Historic District · Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
C
Schools in Whitesburg · Letcher County School District

Whitesburg’s public schools score below 70% of Kentucky districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Whitesburg’s districts is 30%, below the Kentucky average (38%). The grade covers the public school district serving Whitesburg, 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 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
41%
▼ 4 pts vs KY 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
30%
▼ 8 pts vs KY 38%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▼ 1–3 pts vs KY 91%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.9K
▲ 35% vs KY $14.8K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.5
KY 15.4 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
1,345 students on the public path
In brief

Whitesburg’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 65 Kentucky towns with household incomes within a quarter of Whitesburg’s, its schools beat 38%, higher than their 30% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 30% in math, against 45% and 38% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 91% across Kentucky (the state reports Whitesburg’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $19,910 per student, against $14,752 across Kentucky (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Whitesburg Middle School, then Letcher County Central High School. See the path ↓

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 Whitesburg’s grade

C Test scoresC Graduation

C: better than 30% of Kentucky school districts. Graduation is above the Kentucky average; test scores are below it.

Kentucky school districts we grade (172)Better than 30%
Lower resultsHigher results
Kentucky towns with similar household incomes (65)Better than 38%
C−B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,440 test results and a graduating class of 198 could put Whitesburg anywhere from C− to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Whitesburg’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,441 in math, 1,440 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5West Whitesburg Elementary SchoolLetcher County School DistrictC
6–8Whitesburg Middle SchoolLetcher County School DistrictB+
9–12Letcher County Central High SchoolLetcher County School DistrictC+

Whitesburg’s public schools are run by Letcher County School District, which also serves Fleming-Neon. 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.

Letcher County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 9 schools · 2,429 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 14.5 per teacher (KY 15.4)
$19,910KY $14,752 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading41%
State average 44.7% · 1440 students tested
Math30%
State average 37.8% · 1441 students tested

Whitesburg vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
WhitesburgCLetcher County

Every school in Whitesburg

3 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 Whitesburgby address
West Whitesburg Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
462 students14:1Rate it →
Whitesburg Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
191 students17:1Rate it →
Letcher County Central High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
692 students15:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Letcher County Area Technology Center and Letcher County Alternative Education Ctr).

Questions about Whitesburg’s schools

Are Whitesburg’s schools good?

On Kentucky’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Whitesburg children attend score below 70% of Kentucky’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 38%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Whitesburg in?

Letcher County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,429 students in 9 schools (2024–25).

Where do Whitesburg kids go to high school?

Letcher County Central High School, with 692 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Whitesburg’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Letcher County School District graduated in four years, against 91% across Kentucky.

How much does Whitesburg spend per student?

$19,910 in Letcher County School District (FY2024), against $14,752 across Kentucky. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Whitesburg families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Whitesburg → 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.