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Whitley County

Kentucky · Public School District
11
Schools
4,336
Students
$15,297
Per-Pupil Spend
+7% nat'l
77.9%
Free Lunch Rate
+26pp vs nat'l
95.5%
Graduation Rate
+9.0pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Whitley County is a public school district in Kentucky serving 4,336 students across 11 schools. It includes 7 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high schools. Its graduation rate of 95.5% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $15,297 is near the national average for a US public school district. 78% 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 34/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (11)
Middle School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Whitley County Middle School07–08563
High Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Colonel Academy07–1297
Whitley County Alternative School07–1242
Whitley County High School09–12980
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,297Near national avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
59%
State
59.2%
Local (property tax)
11.5%
Federal
29.3%

State funding accounts for 59% 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
4,336
Students
78%
Free Lunch
$15K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate95.5%
Opportunity Score34/100
StateKentucky →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
95.5% graduation rate — 9.0 points above the national average of 86.5%.
High economic need in community
78% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Low opportunity scores
Median opportunity score of 34/100, below the national median of 50, which can correlate with weaker long-term economic mobility for students.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
29% 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 Whitley County?
Whitley County has 11 public schools, serving a total of 4,336 students.
What is the graduation rate for Whitley County?
The graduation rate is 95.5%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Whitley County spend per student?
Whitley County spends $15,297 per pupil — 7% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Whitley County?
78% of students in Whitley County qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Whitley County?
No, Whitley County does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Whitley County serve?
Whitley County serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Whitley County?
The median opportunity score across schools in Whitley County is 34/100. 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.