Public + private high schools, every state.
619
high schools (public + private)
518
public (171 districts)
101
private (NCES PSS)
46,283
public grade‑12 students (seniors, latest year)

KY public HS enrollment trend

Across the 5,831 students enrolled in KY brick-and-mortar public high schools in 2021, the state grew +3.4% by 2024 (6,030 students, +199 net). That's the demographic tide every individual school is fighting or riding.

Charter share of public HS enrollment (latest year): 0.0% (0 of 6,030 students). Virtual / nonclassroom-based schools excluded.

🗺️ State context · NAEP 2024

How does KY compare nationally?

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the only test given the same way to students in every state — making it the benchmark for state-to-state academic comparison. Below, this state's 8th-grade averages and where it sits on the 50-state distribution.

8th-grade math
271
-2 vs national avg (273)
8th-grade reading
262
+2 vs national avg (260)
national avg KY Math → Reading → 260 290 245 275

Each dot is one state's 2024 NAEP 8th-grade averages. KY is highlighted in gold. Dashed lines mark national averages — being upper-right of both = above national in both subjects. Source: NAEP State Snapshot Reports. NAEP doesn't produce per-school scores — this is state-level context.

Where the students are

Top 10 cities by public-HS enrollment

Louisville 11 HS 2,330
Winchester 1 HS 1,571
Pikeville 3 HS 1,067
Owensboro 3 HS 169
Lexington 3 HS 167
Grays Knob 1 HS 100
Bowling Green 3 HS 81
Fort Knox 1 HS 80
Hopkinsville 3 HS 49
West Liberty 2 HS 45

School-size distribution

Public, classroom-based · grades 9–12, latest year

Fastest-growing high schools
public, classroom-based · grade 9–12 · 2021→2024
Ballard High
Jefferson County
1,972→2,141 +8.6%
George Rogers Clark High School
Clark County
1,587→1,571 -1.0%
Shelby Valley High School
Pike County
527→503 -4.6%
Pike County Central High School
Pike County
614→559 -9.0%
Heritage Park High School
Daviess County
259→140 -45.9%
Fastest-shrinking high schools
public, classroom-based · grade 9–12 · 2021→2024
Heritage Park High School
Daviess County
259→140 -45.9%
Pike County Central High School
Pike County
614→559 -9.0%
Shelby Valley High School
Pike County
527→503 -4.6%
George Rogers Clark High School
Clark County
1,587→1,571 -1.0%
Ballard High
Jefferson County
1,972→2,141 +8.6%

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