Excellent
#36 of 1,284 schools in KY
Top 3% in state
Brenda Cowan Elementary
Elementary School · Fayette County · Lexington, KY
A Fayette County elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
4801 Athens-Boonesboro Road, Lexington, KY 40509
- Math 44% proficient (2025)
- Reading 58% proficient (2025)
- 13:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Brenda Cowan Elementary score 51% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).
2025 KSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. KY average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 51% across the 6-year record (2020–2025).
Show all 4 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2020-2025) · reading/ELA 55% (multi-year average, 2020-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 14 test records from KY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
43.9%
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 Brenda Cowan Elementary 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 6Car-Dependent
- Transit 0Minimal Transit
- Bike 18Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,541/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Lexington), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$89,429
Median home value
$338,200
Median rent
$1,317/mo
College educated
57%
Homeownership
61.9%
Poverty rate
7.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 40509; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Hill Day SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 1.1 mi | 12 | Compare → |
| Athens-chilesburg ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.4 | K–5 | 1.3 mi | 570 | Compare → |
| Garrett Morgan ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.7 | K–5 | 2.1 mi | 780 | Compare → |
| Ridge Hospital Alt. ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | K–5 | 2.9 mi | 2 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Fayette County
- Schools in district
- 79
- Rank in district
- #7 of 66
- District spending per student
- $18,318NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Brenda Cowan Elementary is listed in Fayette County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Brenda Cowan Elementary
Brenda Cowan Elementary is a public elementary school in Lexington, KY, part of Fayette County, serving approximately 570 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10 and ranks #36 of 1,284 schools in KY. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Brenda Cowan Elementary
What grades does Brenda Cowan Elementary serve?
Brenda Cowan Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Brenda Cowan Elementary?
Brenda Cowan Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 570 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Brenda Cowan Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Brenda Cowan Elementary is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Brenda Cowan Elementary rank in KY?
Brenda Cowan Elementary ranks #36 of 1,284 schools in KY.
What is Brenda Cowan Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Brenda Cowan Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 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 Brenda Cowan Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Brenda Cowan Elementary has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025).
Is Brenda Cowan Elementary a charter school?
No, Brenda Cowan Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Brenda Cowan Elementary a Title I school?
No, Brenda Cowan Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Brenda Cowan Elementary?
43.9% of students at Brenda Cowan Elementary 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 570
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 44
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Fayette County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.2%
- Phone
- (859) 381-4000
- Area population (ZIP 40509)
- 45,135
- Area average commute
- 22.6 min
- Area median age
- 36.5
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 40509; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2020-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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