Dawson Springs Elementary

Q: Is Dawson Springs Elementary a good school?

Dawson Springs Elementary ranks 470 th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Dawson Springs Elementary is a public elementary school in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 267 students. The school is part of the Dawson Springs Independent School District, which is ranked 71 out of 159 districts in the state and rated 3 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Dawson Springs Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Kentucky elementary schools over the past decade, with a SchoolDigger rating ranging from 0 to 2 stars out of 5. The school's proficiency rates in mathematics, reading, and other subjects are generally lower than the state and district averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's 3rd-grade mathematics proficiency rate was 24%, compared to the state average of 43%, and its 3rd-grade reading proficiency was 22%, compared to the state average of 47%. In contrast, nearby schools like Pride Elementary and Grapevine Elementary have significantly higher proficiency rates, often exceeding the state averages.

Dawson Springs Elementary has a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with around 70% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, which is higher than the nearby schools. This high percentage of low-income students may contribute to the school's lower academic performance, as research has shown a strong correlation between socioeconomic status and educational outcomes. While the school's spending per student is comparable to nearby schools, its consistent underperformance and the significant differences in academic outcomes compared to higher-performing schools in the area suggest a need for a comprehensive, data-driven approach to school improvement.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

317 Eli St
Dawson Springs, KY 42408

(270) 797-3811

District: Dawson Springs Independent

SchoolDigger Rank:
470^th of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Students who attend Dawson Springs Elementary usually attend:

High:

Dawson Springs Junior/Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.5

Number of students: 267

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.9%

Two or more races:

4.5%

Hispanic:

1.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 70.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Dawson Springs Elementary ranks worse than 68.6% of elementary schools in Kentucky. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 33.34. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

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Teachers

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Finance

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Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Dawson Springs Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Dawson Springs Elementary 470^th of 685 Kentucky public elementary schools. (See Dawson Springs Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Dawson Springs Independent:

SchoolDigger ranks Dawson Springs Independent 71^st of 159 Kentucky school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Dawson Springs Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Dawson Springs Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	KY State Percentile
2010	29.58	549^th	683	19.6%
2011	29.42	537^th	688	21.9%
2012	44.95	407^th	713	42.9%
2013	34.99	527^th	719	26.7%
2014	38.83	469^th	705	33.5%
2015	38.03	474^th	698	32.1%
2016	29.11	549^th	690	20.4%
2017	13.41	640^th	694	7.8%
2018	15.37	627^th	691	9.3%
2019	24.51	579^th	700	17.3%
2022	29.17	493^rd	684	27.9%
2023	27.99	513^th	687	25.3%
2024	33.34	470^th	685	31.4%

See the entire list of Kentucky Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Dawson Springs Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	25.97	537^th	661	18.8%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Dawson Springs Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	16.75	580^th	631	8.1%
2019	31.57	507^th	664	23.6%
2022	26.79	523^rd	667	21.6%
2023	35.75	435^th	670	35.1%
2024	34.70	462^nd	665	30.5%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Dawson Springs Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	17.58	600^th	663	9.5%
2019	29.79	544^th	671	18.9%
2022	30.18	466^th	641	27.3%
2023	30.16	473^rd	639	26.0%
2024	47.69	325^th	644	49.5%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Dawson Springs Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	16.72	603^rd	665	9.3%
2019	23.05	567^th	676	16.1%
2022	29.35	480^th	657	26.9%
2023	31.75	453^rd	652	30.5%
2024	22.86	531^st	652	18.6%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Dawson Springs Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	KY State Percentile
2019	15.16	537^th	592	9.3%
2022	24.08	525^th	656	20.0%
2023	23.91	533^rd	658	19.0%
2024	24.62	527^th	659	20.0%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Kentucky Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Dawson Springs Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2008	381	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	12	394
2009	358	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	8	368
2010	412	1	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	8	424
2011	384	0	2	7	1	0	9	0	403
2012	372	0	2	7	1	0	8	0	390
2013	337	0	2	9	0	0	12	0	360
2014	353	0	3	9	0	0	13	0	378
2015	350	0	3	12	0	0	17	0	382
2016	342	0	3	16	0	0	17	0	378
2017	362	0	3	12	0	0	15	0	392
2018	330	1	1	8	0	1	14	0	355
2019	326	3	1	4	0	0	13	0	347
2020	314	2	1	3	0	0	17	0	337
2021	294	2	1	1	0	0	17	0	315
2022	293	3	1	4	0	0	8	0	309
2023	248	2	0	5	0	0	12	0	267

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Dawson Springs Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	394	26.3	15.0	66
2009	368	24.6	15.0	50.3
2010	424	18.9	22.4	61.5
2011	403	25.3	15.8	69.2
2012	390	26.3	14.7	67.2
2013	360	26.0	13.8	65.8
2014	378	24.3	15.5	64.3
2015	382	23.0	16.6	69.4
2016	378	23.0	16.4	74.1
2017	392	23.3	16.8	69.6
2018	355	23.9	14.8	67.3
2019	347	23.1	14.9	67.1
2020	337	22.1	15.1	73
2021	315	22.3	14.1	65.7
2022	309	22.8	13.5	69.9
2023	267	21.2	12.5	70.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Dawson Springs Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	394	26.3	15.0	66
2009	368	24.6	15.0	50.3
2010	424	18.9	22.4	61.5
2011	403	25.3	15.8	69.2
2012	390	26.3	14.7	67.2
2013	360	26.0	13.8	65.8
2014	378	24.3	15.5	64.3
2015	382	23.0	16.6	69.4
2016	378	23.0	16.4	74.1
2017	392	23.3	16.8	69.6
2018	355	23.9	14.8	67.3
2019	347	23.1	14.9	67.1
2020	337	22.1	15.1	73
2021	315	22.3	14.1	65.7
2022	309	22.8	13.5	69.9
2023	267	21.2	12.5	70.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Dawson Springs Elementary

Year	Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Total Expenditures from Federal Funds	Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$1,039 (8.4%)	$204 (1.6%)	$1,243 (10.0%)	$8,649 (69.7%)	$1,597 (12.9%)	$10,247 (82.6%)	$12,404
2019	$1,052 (8.5%)	$196 (1.6%)	$1,248 (10.1%)	$8,356 (67.7%)	$1,777 (14.4%)	$10,133 (82.1%)	$12,339
2020	$1,055 (8.2%)	$1,024 (7.9%)	$2,079 (16.1%)	$8,356 (64.6%)	$1,749 (13.5%)	$10,105 (78.2%)	$12,925
2021	$2,180 (16.6%)	$425 (3.2%)	$1,647 (12.6%)	$10,653 (81.3%)	$1,425 (10.9%)	$12,150 (92.8%)	$13,098
2022	$1,059 (7.7%)	$302 (2.2%)	$1,361 (9.9%)	$8,993 (65.3%)	$1,963 (14.3%)	$10,957 (79.6%)	$13,768

Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Dawson Springs Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 579^th of 700 Elementary schools	Ranks 513^th of 687 Elementary schools	8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	347	267	23.1%
African American	3	2	33.3%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	4	5	25%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	326	248	23.9%
Two or More Races	13	12	7.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	67.1%	70.4%	3.3%

Schools Near Dawson Springs Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				KSA Mathematics (2024)						KSA Reading (2024)						KSA Science (2024)	KSA Writing (2024)		KSA Social Studies (2024)		KSA Editing and Mechanics (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KSA Mathematics 3rd Grade	KSA Mathematics 4th Grade	KSA Mathematics 5th Grade	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Reading 3rd Grade	KSA Reading 4th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Science 4th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Dawson Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	317 Eli St	Dawson Springs	42408	Hopkins County	Dawson Springs Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 797-3811	267	21	12.5	70.4%	248 (92.9%)	2 (0.7%)	5 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.5%)	33.3	470^th of 685 public elementary schools	31.4%		28	513^th of 687 public elementary schools	25.3%	43	24.0	37.0	47.0				22.0	37.0	45.0							34.0		47.0		$13,768	$1,059	$302	$1,361	$8,993	$1,963	$10,957
West Hopkins School	Public	PK, KG-8	2695 Rabbit Ridge Rd	Nebo	42441	Hopkins County	Hopkins County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 825-6130	343	27	12.7	55.4%	317 (92.4%)	3 (0.9%)	8 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (3.8%)	48	343^rd of 685 public elementary schools	49.9%		31.2	485^th of 687 public elementary schools	29.4%	142	52.0	46.0		51.0	41.0	18.0	61.0	46.0	34.0	57.0	52.0	38.0	31.0	20.0	29.0	30.0	24.0		56.0	$14,949	$921	$978	$1,899	$9,762	$1,656	$11,419
Caldwell County Elementary School	Public	3-5	105 Education Dr	Princeton	42445	Caldwell County	Caldwell County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 365-8030	403	25	15.9	56.3%	347 (86.1%)	18 (4.5%)	7 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (7.4%)	46.7	354^th of 685 public elementary schools	48.3%		50.9	323^rd of 687 public elementary schools	53.0%	31	54.0	43.0	42.0				48.0	47.0	46.0				31.0	22.0		27.0		62.0		$15,406	$2,322	$508	$2,830	$7,034	$1,875	$8,909
Caldwell County Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	1000 Marion Rd	Princeton	42445	Caldwell County	Caldwell County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 365-8040	523	32	16.5	63.5%	433 (82.8%)	23 (4.4%)	11 (2.1%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (9.6%)								(n/a)																				$13,960	$1,827	$503	$2,330	$9,091	$1,765	$10,855
Southside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	9220 Hopkinsville Rd	Nortonville	42442	Hopkins County	Hopkins County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 825-6143	382	24	15.7	70.2%	345 (90.3%)	3 (0.8%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	26 (6.8%)	60.2	256^th of 685 public elementary schools	62.6%		61.6	237^th of 687 public elementary schools	65.5%	19	60.0	60.0	50.0				59.0	53.0	42.0				33.0	43.0		38.0		49.0		$13,798	$1,339	$856	$2,194	$8,371	$1,613	$9,984
Crofton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	12145 S Madisonville Rd	Crofton	42217	Christian County	Christian County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 887-7190	409	24	17.0	66.3%	370 (90.5%)	6 (1.5%)	11 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.4%)	60.4	254^th of 685 public elementary schools	62.9%		55.6	282^nd of 687 public elementary schools	59.0%	28	57.0	65.0	51.0	39.0			51.0	60.0	41.0	49.0			44.0	35.0		51.0		45.0		$12,392	$1,555	$638	$2,193	$8,340	$1,723	$10,063
Grapevine Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1150 Hayes Ave.	Madisonville	42431	Hopkins County	Hopkins County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 825-6012	365	26	13.8	68.5%	254 (69.6%)	31 (8.5%)	42 (11.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.9%)	67	195^th of 685 public elementary schools	71.5%		55.5	284^th of 687 public elementary schools	58.7%	89	46.0	45.0	73.0				51.0	57.0	58.0				45.0	42.0		38.0		71.0		$13,372	$900	$929	$1,829	$8,479	$1,444	$9,922
West Broadway Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	127 W Broadway	Madisonville	42431	Hopkins County	Hopkins County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 825-6036	358	24	15.2	59.5%	245 (68.4%)	41 (11.5%)	21 (5.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (14.0%)	48.9	338^th of 685 public elementary schools	50.7%		64.8	210^th of 687 public elementary schools	69.4%	128	49.0	44.0	37.0				58.0	57.0	39.0				33.0	43.0		31.0		44.0		$14,291	$869	$1,024	$1,893	$9,222	$1,568	$10,790
Pride Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	861 Pride Ave	Madisonville	42431	Hopkins County	Hopkins County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 825-6030	475	31	15.3	60.4%	352 (74.1%)	57 (12.0%)	18 (3.8%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (9.5%)	79	100^th of 685 public elementary schools	85.4%		90.5	34^th of 687 public elementary schools	95.1%	66	73.0	69.0	63.0				63.0	59.0	54.0				40.0	48.0		58.0		60.0		$12,206	$841	$909	$1,749	$7,446	$1,399	$8,845
Providence Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	470 S Broadway	Providence	42450	Webster County	Webster County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 667-7041	290	18	16.1	75.9%	230 (79.3%)	29 (10.0%)	12 (4.1%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.9%)	13.5	610^th of 685 public elementary schools	10.9%		40.8	408^th of 687 public elementary schools	40.6%	202	16.0	25.0	7.0	35.0			27.0	32.0	25.0	39.0				21.0				29.0		$14,418	$2,002	$608	$2,610	$9,934	$1,874	$11,808

Frequently Asked Questions about Dawson Springs Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Dawson Springs Elementary?

Students at Dawson Springs Elementary are 93% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

Is Dawson Springs Elementary a good school?

Dawson Springs Elementary ranks 470^th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Dawson Springs Elementary attend?

Students who attend Dawson Springs Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Dawson Springs Junior/Senior High School

What district is Dawson Springs Elementary in?

Dawson Springs Independent

How many students attend Dawson Springs Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 267 students attended Dawson Springs Elementary.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Kentucky Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.