Average
#865 of 1,284 schools in KY
Cowan Elementary School
Elementary School · Letcher County · Whitesburg, KY
A Letcher County elementary school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3125 Highway 931 S, Whitesburg, KY 41858
- Math 38% proficient (2025)
- Reading 44% proficient (2025)
- 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cowan Elementary School score 41% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).
2025 KSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. KY average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 9 points since 2020, reaching 41% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 37% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 50% (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 41 test records from KY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
77.9%
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 Cowan Elementary 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 13Car-Dependent
- City Safety: Average369/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Whitesburg), 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
$42,363
Median home value
$101,700
Median rent
$635/mo
College educated
15.2%
Homeownership
69.5%
Poverty rate
38.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 41858; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Whitesburg Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | PK–5 | 1.8 mi | 433 | Compare → |
| Arlie Boggs Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | K–8 | 3.7 mi | 131 | Compare → |
| Letcher Elementary & Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | K–8 | Not available | 336 | Compare → |
| Martha Jane Potter Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.2 | PK–5 | Not available | 287 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Letcher County
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #7 of 8
- District spending per student
- $20,652NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 20.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cowan Elementary School is listed in Letcher County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cowan Elementary School
Cowan Elementary School is a public elementary school in Whitesburg, KY, part of Letcher County, serving approximately 244 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 and ranks #865 of 1,284 schools in KY. State assessment records show 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cowan Elementary School
What grades does Cowan Elementary School serve?
Cowan Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Cowan Elementary School?
Cowan Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 244 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cowan Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cowan Elementary School is 15.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cowan Elementary School rank in KY?
Cowan Elementary School ranks #865 of 1,284 schools in KY.
What is Cowan Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Cowan Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 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 Cowan Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cowan Elementary School has 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Cowan Elementary School a charter school?
No, Cowan Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cowan Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Cowan Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cowan Elementary School?
77.9% of students at Cowan 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 244
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 16
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Letcher County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 66.4%
- Phone
- (606) 633-7195
- Area population (ZIP 41858)
- 7,958
- Area average commute
- 29.1 min
- Area median age
- 40.7
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 41858; 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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