Very Good
#259 of 1,284 schools in KY
Top 20% in state
Ballard County Middle School
Middle School · Ballard County · Barlow, KY
A middle school in Barlow, KY where students score 14 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3565 Paducah Rd, Barlow, KY 42024
- Math 53% proficient (2025)
- Reading 64% proficient (2025)
- 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Ballard County Middle School score 59% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
2025 KSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. KY average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 27 points since 2020, reaching 59% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 48% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from KY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
57.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Ballard County Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 15Car-Dependent
- Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated781/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$57,969
Median home value
$150,000
Median rent
$579/mo
College educated
11.7%
Homeownership
75.5%
Poverty rate
19.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 42024; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Ballard County
- Schools in district
- 5
- Rank in district
- #2 of 4
- District spending per student
- $15,101NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 20.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Ballard County Middle School is listed in Ballard County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ballard County Middle School
Ballard County Middle School is a public middle school in Barlow, KY, part of Ballard County, serving approximately 221 students in grades 6th-8th with a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #259 of 1,284 schools in KY. State assessment records show 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ballard County Middle School
What grades does Ballard County Middle School serve?
Ballard County Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Ballard County Middle School?
Ballard County Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 221 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ballard County Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ballard County Middle School is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ballard County Middle School rank in KY?
Ballard County Middle School ranks #259 of 1,284 schools in KY.
What is Ballard County Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Ballard County Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Ballard County Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ballard County Middle School has 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Ballard County Middle School a charter school?
No, Ballard County Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ballard County Middle School a Title I school?
No, Ballard County Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ballard County Middle School?
57.5% of students at Ballard County Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 221
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Ballard County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 16.3%
- Phone
- (270) 665-8400
- Area population (ZIP 42024)
- 1,160
- Area median age
- 50.3
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 KSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 KSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 KSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 KSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 42024; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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