4.7avg / 10

Best Schools in Paris, Kentucky

10 schools · 4 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High · 2 Other

Last updated: August 2026

Public: 9

Private: 1

Districts: 2

Avg Rating: 4.7/10

Estimated Scores: 20%

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Paris?

Use this page to compare every school in Paris by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.

High · Bourbon County. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.

High · Paris Independent. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Paris for 2026 are St Mary School (7.0/10), Bourbon County High School (5.9/10), and Paris High School (5.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 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 public · 1 private

Avg Score

4.7

out of 10

Median Home

$216,700

home value · ACS

Districts

serving the city

Schools

9 public · 1 private

Avg Score

4.7

out of 10

Median Home

$216,700

home value · ACS

Districts

serving the city

Top-Rated Schools in Paris

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	St Mary School	7.0 / 10	Elementary	—	64th
2	Bourbon County High School	5.9 / 10	High	—	43th
3	Paris High School	5.6 / 10	High	—	34th
4	Paris Middle School	4.8 / 10	Middle	—	21th
5	Bourbon County Middle School	4.4 / 10	Middle	—	16th
6	Cane Ridge Elementary School	4.2 / 10	Elementary	—	14th
7	Paris Elementary School	4.1 / 10	Elementary	—	11th
8	Bourbon Central Elementary School	3.7 / 10	Elementary	—	7th

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: 4.7/10
Median household income: $57,074
Median home value: $216,700
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25%
Avg commute: 25 min
Owner-occupied homes: 65%

How Paris compares

Kentucky rank

#132 of 137

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-1.6

below Kentucky avg (6.2)

Median household income

$57k

96% of Kentucky median

Schools in this city

About Schools in Paris, Kentucky

Paris, Kentucky is home to 10 schools, including 9 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.

With an average rating of 4.7 out of 10, schools in Paris show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Paris is St Mary School with a composite score of 7.0/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Paris is served by 2 school districts: Bourbon County, Paris Independent. These districts collectively serve 3,421 students.

Paris's community shows 25% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $57,074. The poverty rate in the area is 13.0%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level:All Levels (10)Elementary (4)Middle (2)High (2)

Filter by Type:All Types (10)Public (9)Private (1)

Filter by Rating:All Ratings (10)Academics (9)Growth (7)Resources (9)

Filter by ZIP:40361(10)

Elementary Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Cane Ridge Elementary School 460 students · Kindergarten–5th	460	Kindergarten–5th	4.2
2	Paris Elementary School 339 students · Kindergarten–5th	339	Kindergarten–5th	4.1
3	Bourbon Central Elementary School 473 students · Kindergarten–5th	473	Kindergarten–5th	3.7
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	St Mary SchoolPrivate 47 students · Pre-K–5th	47	Pre-K–5th	Not Rated

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Paris Middle School 153 students · 6th–8th	153	6th–8th	4.8
2	Bourbon County Middle School 560 students · 6th–8th	560	6th–8th	4.4

High Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Bourbon County High School 796 students · 9th–12th	796	9th–12th	5.9
2	Paris High School 231 students · 9th–12th	231	9th–12th	5.6

Other Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Bourbon County Preschool Headstart 192 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	192	Pre-K–Pre-K	3.5
2	Paris Preschool Center 82 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	82	Pre-K–Pre-K	3.4

Schools in Paris

Paris, Kentucky · 10 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$57,074

Median Home Value

$216,700

Median Rent

$793/mo

Population

18,422

College Educated

25%

Homeownership

65%

Avg Commute

25 min

Poverty Rate

13.0%

Community Profile

Paris has a median household income of $57,074. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $216,700, with a median rent of $793/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.0%. 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: 2
High: 2
Other: 2

Resources

🔍Google "Paris schools"🏫GreatSchools Paris 📊Niche Paris Rankings 📍Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (2)

Bourbon County

6 schools · 2,616 students

Paris Independent

4 schools · 805 students

Nearby Cities

North Middletown(1 school)

9 mi

Cynthiana(8 schools)

13 mi

Winchester(13 schools)

15 mi

Carlisle(2 schools)

15 mi

Lexington(100 schools)

17 mi

Georgetown(18 schools)

16 mi

Mt. Sterling(7 schools)

21 mi

Mount Sterling(3 schools)

21 mi

Mount Olivet(1 school)

26 mi

Midway(1 school)

23 mi

Stamping Ground(1 school)

23 mi

Richmond(14 schools)

30 mi

Nicholasville(11 schools)

Other Major Cities in Kentucky

Top metros statewide by school count.

Louisville233 schools Bowling Green42 schools Owensboro36 schools Ashland20 schools Frankfort20 schools

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 rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Paris, Kentucky

How many schools are in Paris, Kentucky?

Paris has 10 schools, including 9 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Paris, Kentucky?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Paris is 4.7 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 Paris, Kentucky?

The top-ranked school in Paris on MySchoolScout is St Mary School with a composite score of 7.0/10.

What is the best elementary school in Paris, Kentucky?

The top-ranked elementary school in Paris on MySchoolScout is St Mary School with a composite score of 7.0/10.

What is the best middle school in Paris, Kentucky?

The top-ranked middle school in Paris on MySchoolScout is Paris Middle School with a composite score of 4.8/10.

What is the best high school in Paris, Kentucky?

The top-ranked high school in Paris on MySchoolScout is Bourbon County High School with a composite score of 5.9/10.

How many school districts serve Paris, Kentucky?

Paris is served by 2 school districts: Bourbon County, Paris Independent.

What is the education level in Paris, Kentucky?

According to Census data, 25% of adults in Paris have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Paris, Kentucky?

The median household income in Paris is approximately $57,074 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Paris, Kentucky?

Yes, Paris has 1 private school alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Mary School with a score of 7.0/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Paris, Kentucky?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Paris is 16.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Paris, 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.