Harlan County High School

Q: Is Harlan County High School a good school?

Harlan County High School ranks 94 th of 290 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Harlan County High School is a public high school located in Baxter, Kentucky, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 997 students. The school is part of the Harlan County School District, which is ranked 25th out of 159 districts in Kentucky and is rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Harlan County High School has seen fluctuating academic performance, with its statewide ranking ranging from 94th out of 290 Kentucky high schools in 2023-2024 to as low as 237th out of 267 in 2020-2021. The school's performance on standardized tests, such as the ACT and Kentucky State Assessments (KSA), has been mixed compared to the state averages, with strengths in some subject areas but generally lagging behind the state in overall academic proficiency. The school has also shown significant disparities in the performance of different student subgroups, with male students performing relatively well but female students struggling. However, the school has excelled in supporting its special education and homeless student populations.

Harlan County High School's performance is generally lower than that of the nearby Leslie County High School, which has consistently ranked higher in the state and achieved a 93.9% four-year graduation rate in 2023-2024. However, the school's performance is better than that of the Harlan High School, which is located just 3.53 miles away and has shown stronger academic results. The high percentage of students from low-income families at Harlan County High School, coupled with its relatively high spending per student and student-teacher ratio, suggests that the school may be facing significant socioeconomic challenges that could be impacting its overall academic performance.

Detail:

Public 9-12

4000 N US Hwy 119
Baxter, KY 40806

(606) 574-2020

District: Harlan County

SchoolDigger Rank:
94^th of 290 Kentucky High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $17,056

Feeder schools for Harlan County High School:

Elementary:	Black Mountain Elementary School
	Cawood Elementary School
	Cumberland Elementary School
	Evarts Elementary School
	More...
	Green Hills Elementary School
	James A. Cawood Elementary
	Rosspoint Elementary School
	Wallins Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.9

Number of students: 997

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.1%

African American:

1.5%

Hispanic:

1.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 80.4%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Harlan County High School ranks better than 67.6% of high schools in Kentucky. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 62.78. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Harlan County High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Harlan County High School is $17,056.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Harlan County High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Harlan County High School 94^th of 290 Kentucky public high schools. (See Harlan County High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Homeless students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Harlan County:

SchoolDigger ranks Harlan County 25^th of 159 Kentucky school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Harlan County High School?

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Rank History for Harlan County High School

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Rank History for all students at Harlan County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2010	38.94	149^th	223	33.2%
2011	22.95	196^th	226	13.3%
2012	29.17	177^th	229	22.7%
2013	52.21	136^th	291	53.3%
2014	52.62	148^th	290	49.0%
2015	49.11	169^th	295	42.7%
2016	50.70	157^th	288	45.5%
2017	50.24	169^th	287	41.1%
2018	34.26	194^th	271	28.4%
2019	32.37	199^th	285	30.2%
2021	13.72	237^th	267	11.2%
2022	21.82	217^th	271	19.9%
2023	48.24	135^th	276	51.1%
2024	62.78	94^th	290	67.6%

See the entire list of Kentucky High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Harlan County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2019	25.80	185^th	226	18.1%
2023	87.60	6^th	162	96.3%
2024	96.75	2^nd	168	98.8%

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

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	45.53	133^rd	232	42.7%
2019	31.09	188^th	254	26.0%
2021	19.11	208^th	234	11.1%
2022	29.68	204^th	266	23.3%
2023	63.10	70^th	272	74.3%
2024	69.59	56^th	274	79.6%

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

Rank History for Homeless students at Harlan County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	45.37	14^th	25	44.0%
2019	46.47	17^th	33	48.5%
2021	24.88	21^st	26	19.2%
2022	38.05	21^st	32	34.4%
2023	65.29	11^th	37	70.3%
2024	77.86	3^rd	30	90.0%

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

Rank History for Female students at Harlan County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	27.12	188^th	234	19.7%
2019	35.13	187^th	249	24.9%
2021	14.79	210^th	236	11.0%
2022	24.22	200^th	252	20.6%
2023	37.41	168^th	253	33.6%
2024	43.71	146^th	261	44.1%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at Harlan County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	67.25	29^th	166	82.5%
2019	73.81	23^rd	166	86.1%
2021	36.35	95^th	154	38.3%
2022	52.39	52^nd	153	66.0%

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

Rank History for Male students at Harlan County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	33.05	179^th	237	24.5%
2019	26.05	200^th	251	20.3%
2021	11.79	223^rd	238	6.3%
2022	20.57	212^th	257	17.5%
2023	52.62	106^th	259	59.1%
2024	74.89	43^rd	262	83.6%

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

Rank History for White students at Harlan County High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	20.66	172^nd	198	13.1%
2019	23.83	179^th	219	18.3%
2021	5.29	196^th	203	3.4%
2022	16.39	232^nd	260	10.8%
2023	37.51	164^th	264	37.9%
2024	53.39	114^th	273	58.2%

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 County High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2009	1164	46	0	3	2	n/a	n/a	2	1217
2010	1136	43	1	3	1	n/a	n/a	2	1186
2011	1116	31	1	9	1	0	0	0	1158
2012	1079	28	1	9	0	0	0	0	1117
2013	1093	28	2	7	3	0	1	0	1134
2014	1068	31	2	7	3	0	1	0	1112
2015	1005	30	3	5	1	0	2	0	1046
2016	1009	21	3	11	1	0	4	0	1049
2017	1016	18	2	14	0	0	4	0	1054
2018	1022	24	2	15	0	1	6	0	1070
2019	987	25	1	11	0	0	5	0	1029
2020	993	22	1	14	0	0	7	0	1037
2021	1022	24	0	17	0	0	9	0	1072
2022	950	15	0	14	1	0	10	0	990
2023	958	15	1	12	2	0	9	0	997

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 County High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	1217	70.8	17.2	73.7
2010	1186	56.3	21.0	72.9
2011	1158	65.6	17.6	69
2012	1117	62.6	17.8	45.8
2013	1134	60.6	18.7	64.5
2014	1112	56.7	19.5	72
2015	1046	57.0	18.3	70.9
2016	1049	55.0	19.0	75.9
2017	1054	57.0	18.4	74.1
2018	1070	58.1	18.4	78.8
2019	1029	58.0	17.7	79.2
2020	1037	61.7	16.8	75.9
2021	1072	61.7	17.3	86.5
2022	990	63.8	15.5	76
2023	997	66.7	14.9	80.4

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 Harlan County High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	1217	70.8	17.2	73.7
2010	1186	56.3	21.0	72.9
2011	1158	65.6	17.6	69
2012	1117	62.6	17.8	45.8
2013	1134	60.6	18.7	64.5
2014	1112	56.7	19.5	72
2015	1046	57.0	18.3	70.9
2016	1049	55.0	19.0	75.9
2017	1054	57.0	18.4	74.1
2018	1070	58.1	18.4	78.8
2019	1029	58.0	17.7	79.2
2020	1037	61.7	16.8	75.9
2021	1072	61.7	17.3	86.5
2022	990	63.8	15.5	76
2023	997	66.7	14.9	80.4

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 Harlan County 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	$553 (4.8%)	$231 (2.0%)	$784 (6.7%)	$7,436 (64.0%)	$1,989 (17.1%)	$9,425 (81.1%)	$11,625
2019	$786 (6.5%)	$235 (1.9%)	$1,021 (8.4%)	$7,524 (62.0%)	$1,783 (14.7%)	$9,307 (76.7%)	$12,134
2020	$883 (6.7%)	$240 (1.8%)	$1,123 (8.5%)	$7,340 (55.4%)	$2,069 (15.6%)	$9,408 (71.0%)	$13,248
2021	$977 (6.9%)	$998 (7.0%)	$1,975 (13.9%)	$7,201 (50.8%)	$1,943 (13.7%)	$9,144 (64.5%)	$14,174
2022	$1,859 (10.9%)	$1,738 (10.2%)	$3,597 (21.1%)	$8,206 (48.1%)	$2,611 (15.3%)	$10,817 (63.4%)	$17,056

Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Harlan County 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 199^th of 285 High schools	Ranks 135^th of 276 High schools	20.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English (Harlan County High School)	35.8	38	2.2%
11th Grade English (Harlan County)	35.8	38	2.2%
11th Grade English (Kentucky)	49.1	47	2.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Harlan County High School)	26	21	5%
11th Grade Mathematics (Harlan County)	26	21	5%
11th Grade Mathematics (Kentucky)	36.4	33	3.4%
11th Grade Reading (Harlan County High School)	38.6	32	6.6%
11th Grade Reading (Harlan County)	38.6	32	6.6%
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	1029	997	3.1%
African American	25	15	40%
American Indian	0	2
Asian	1	1
Hispanic	11	12	9.1%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	987	958	2.9%
Two or More Races	5	9	80%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	79.2%	80.4%	1.2%

Schools Near Harlan County High School

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)			ACT English (2024)	ACT Mathematics (2024)	ACT Reading (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 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 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%)	62.8	94^th of 290 public high schools	67.6%		48.2	135^th of 276 public high schools	51.1%	41					33.0					42.0				50.0			42.0			58.0	58.0	27.0	42.0	$17,056	$1,859	$1,738	$3,597	$8,206	$2,611	$10,817
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%)	92.7	10^th of 290 public high schools	96.6%		87.7	12^th of 276 public high schools	95.7%	2	50.0	22.0	40.0	30.0	43.0	50.0	44.0	50.0	54.0	68.0	34.0	26.0	52.0		51.0	41.0	65.0	49.0	70.0	75.0	69.0	47.0	63.0	$31,932	$3,772	$2,711	$6,483	$19,269	$6,026	$25,304
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 ()	30.4	202^nd of 290 public high schools	30.3%					(n/a)																				44.0	19.0	13.0	31.0
Leslie County High School	Public	9-12	25 Eagle Lane	Hyden	41749	Leslie County	Leslie County	No	No	No	No	(606) 672-2337	472	30	15.9	68.2%	464 (98.3%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	77.5	38^th of 290 public high schools	86.9%		78.2	29^th of 276 public high schools	89.5%	9					60.0					66.0				47.0			63.0			62.0	45.0	25.0	44.0	$24,925	$1,210	$973	$2,185	$10,425	$929	$11,782
Leslie County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	175 Eagle Lane	Hyden	41749	Leslie County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(606) 672-2859	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Harlan County High School

Harlan County High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Black Mountain Elementary School
Elementary : Cawood Elementary School
Elementary : Cumberland Elementary School
Elementary : Evarts Elementary School
Elementary : Green Hills Elementary School
Elementary : James A. Cawood Elementary
Elementary : Rosspoint Elementary School
Elementary : Wallins Elementary School

Is Harlan County High School a good school?

Harlan County High School ranks 94^th of 290 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Harlan County High School

Harlan County High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Harlan County:

What do you think?

Rank History for Harlan County High School

Rank History for all students at Harlan County High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Harlan County High School

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

Rank History for Homeless students at Harlan County High School

Rank History for Female students at Harlan County High School

Rank History for Disabled students at Harlan County High School

Rank History for Male students at Harlan County High School

Rank History for White students at Harlan County High School

Enrollment information for Harlan County High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Harlan County High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Harlan County High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Harlan County High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Harlan County High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Harlan County High School