Harlan County School District
School District · Harlan, Kentucky
Avg Rating
6.8
out of 10
Schools
9
8 elem, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,946
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
Avg Rating
6.8
out of 10
Schools
9
8 elem, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,946
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
Evaluating Harlan County?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Harlan County as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Green Hills Elementary School
Bledsoe · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
James A. Cawood Elementary
Harlan · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Cawood Elementary School
Cawood · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Kentucky rank
#46 of 157
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.6
above Kentucky avg
Per-pupil spending
$14,946
+$960 vs Kentucky median
District size
3,361 students
Larger than Kentucky median
The short answer
Harlan County ranks #46 of 157 Kentucky districts by overall school rating. Harlan County's schools with real test data average 6.8/10 across 9 schools. Its top-rated schools are Green Hills Elementary School (8.9/10), James A. Cawood Elementary (8.8/10), and Cawood Elementary School (7.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.9/10 despite 84% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 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 Harlan County schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Harlan County
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating 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 | Green Hills Elementary School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | James A. Cawood Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Cawood Elementary School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Black Mountain Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Cumberland Elementary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Harlan County High School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Wallins Elementary School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Evarts Elementary School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Rosspoint Elementary School | 5.3 / 10 |
See all 9 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Harlan County
Harlan County is a Harlan, Kentucky school district serving 9 schools. The district educates 3,361 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13.3:1. The district invests $14,946 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.8/10, Harlan County demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Green Hills Elementary School, which has a composite score of 8.9/10.
In standardized testing, Harlan County students show an average math proficiency of 39.4% and ELA proficiency of 53.4%.
The district includes 8 elementary schools , and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Harlan County, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Harlan County with test data.
Schools in Harlan County
9 schools Elementary Schools 8
High Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Kentucky
- City
- Harlan
- Total Enrollment
- 3,361
- Teachers (FTE)
- 252
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.3%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Harlan County?
Harlan County has 9 schools in total — 8 elementary, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Harlan County?
The average composite rating for Harlan County is 6.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Harlan County?
Harlan County spends $14,946 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Harlan County?
The average student-teacher ratio in Harlan County is 13.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Harlan County?
Green Hills Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Harlan County with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What are the test scores in Harlan County?
Across schools in Harlan County with test data, the average math proficiency is 39.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 53.4%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Harlan County compare to other districts in Kentucky?
Harlan County has an average school rating of 6.8/10 across 9 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Kentucky by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 39.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 53.4%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in KY
Compare Harlan County with neighboring districts in the state.
- Jefferson County (171)
- Fayette County (79)
- Kentucky Tech System (55)
- Warren County (34)
- Boone County (28)
- Hardin County (27)
- Bullitt County (25)
- Daviess County (24)
- Kenton County (22)
- Madison County (22)
- Oldham County (22)
- Pike County (20)
- Christian County (19)
- Laurel County (19)
- Hopkins County (18)
- Scott County (17)
- Franklin County (16)
- Knox County (15)
- Floyd County (14)
- Jessamine County (14)
- Mccracken County (14)
- Pulaski County (14)
- Shelby County (14)
- Henderson County (13)
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.
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