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Very Good

#146 of 1,284 schools in KY

Top 11% in state

Carter City Elementary School

Elementary School · Carter County

13321 State Hwy 2, Grayson, KY 41143

Enrollment

124

Student-Teacher

15.5:1

Score

7.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Grayson

#2 of 5

public schools

Kentucky elementary schools

#106 of 708

In district

#3 of 11

Carter County

Academic performance

9.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Carter City Elementary School

Carter City Elementary School serves 124 students in grades PK through 5 in rural Grayson, Kentucky. This small public school maintains an intimate learning environment with a 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio and 8 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention that clearly benefits student achievement. The school demonstrates exceptional academic performance, earning an impressive 8.1 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking 46th out of 1,288 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 96th percentile.

With an outstanding academic score of 9.7 out of 10, Carter City Elementary achieves remarkable results with 67% of students performing at proficient or above levels in both English Language Arts and Mathematics across all grade levels. Located at 13321 State Highway 2, the school serves families in Carter County's ZIP code 41143, where the median household income is $45,339 and median home value is $137,500. The community of 13,614 residents includes 16% with bachelor's degrees or higher, reflecting a working-class area where 24% of families face economic challenges.

Carter City Elementary School stands as a beacon of academic excellence in rural eastern Kentucky, proving that small schools can deliver outstanding educational outcomes for their communities.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 124 students, Carter City Elementary School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

Located in a rural area, Carter City Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.7Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-2.07 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.8Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency67%
Reading/ELA Proficiency67%
Overall Proficiency67%
Expected (poverty-adj.)36%
vs. Expected+31.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile98th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment5.6Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,175

Carter City Elementary School — Students at Carter City Elementary School score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

68.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores KY EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 72.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 75.3%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from KY state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
74.5%
ELA
74.5%
2021*
Math
74.5%
ELA
84.5%
2022
Math
67%
ELA
67%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.7/10.

How Carter City Elementary School Compares

See how Carter City Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.9/10
89th percentile in KY
Academic
9.8/10
9.8/10
Growth
7.7/10
Above average
Environment
5.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
69%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
8 teachers

Location

13321 State Hwy 2, Grayson, KY 41143

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Carter City Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Laurel Elementary School (rated 9.4/10, 8.1 miles away, in nearby Vanceburg), which scores notably higher. Another option is Garrison Elementary School (rated 7.8/10, 12.4 miles away, in nearby Garrison), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Elliott County Primary School (rated 7.4/10, 20.5 miles away, in nearby Sandy Hook), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Grayson, see our Grayson schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 17.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Carter Virtual Academy Olive Hill 8.2 mi 4.7
West Carter Middle School Olive Hill 8.3 mi 4.4
West Carter County High School Olive Hill 8.3 mi 6.3
Olive Hill Elementary School Olive Hill 8.9 mi 6.3
Laurel Elementary School Vanceburg 8.1 mi 9.4
Garrison Elementary School Garrison 12.4 mi 7.8
Tygart Creek Elementary School Olive Hill 11.9 mi 4.5
Prichard Elementary School Grayson 11.5 mi 5.7
East Carter Middle School Grayson 11.6 mi 3.9
East Carter County High School Grayson 12.3 mi 8.0
CARTER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Hitchins 14.8 mi 7.4
Heritage Elementary School Grayson 15.7 mi 3.7
Lewis County Central Elementary School Vanceburg 16.1 mi 7.3
Lewis County Middle School Vanceburg 16.9 mi 7.4
Lewis County High School Vanceburg 17.1 mi 6.5
Portsmouth West Middle School West Portsmouth 20.0 mi 5.1
Portsmouth West Elementary School West Portsmouth 20.0 mi 4.3
Portsmouth West High School West Portsmouth 20.2 mi 5.8
Elliott County Primary School Sandy Hook 20.5 mi 7.4
Argillite Elementary School Argillite 17.1 mi 4.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 41143 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$48,485

Median Home Value

$141,200

Median Rent

$688/mo

Population

13,754

College Educated

17%

Homeownership

75.3%

Avg Commute

26.5 min

Poverty Rate

19.7%

Median Age

41.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Carter City Elementary School has a median household income of $48,485. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $141,200, with a median rent of $688/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.7%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Oneida Elementary School Oneida, KY 8.0
REDWOOD COOPERATIVE SCHOOL Lexington, KY 8.0
LEXINGTON UNIVERSAL ACADEMY Lexington, KY 7.8
ST JOHN SCHOOL Georgetown, KY 7.8
JOHN PAUL II ACADEMY Louisville, KY 8.1
CAPITAL DAY SCHOOL Frankfort, KY 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Carter City Elementary School

What grades does Carter City Elementary School serve?

Carter City Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Carter City Elementary School?

Carter City Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 124 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Carter City Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Carter City Elementary School is 15.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Carter City Elementary School rank in KY?

Carter City Elementary School is ranked #146 out of 1,284 schools in KY.

What is Carter City Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Carter City Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Carter City Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Carter City Elementary School has 72.0% math proficiency and 75.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Carter City Elementary School a charter school?

No, Carter City Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Carter City Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Carter City Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Carter City Elementary School?

68.5% of students at Carter City Elementary 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
12 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
1 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,265/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Grayson). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
124
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
8
Free/Reduced Lunch
68.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Carter County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Carter County
District Enrollment
4,079
Schools in District
12
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,653
District Rank
#3 of 11

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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