Carter County

The schools in Carter County, Kentucky serve a diverse population of students across 11 schools, including 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 2 high schools, and 1 alternative school. While the district as a whole has seen mixed academic performance, a few standout schools have consistently ranked among the top in the state.

Carter City Elementary School and Star Elementary School are two small elementary schools that have excelled, with 4-5 star ratings from SchoolDigger and significantly higher test scores than the county and state averages, particularly in math and reading. In contrast, some of the other elementary schools, such as Tygart Creek Elementary, Heritage Elementary, and Olive Hill Elementary, have struggled to match the performance of their top-tier counterparts.

The two high schools in the district, East Carter High School and West Carter High School, have maintained relatively consistent performance, with 3-4 star ratings and graduation rates above 96%. However, their test scores have been more mixed, with some subject areas above average and others below. The district's per-student spending also varies significantly, from $10,376 at Prichard Elementary to $14,003 at Carter City Elementary, which may be a contributing factor to the disparities in school performance.