Best Schools in Berea, Kentucky
9 schools · 4 Elementary · 3 Middle · 2 High
Choosing a school in Berea?
Use this page to compare every school in Berea by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Shannon Johnson Elementary School
Elementary · Madison County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Farristown Middle School
Middle · Madison County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Berea Community Middle School
Middle · Berea Independent. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Berea for 2026 are Shannon Johnson Elementary School (8.3/10), Farristown Middle School (8.1/10), and Berea Community Middle School (7.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
9
in this city
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$180,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
9
in this city
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$180,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.3/10 despite 58% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.3 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Berea schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Berea
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 of 9). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shannon Johnson Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Farristown Middle School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Berea Community Middle School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Madison Southern High School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Berea Community High School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Kingston Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Foley Middle School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Berea Community Elementary School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Silver Creek Elementary School | 4.7 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.0/10
- Median household income
- $60,105
- Median home value
- $180,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 26%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 70%
78% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Berea compares
Kentucky rank
#30 of 137
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.8
above Kentucky avg (6.2)
Median household income
$60k
101% of Kentucky median
Schools in this city
9
About Schools in Berea, Kentucky
Berea, Kentucky offers parents 9 ranked public schools with an average score of 6.6 out of 10 — a strong baseline that puts the city's schools competitive within the region. One in three schools here earns a 7 or above, signaling consistent performance across multiple grade levels rather than a single outlier carrying the numbers.
At the top of the local rankings sits Berea Community High School, the city's highest-rated school at 8.0 out of 10. That score reflects solid academic performance and makes it one of the stronger high school options in this part of central Kentucky. Parents with high schoolers have a clear anchor to evaluate against. Farristown Middle School (7.3) and Foley Middle School (7.1) round out the 7-plus tier, giving middle school families two well-performing options. Berea Community Middle School comes in at 6.6, matching the citywide average exactly.
On the high school side, Madison Southern High School scores 6.8 — a respectable number that sits above the city average and offers families in its attendance zone a solid second high school option. The spread between the top-rated high school (8.0) and the city average (6.6) is relatively tight, which generally indicates a more even distribution of resources and outcomes across the district rather than a stark divide between haves and have-nots.
For parents making a school choice decision in Berea, the practical picture looks encouraging. With 33% of schools at or above the 7.0 threshold and no school in the ranked set pulling the average down sharply, families are unlikely to encounter a dramatically underperforming campus. The middle school pipeline into Berea Community High School is worth tracing carefully — Farristown and Foley both feed into that top-rated high school tier. If you're evaluating based on address zone rather than open enrollment, confirming which middle school tracks to which high school is the key question to ask the district before making a housing or enrollment decision.
Elementary Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 493 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 609 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 3 | 467 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.1 |
| 4 | 474 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.7 |
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 446 students · 6th–8th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 210 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
| 3 | 429 students · 6th–8th | 7.0 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,230 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 |
| 2 | 328 students · 9th–12th | 7.3 |
Schools in Berea
Berea, Kentucky · 9 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$60,105
Median Home Value
$180,800
Median Rent
$827/mo
Population
26,733
College Educated
26%
Homeownership
70%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
17.6%
Community Profile
Berea has a median household income of $60,105. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $180,800, with a median rent of $827/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.6%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Kentucky
- Elementary
- 4
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 2
Resources
School Districts (2)
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Kentucky
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Berea, Kentucky
How many schools are in Berea, Kentucky?
Berea has 9 schools, including 9 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Berea, Kentucky?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Berea is 7.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Berea, Kentucky?
The top-ranked school in Berea on MySchoolScout is Shannon Johnson Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Berea, Kentucky?
The top-ranked elementary school in Berea on MySchoolScout is Shannon Johnson Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Berea, Kentucky?
The top-ranked middle school in Berea on MySchoolScout is Farristown Middle School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best high school in Berea, Kentucky?
The top-ranked high school in Berea on MySchoolScout is Madison Southern High School with a composite score of 7.4/10.
How many school districts serve Berea, Kentucky?
Berea is served by 2 school districts: Berea Independent, Madison County.
What is the education level in Berea, Kentucky?
According to Census data, 26% of adults in Berea have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Berea, Kentucky?
The median household income in Berea is approximately $60,105 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Berea, Kentucky?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Berea is 15.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Berea, Kentucky?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Kentucky Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.