Average
#970 of 1,284 schools in KY
Southern Elementary School
Elementary School · Fayette County · Lexington, KY
A Fayette County elementary school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.
340 Wilson Downing Rd, Lexington, KY 40517
- Math 29% proficient (2025)
- Reading 38% proficient (2025)
- 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southern Elementary School score 34% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
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 34% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 37% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 45% (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 36 test records from KY state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
61.8%
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 Southern 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 21Car-Dependent
- Transit 28Some Transit
- Bike 36Somewhat 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
$51,778
Median home value
$196,300
Median rent
$1,092/mo
College educated
41.3%
Homeownership
36.8%
Poverty rate
23.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 40517; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Provision SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.3private | K–12 | 0.5 mi | 47 | Compare → |
| Lansdowne Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | PK–5 | 0.7 mi | 591 | Compare → |
| Kore AcademyPrivate · tuition | 8.5private | 1–12 | 1.0 mi | 53 | Compare → |
| Lexington Universal AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.8private | PK–8 | 1.5 mi | 155 | 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
- #47 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
Southern Elementary School is listed in Fayette County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southern Elementary School
Southern Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lexington, KY, part of Fayette County, serving approximately 490 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #970 of 1,284 schools in KY. State assessment records show 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southern Elementary School
What grades does Southern Elementary School serve?
Southern Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Southern Elementary School?
Southern Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 490 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Elementary School is 10.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southern Elementary School rank in KY?
Southern Elementary School ranks #970 of 1,284 schools in KY.
What is Southern Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Southern Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 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 Southern Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southern Elementary School has 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Southern Elementary School a charter school?
No, Southern Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southern Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Southern Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southern Elementary School?
61.8% of students at Southern 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 – 5th
- Enrollment
- 490
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 45
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Fayette County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 29.4%
- Phone
- (859) 381-3589
- Area population (ZIP 40517)
- 36,396
- Area average commute
- 22.8 min
- Area median age
- 31
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 40517; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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