Mahadev Maitri Foundation
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Laurel County

Kentucky · Public School District
19
Schools
8,801
Students
$12,285
Per-Pupil Spend
-14% nat'l
67.3%
Free Lunch Rate
+15pp vs nat'l
87.7%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Laurel County is a public school district in Kentucky serving 8,801 students across 19 schools. It includes 11 elementary, 2 middle, 6 high schools. Its graduation rate of 87.7% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,285 is below the national average for a US public school district. 67% 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 36/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (19)
Middle Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
North Laurel Middle School06–081,003
South Laurel Middle School06–08979
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,285-14% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
61%
21%
State
60.6%
Local (property tax)
21.5%
Federal
17.9%

State funding accounts for 61% 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
19
Schools
8,801
Students
67%
Free Lunch
$12K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate87.7%
Opportunity Score36/100
StateKentucky →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 19 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
67% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Laurel County?
Laurel County has 19 public schools, serving a total of 8,801 students.
What is the graduation rate for Laurel County?
The graduation rate is 87.7%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Laurel County spend per student?
Laurel County spends $12,285 per pupil — 14% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Laurel County?
67% of students in Laurel County qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Laurel County?
No, Laurel County does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Laurel County serve?
Laurel County serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Laurel County?
The median opportunity score across schools in Laurel County is 36/100. 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.