Excellent
#62 of 1,284 schools in KY
Top 5% in state
James A. Cawood Elementary
Elementary School · Harlan County
279 Ball Park Rd., Harlan, KY 40831
Enrollment
283
Student-Teacher
10.5:1
Score
8.8
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
283
Student-Teacher
10.5:1
Score
8.8
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Kentucky schools
#62 of 1,284
In Harlan
#1 of 4
public schools
In district
#2 of 9
Harlan County
Academic growth
9.5 / 10
Excellent
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James A. Cawood Elementary
Elementary School in Harlan · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Appalachian Challenge Academy
0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Sunshine School
2.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About James A. Cawood Elementary
James A. Cawood Elementary is a public elementary school in Harlan, KY, part of Harlan County. James A.
Cawood Elementary serves approximately 283 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio. James A. Cawood Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 out of 10 and ranks #62 of 1,284 schools in KY.
Structured state assessment records for James A. Cawood Elementary show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
- This school 8.8 · Excellent
- District avg 6.9
- KY avg 6.3
What Parents Should Know
50% of students at James A. Cawood Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
James A. Cawood Elementary — Students at James A. Cawood Elementary score 56% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
85.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores KY KSA (2024-25)
Based on 43 test records from KY state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 9.5/10.
How James A. Cawood Elementary Compares
See how James A. Cawood Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
279 Ball Park Rd., Harlan, KY 40831
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering James A. Cawood Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Green Hills Elementary School (rated 8.9/10, 6.4 miles away, in nearby Bledsoe), with a very similar rating. Another option is St. Charles Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 14.4 miles away, in nearby St. Charles), a more accessible option. Additionally, Cawood Elementary School (rated 7.6/10, 5.2 miles away, in nearby Cawood), a more accessible option. For more schools in Harlan, see our Harlan schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 18.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| APPALACHIAN CHALLENGE ACADEMY Grays Knob | 0.8 mi | 5.8 |
| Sunshine School Harlan | 2.5 mi | 3.3 |
| Harlan High School Harlan | 2.5 mi | 5.9 |
| Harlan Elementary School Harlan | 2.6 mi | 7.0 |
| Rosspoint Elementary School Baxter | 5.3 mi | 5.3 |
| Harlan County High School Baxter | 5.7 mi | 6.2 |
| Cawood Elementary School Cawood | 5.2 mi | 7.6 |
| Wallins Elementary School Wallins | 5.2 mi | 5.6 |
| Green Hills Elementary School Bledsoe | 6.4 mi | 8.9 |
| Evarts Elementary School Evarts | 8.0 mi | 5.5 |
| Rose Hill Elementary Rose Hill | 9.6 mi | 6.6 |
| Black Mountain Elementary School Evarts | 8.9 mi | 7.0 |
| HARLAN COUNTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Totz | 10.2 mi | 6.3 |
| Flatwoods Elementary Jonesville | 12.0 mi | 6.8 |
| Thomas Walker High Ewing | 12.3 mi | 7.7 |
| Jonesville Middle Jonesville | 13.8 mi | 7.9 |
| Lee High Jonesville | 13.8 mi | 6.4 |
| St. Charles Elementary St. Charles | 14.4 mi | 7.7 |
| Right Fork School Center Stoney Fork | 14.9 mi | 6.1 |
| Stinnett Elementary School Hoskinston | 18.4 mi | 7.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 40831 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$35,417
Median Home Value
$106,500
Median Rent
$567/mo
Population
4,719
College Educated
19.4%
Homeownership
56.7%
Poverty Rate
25.7%
Median Age
42.1
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Central Elementary School Barbourville, KY | 8.8 |
| Charles H. Kelly Elementary School Burlington, KY | 8.9 |
| Hazel Green Elementary School East Bernstadt, KY | 8.9 |
| John G Carlisle Elementary Covington, KY | 8.9 |
| McKee Elementary School Mckee, KY | 8.9 |
| Ponderosa Elementary School Catlettsburg, KY | 8.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about James A. Cawood Elementary
What grades does James A. Cawood Elementary serve?
James A. Cawood Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend James A. Cawood Elementary?
James A. Cawood Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 283 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James A. Cawood Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James A. Cawood Elementary is 10.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does James A. Cawood Elementary rank in KY?
James A. Cawood Elementary ranks #62 of 1,284 schools in KY.
What is James A. Cawood Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
James A. Cawood Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 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 James A. Cawood Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, James A. Cawood Elementary has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is James A. Cawood Elementary a charter school?
No, James A. Cawood Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is James A. Cawood Elementary a Title I school?
No, James A. Cawood Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for James A. Cawood Elementary?
85.5% of students at James A. Cawood 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.
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Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 283
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 85.5%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Harlan County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 49.8%
- Phone
- (606) 573-5029
Resources & Links
District
Harlan County- District Enrollment
- 3,361
- Schools in District
- 11
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,946
- District Rank
- #2 of 9
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