Very Good
#219 of 1,284 schools in KY
Top 17% in state
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
High School · Fayette County · Lexington, KY
A Fayette County high school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1600 Man O'war Blvd, Lexington, KY 40513
- Math 56% proficient (2025)
- Reading 58% proficient (2025)
- 93.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School score 57% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).
2025 KSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. KY average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 7 points since 2020, reaching 57% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 62% (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 32 test records from KY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
42.1%
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 Paul Laurence Dunbar High 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 8Car-Dependent
- Transit 19Minimal Transit
- Bike 23Somewhat 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
$126,642
Median home value
$448,100
Median rent
$1,413/mo
College educated
70.5%
Homeownership
74.9%
Poverty rate
3.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 40513; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 9.1private | PK–12 | 2.1 mi | 165 | Compare → |
| Lexington Catholic High SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.4private | 9–12 | 2.3 mi | 724 | Compare → |
| Lafayette High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | 9–12 | 2.9 mi | 2,373 | Compare → |
| Audrey Grevious CenterEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | 6–12 | 3.4 mi | 18 | 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.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Fayette County
- Schools in district
- 79
- Rank in district
- #18 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
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is listed in Fayette County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is a public high school in Lexington, KY, part of Fayette County, serving approximately 1,889 students in grades 9th-12th with a 17:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #219 of 1,284 schools in KY. State assessment records show 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
What grades does Paul Laurence Dunbar High School serve?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar High School?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,889 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is 17:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Paul Laurence Dunbar High School rank in KY?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School ranks #219 of 1,284 schools in KY.
What is Paul Laurence Dunbar High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Paul Laurence Dunbar High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School has 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Paul Laurence Dunbar High School a charter school?
No, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Paul Laurence Dunbar High School a Title I school?
No, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Paul Laurence Dunbar High School?
42.1% of students at Paul Laurence Dunbar High 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,889
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 111
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Fayette County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 35.7%
- Phone
- (859) 381-3546
- 4-Year Graduation
- 93.0%
- Area population (ZIP 40513)
- 10,710
- Area average commute
- 24.4 min
- Area median age
- 45.6
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 40513; 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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