Is Harlan High School a good school?

Yes! Harlan High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 12 th of 276 Kentucky high schools.

How many students attend Harlan High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 391 students attended Harlan High School.

What is the racial makeup of Harlan High School?

Students at Harlan High School are 86% White, 5% African American, 5% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

What schools feed into Harlan High School?

Harlan High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Harlan Elementary School

Harlan High School

Summary:

Harlan High School is a public high school in Harlan, Kentucky, serving grades 5-12 with a total enrollment of 391 students. The school is part of the Harlan Independent School District, which is ranked 11th out of 160 districts in Kentucky and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Harlan High School consistently ranks among the top high schools in Kentucky, with rankings as high as 6th out of 285 schools in 2018-2019. The school's performance on standardized tests, such as the ACT and Kentucky State Assessments (KSA), is significantly above the state averages across multiple subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2022-2023, Harlan High School had 68% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in ACT English, compared to the state average of 47%. The school has also demonstrated strong performance across various student subgroups, including female students, male students, white students, and students with special education needs.

Despite serving a student population with a high percentage of low-socioeconomic status (SES) students, with 63.68% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2022-2023, Harlan High School has consistently performed well, ranking 7th out of 272 Kentucky high schools for low-SES students in 2022-2023. Compared to the nearby Harlan County High School, Harlan High School consistently outperforms its counterpart in academic measures, such as ACT and KSA proficiency rates, as well as in overall statewide rankings.

Detail:

Public 5-12

420 E Central St
Harlan, KY 40831

(606) 573-8750

District: Harlan Independent

SchoolDigger Rank:
12^th of 276 Kentucky High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,272

Feeder schools for Harlan High School:

Elementary:

Harlan Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.1

Number of students: 391

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.7%

African American:

5.4%

Two or more races:

5.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 63.7%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Harlan High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Harlan High School ranks better than 77.1% of middle schools in Kentucky. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 67.74. (See more...)

Compare Details Harlan High School ranks better than 95.7% of high schools in Kentucky. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 87.66. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (85.7%), African American (5.4%), two or more races (5.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 63.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Harlan High School is 15.1. (See more...)

Compare Harlan High School employs 25.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Harlan High School is $13,272.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Harlan High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Harlan High School 75^th of 327 Kentucky public middle schools. (See Harlan High School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Harlan High School 12^th of 276 Kentucky public high schools. (See Harlan High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Harlan Independent:

SchoolDigger ranks Harlan Independent 11^th of 160 Kentucky school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Harlan High School?

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Rank History for Harlan High School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile
2012	83.26	26^th	319	91.8%
2013	76.18	44^th	335	86.9%
2014	68.11	80^th	335	76.1%
2015	64.54	98^th	337	70.9%
2016	64.04	99^th	331	70.1%
2017	44.24	193^rd	330	41.5%
2018	50.38	150^th	322	53.4%
2019	57.68	126^th	335	62.4%
2021	78.01	28^th	282	90.1%
2022	77.87	43^rd	320	86.6%
2023	67.74	75^th	327	77.1%

See the entire list of Kentucky High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	53.88	131^st	294	55.4%

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

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	33.99	210^th	285	26.3%
2019	46.48	165^th	303	45.5%
2022	82.77	23^rd	310	92.6%
2023	66.04	77^th	309	75.1%

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

Rank History for middle school Homeless students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	34.24	22^nd	32	31.3%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	65.15	76^th	290	73.8%
2019	62.80	92^nd	299	69.2%
2022	61.00	80^th	299	73.2%
2023	62.55	89^th	295	69.8%

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

Rank History for middle school Male students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	34.07	211^th	293	28.0%
2019	47.91	152^nd	303	49.8%
2022	85.24	23^rd	304	92.4%
2023	74.47	55^th	307	82.1%

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

Rank History for middle school White students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	44.57	143^rd	253	43.5%
2019	59.90	98^th	266	63.2%
2022	66.90	75^th	314	76.1%
2023	60.88	103^rd	320	67.8%

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

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

Rank History for Harlan High School

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Rank History for all high school students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2012	84.21	19^th	229	91.7%
2013	86.31	19^th	291	93.5%
2014	84.63	20^th	290	93.1%
2015	85.72	20^th	295	93.2%
2016	83.98	25^th	288	91.3%
2017	78.73	38^th	287	86.8%
2018	84.51	27^th	271	90.0%
2019	96.35	6^th	285	97.9%
2021	49.85	107^th	267	59.9%
2022	58.20	94^th	271	65.3%
2023	87.66	12^th	276	95.7%

See the entire list of Kentucky High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Special Education students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	98.22	2^nd	226	99.1%

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

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	80.51	26^th	232	88.8%
2019	93.88	3^rd	254	98.8%
2021	12.60	225^th	234	3.8%
2022	56.87	95^th	266	64.3%
2023	91.43	7^th	272	97.4%

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

Rank History for high school Female students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	42.90	149^th	234	36.3%
2019	97.07	2^nd	249	99.2%
2021	50.20	98^th	236	58.5%
2022	69.62	49^th	252	80.6%
2023	82.91	19^th	253	92.5%

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

Rank History for high school Male students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	93.86	10^th	237	95.8%
2019	90.17	12^th	251	95.2%
2021	20.56	203^rd	238	14.7%
2022	38.93	143^rd	257	44.4%
2023	86.22	13^th	259	95.0%

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

Rank History for high school White students at Harlan High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	65.54	57^th	198	71.2%
2022	58.12	88^th	260	66.2%
2023	87.47	18^th	264	93.2%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky High 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 Harlan High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	457	44	6	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	508
1989	426	42	5	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	474
1990	406	44	9	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	459
1991	429	37	6	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	472
1992	417	40	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	457
1993	422	32	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	454
1994	563	40	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	605
1995	279	18	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	297
1996	279	18	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	297
1997	284	31	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	334	650
1998	271	17	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	291
1999	272	21	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	297
2000	477	51	7	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	538
2001	483	43	10	2	0	n/a	n/a	1	539
2002	466	38	9	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	514
2003	466	38	9	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	514
2004	456	33	10	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	499
2005	468	31	5	0	4	n/a	n/a	0	508
2006	428	30	1	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	461
2007	449	23	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	1	476
2008	469	28	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	3	505
2009	474	21	3	4	0	n/a	n/a	2	504
2010	493	19	5	6	4	n/a	n/a	3	530
2011	451	24	6	7	2	0	0	0	490
2012	441	20	5	10	1	0	0	0	477
2013	449	20	7	6	1	0	1	0	484
2014	415	18	9	6	1	0	3	0	452
2015	418	14	8	6	1	0	2	0	449
2016	387	15	7	6	1	0	5	0	421
2017	379	19	11	3	1	0	13	0	426
2018	368	23	8	7	1	0	12	0	419
2019	343	23	8	8	0	0	14	0	396
2020	304	24	7	10	0	0	17	0	362
2021	304	25	5	8	0	0	16	0	358
2022	317	24	4	7	0	0	21	0	373
2023	335	21	4	10	0	0	21	0	391

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 Harlan High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	508	30.5	16.6	n/a
1989	474	28.8	16.4	n/a
1990	459	29.5	15.5	n/a
1991	472	30.2	15.6	n/a
1992	457	31.5	14.5	n/a
1993	454	31.8	14.3	n/a
1994	605	39.9	15.2	n/a
1995	297	18.7	15.9	n/a
1996	297	18.7	15.9	n/a
1997	650	37.1	17.5	105.7
1998	291	18.0	16.2	73.2
1999	297	17.0	17.5	80.8
2000	538	18.9	28.5	18.2
2001	539	34.6	15.6	43.7
2002	514	32.9	15.6	67.5
2003	514	32.9	15.6	67.5
2004	499	33.1	15.1	n/a
2005	508	34.1	14.9	n/a
2006	461	32.1	14.4	49.7
2007	476	29.0	16.4	45.9
2008	505	30.1	16.8	89.4
2009	504	31.3	16.1	82.3
2010	530	26.1	20.3	50.7
2011	490	31.1	15.7	50.6
2012	477	32.3	14.7	47.2
2013	484	28.3	17.0	51.7
2014	452	27.3	16.5	50
2015	449	26.0	17.2	52.8
2016	421	25.0	16.8	54.6
2017	426	25.6	16.5	60.6
2018	419	26.2	15.9	51.3
2019	396	28.7	13.7	55.6
2020	362	25.1	14.4	61.6
2021	358	24.1	14.8	67.3
2022	373	24.7	15.0	66.8
2023	391	25.8	15.1	63.7

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 Harlan High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	508	30.5	16.6	n/a
1989	474	28.8	16.4	n/a
1990	459	29.5	15.5	n/a
1991	472	30.2	15.6	n/a
1992	457	31.5	14.5	n/a
1993	454	31.8	14.3	n/a
1994	605	39.9	15.2	n/a
1995	297	18.7	15.9	n/a
1996	297	18.7	15.9	n/a
1997	650	37.1	17.5	105.7
1998	291	18.0	16.2	73.2
1999	297	17.0	17.5	80.8
2000	538	18.9	28.5	18.2
2001	539	34.6	15.6	43.7
2002	514	32.9	15.6	67.5
2003	514	32.9	15.6	67.5
2004	499	33.1	15.1	n/a
2005	508	34.1	14.9	n/a
2006	461	32.1	14.4	49.7
2007	476	29.0	16.4	45.9
2008	505	30.1	16.8	89.4
2009	504	31.3	16.1	82.3
2010	530	26.1	20.3	50.7
2011	490	31.1	15.7	50.6
2012	477	32.3	14.7	47.2
2013	484	28.3	17.0	51.7
2014	452	27.3	16.5	50
2015	449	26.0	17.2	52.8
2016	421	25.0	16.8	54.6
2017	426	25.6	16.5	60.6
2018	419	26.2	15.9	51.3
2019	396	28.7	13.7	55.6
2020	362	25.1	14.4	61.6
2021	358	24.1	14.8	67.3
2022	373	24.7	15.0	66.8
2023	391	25.8	15.1	63.7

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 Harlan High School

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	$437 (3.8%)	$242 (2.1%)	$890 (7.7%)	$8,676 (75.4%)	$1,485 (12.9%)	$9,950 (86.5%)	$11,506
2019	$896 (6.8%)	$300 (2.3%)	$1,196 (9.0%)	$9,129 (68.8%)	$1,779 (13.4%)	$10,908 (82.2%)	$13,272

Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Harlan High School

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 126^th of 335 Middle schools	Ranks 75^th of 327 Middle schools	14.7%
Ranks 6^th of 285 High schools	Ranks 12^th of 276 High schools	2.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English (Harlan High School)	76.7	68	8.7%
11th Grade English (Harlan Independent)	76.7	68	8.7%
11th Grade English (Kentucky)	49.1	47	2.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Harlan High School)	58.1	56	2.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Harlan Independent)	58.1	56	2.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Kentucky)	36.4	33	3.4%
11th Grade Reading (Harlan High School)	67.4	59	8.4%
11th Grade Reading (Harlan Independent)	67.4	59	8.4%
11th Grade Reading (Kentucky)	46	44	2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	396	391	1.3%
African American	23	21	8.7%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	8	4	50%
Hispanic	8	10	25%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	343	335	2.3%
Two or More Races	14	21	50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	55.6%	63.7%	8.1%

Schools Near Harlan High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				KSA Mathematics (2023)					KSA Reading (2023)					KSA Science (2023)	KSA Writing (2023)			KSA Social Studies (2023)			KSA Editing and Mechanics (2023)			ACT English (2023)	ACT Mathematics (2023)	ACT Reading (2023)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
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 (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KSA Mathematics 5th Grade	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 11th Grade	ACT English 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Reading 11th 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
Harlan High School	Public	5-12	420 E Central St	Harlan	40831	Harlan County	Harlan Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 573-8750	391	26	15.1	63.7%	335 (85.7%)	21 (5.4%)	10 (2.6%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.4%)	87.7	12^th of 276 public high schools	95.7%		58.2	94^th of 271 public high schools	65.3%	82	25.0	48.0	25.0	35.0	33.0	35.0	55.0	46.0	59.0	67.0	33.0	23.0	61.0	73.0	54.0	54.0	60.0	46.0	70.0	63.0	68.0	56.0	59.0	$13,272	$896	$300	$1,196	$9,129	$1,779	$10,908
Appalachian Challenge Academy	Public	9-12	465 Grays Drive	Grays Knob	40829	Harlan County	Kentucky National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academies	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(502) 607-5950	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Harlan County High School	Public	9-12	4000 N US Hwy 119	Baxter	40806	Harlan County	Harlan County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 574-2020	997	67	14.9	80.4%	958 (96.1%)	15 (1.5%)	12 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (0.9%)	48.2	135^th of 276 public high schools	51.1%		21.8	217^th of 271 public high schools	19.9%	82					39.0					49.0				42.0			36.0			48.0	38.0	21.0	32.0	$12,134	$786	$235	$1,021	$7,524	$1,783	$9,307

Harlan High School

Harlan High School:

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Harlan Independent:

What do you think?

Rank History for Harlan High School

Rank History for all middle school students at Harlan High School

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Harlan High School

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Harlan High School

Rank History for middle school Homeless students at Harlan High School

Rank History for middle school Female students at Harlan High School

Rank History for middle school Male students at Harlan High School

Rank History for middle school White students at Harlan High School

Rank History for Harlan High School

Rank History for all high school students at Harlan High School

Rank History for high school Special Education students at Harlan High School

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Harlan High School

Rank History for high school Female students at Harlan High School

Rank History for high school Male students at Harlan High School

Rank History for high school White students at Harlan High School

Enrollment information for Harlan High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Harlan High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Harlan High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Harlan High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Harlan High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Harlan High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Harlan High School

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