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Harlan County

Kentucky · Public School District
11
Schools
3,442
Students
$15,949
Per-Pupil Spend
+11% nat'l
83.5%
Free Lunch Rate
+31pp vs nat'l
96.0%
Graduation Rate
+9.5pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Harlan County is a public school district in Kentucky serving 3,442 students across 11 schools. It includes 8 elementary, 1 high schools. Its graduation rate of 96.0% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $15,949 is above average for a US public school district. 84% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 37/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (11)
High School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Harlan County High School09–12997
Other Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Cumberland Tech - Harlan CampusUG–UG0
Kentucky TECH - Harlan Regional Tech CtrUG–UG0
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,949+11% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
60%
13%
State
60.1%
Local (property tax)
12.7%
Federal
27.2%

State funding accounts for 60% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
11
Schools
3,442
Students
84%
Free Lunch
$16K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate96.0%
Opportunity Score37/100
StateKentucky →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
96.0% graduation rate — 9.5 points above the national average of 86.5%.
High economic need in community
84% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
27% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Harlan County?
Harlan County has 11 public schools, serving a total of 3,442 students.
What is the graduation rate for Harlan County?
The graduation rate is 96.0%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Harlan County spend per student?
Harlan County spends $15,949 per pupil — 11% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Harlan County?
84% of students in Harlan County qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Harlan County?
No, Harlan County does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Harlan County serve?
Harlan County serves grades PK through UG, covering elementary level.
What is the opportunity score for Harlan County?
The median opportunity score across schools in Harlan County is 37/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.