Is McCreary Central High School a good school?

McCreary Central High School ranks 183 rd of 290 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend McCreary Central High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 734 students attended McCreary Central High School.

What is the racial makeup of McCreary Central High School?

Students at McCreary Central High School are 98% White, 1% Hispanic.

What schools feed into McCreary Central High School?

McCreary Central High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Whitley City Elementary School Middle : McCreary County Middle School

McCreary Central High School

Summary:

McCreary Central High School is a public high school located in Stearns, Kentucky, serving 734 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the McCreary County School District, which is ranked 73 out of 159 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

While McCreary Central High School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Kentucky high schools over the past decade, with a 2-star rating for most of that time, the school does have some areas of relative strength. Its male students and low-income students perform better than the overall student population, ranking in the 157-160 and 99-170 ranges, respectively, out of Kentucky high schools. However, the school's female and white students perform significantly worse, ranking in the 138-199 and 158-198 ranges. Academically, the school's test scores are consistently below the state averages in all subject areas, with proficiency rates ranging from 12% to 42% compared to the state's 30% to 46%.

Interestingly, the nearby Whitley County High School, which is part of the Whitley County School District, outperforms McCreary Central High School across various metrics, including statewide ranking, test scores, and graduation rates. This comparison highlights the potential for improvement at McCreary Central High School, particularly given the school's high percentage of students from low-income families, which may be a contributing factor to its overall lower performance.

Detail:

Public 9-12

400 Raider Way
Stearns, KY 42647

(606) 376-5051

District: McCreary County

SchoolDigger Rank:
183^rd of 290 Kentucky High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,219

Feeder schools for McCreary Central High School:

Elementary:	Whitley City Elementary School
Middle:	McCreary County Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.0

Number of students: 734

Racial breakdown:

White:

97.8%

Hispanic:

1.2%

African American:

0.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 77.7%

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Compare McCreary Central High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details McCreary Central High School ranks worse than 63.1% of high schools in Kentucky. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37.54. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at McCreary Central 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 McCreary Central High School is $15,219.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

McCreary Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks McCreary Central High School 183^rd of 290 Kentucky public high schools. (See McCreary Central High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Foster Care students:

Male students:

White students:

McCreary County:

SchoolDigger ranks McCreary County 73^rd of 159 Kentucky school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for McCreary Central High School

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Rank History for all students at McCreary Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2007	14.72	202^nd	217	6.9%
2008	20.00	190^th	217	12.4%
2009	15.20	205^th	217	5.5%
2010	23.95	189^th	223	15.2%
2011	40.43	144^th	226	36.3%
2012	33.93	163^rd	229	28.8%
2013	39.69	198^th	291	32.0%
2014	34.90	206^th	290	29.0%
2015	44.83	181^st	295	38.6%
2016	39.65	200^th	288	30.6%
2017	58.32	129^th	287	55.1%
2018	48.85	131^st	271	51.7%
2019	47.64	145^th	285	49.1%
2021	32.69	181^st	267	32.2%
2022	45.49	140^th	271	48.3%
2023	40.99	164^th	276	40.6%
2024	37.54	183^rd	290	36.9%

See the entire list of Kentucky High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at McCreary Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2019	46.71	125^th	226	44.7%
2023	34.68	100^th	162	38.3%
2024	29.82	124^th	168	26.2%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at McCreary Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	66.21	56^th	232	75.9%
2019	63.69	81^st	254	68.1%
2021	36.19	162^nd	234	30.8%
2022	50.68	114^th	266	57.1%
2023	54.92	99^th	272	63.6%
2024	39.25	170^th	274	38.0%

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

Rank History for Female students at McCreary Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	56.43	104^th	234	55.6%
2019	65.36	74^th	249	70.3%
2021	30.37	172^nd	236	27.1%
2022	47.46	138^th	252	45.2%
2023	39.70	157^th	253	37.9%
2024	27.01	199^th	261	23.8%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at McCreary Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	91.85	11^th	166	93.4%
2019	97.16	2^nd	166	98.8%
2021	55.30	48^th	154	68.8%
2022	28.62	122^nd	153	20.3%

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

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at McCreary Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	64.40	40^th	115	65.2%
2019	46.53	65^th	102	36.3%

See the entire list of Best Kentucky High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Foster Care students at McCreary Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	69.68	2^nd	7	71.4%
2021	21.23	1^st	1	0.0%
2024	10.69	4^th	4	0.0%

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

Rank History for Male students at McCreary Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	41.08	148^th	237	37.6%
2019	42.55	160^th	251	36.3%
2021	31.31	169^th	238	29.0%
2022	37.87	149^th	257	42.0%
2023	38.17	160^th	259	38.2%
2024	40.97	157^th	262	40.1%

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

Rank History for White students at McCreary Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KY State Percentile
2018	40.37	122^nd	198	38.4%
2019	31.97	161^st	219	26.5%
2022	37.96	158^th	260	39.2%
2023	34.05	173^rd	264	34.5%
2024	28.02	198^th	273	27.5%

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 McCreary Central High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	1037	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	1037
1989	994	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	994
1990	937	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	937
1991	941	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	941
1992	925	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	925
1993	927	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	927
1994	923	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	923
1995	1001	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	1001
1996	1001	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	1001
1997	949	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	949
1998	904	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	904
1999	886	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	887
2000	863	1	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	865
2001	862	2	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	866
2002	839	8	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	847
2003	839	8	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	847
2004	908	6	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	916
2005	866	4	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	875
2006	837	10	4	1	0	n/a	n/a	852
2007	879	8	2	2	1	n/a	n/a	892
2008	872	5	3	0	2	n/a	n/a	882
2009	861	5	0	1	2	n/a	n/a	869
2010	837	4	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	846
2011	811	4	0	4	1	0	0	820
2012	771	4	1	8	1	0	1	786
2013	772	4	4	7	1	0	1	789
2014	747	1	4	4	1	0	3	760
2015	732	4	2	2	0	0	5	745
2016	728	6	2	6	0	1	5	748
2017	723	6	1	7	0	0	3	740
2018	741	9	1	10	1	0	3	765
2019	745	8	2	11	1	0	3	770
2020	749	7	2	10	1	0	4	773
2021	815	8	0	13	1	0	6	843
2022	773	6	0	13	1	0	4	797
2023	718	4	0	9	0	0	3	734

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 McCreary Central High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1037	55.8	18.5	n/a
1989	994	54.0	18.4	n/a
1990	937	54.4	17.2	n/a
1991	941	53.8	17.4	n/a
1992	925	54.2	17.0	n/a
1993	927	54.2	17.1	n/a
1994	923	54.4	17.0	n/a
1995	1001	61.6	16.3	n/a
1996	1001	61.6	16.3	n/a
1997	949	61.0	15.6	61.6
1998	904	63.8	14.2	62.5
1999	887	56.0	15.8	79.1
2000	865	55.1	15.7	70.1
2001	866	55.2	15.7	80.8
2002	847	54.5	15.5	99.6
2003	847	54.5	15.5	99.6
2004	916	54.5	16.8	n/a
2005	875	55.4	15.8	n/a
2006	852	55.5	15.4	79.8
2007	892	41.0	21.8	75.4
2008	882	56.3	15.7	84.5
2009	869	53.0	16.4	83.1
2010	846	25.0	33.8	82.4
2011	820	48.0	17.0	80.6
2012	786	51.5	15.2	60.6
2013	789	51.0	15.4	71.2
2014	760	46.4	16.3	78.4
2015	745	45.0	16.5	79.1
2016	748	43.0	17.3	78.1
2017	740	43.8	16.8	72.7
2018	765	39.7	19.2	76.9
2019	770	40.2	19.1	77.3
2020	773	41.9	18.4	78.3
2021	843	46.2	18.2	77.5
2022	797	49.7	16.0	77.5
2023	734	48.7	15.0	77.7

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 McCreary Central High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1037	55.8	18.5	n/a
1989	994	54.0	18.4	n/a
1990	937	54.4	17.2	n/a
1991	941	53.8	17.4	n/a
1992	925	54.2	17.0	n/a
1993	927	54.2	17.1	n/a
1994	923	54.4	17.0	n/a
1995	1001	61.6	16.3	n/a
1996	1001	61.6	16.3	n/a
1997	949	61.0	15.6	61.6
1998	904	63.8	14.2	62.5
1999	887	56.0	15.8	79.1
2000	865	55.1	15.7	70.1
2001	866	55.2	15.7	80.8
2002	847	54.5	15.5	99.6
2003	847	54.5	15.5	99.6
2004	916	54.5	16.8	n/a
2005	875	55.4	15.8	n/a
2006	852	55.5	15.4	79.8
2007	892	41.0	21.8	75.4
2008	882	56.3	15.7	84.5
2009	869	53.0	16.4	83.1
2010	846	25.0	33.8	82.4
2011	820	48.0	17.0	80.6
2012	786	51.5	15.2	60.6
2013	789	51.0	15.4	71.2
2014	760	46.4	16.3	78.4
2015	745	45.0	16.5	79.1
2016	748	43.0	17.3	78.1
2017	740	43.8	16.8	72.7
2018	765	39.7	19.2	76.9
2019	770	40.2	19.1	77.3
2020	773	41.9	18.4	78.3
2021	843	46.2	18.2	77.5
2022	797	49.7	16.0	77.5
2023	734	48.7	15.0	77.7

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 McCreary Central 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	$4,671 (28.9%)	$352 (2.2%)	$5,023 (31.1%)	$8,645 (53.5%)	$2,490 (15.4%)	$11,135 (68.9%)	$16,158
2019	$780 (7.4%)	$433 (4.1%)	$1,082 (10.2%)	$8,396 (79.5%)	$2,161 (20.5%)	$10,557 (100.0%)	$10,557
2020	$619 (5.1%)	$405 (3.3%)	$1,026 (8.4%)	$8,101 (66.2%)	$1,685 (13.8%)	$9,784 (79.9%)	$12,245
2021	$449 (3.7%)	$1,200 (9.8%)	$1,650 (13.4%)	$8,461 (68.9%)	$2,779 (22.6%)	$12,143 (98.9%)	$12,280
2022	$1,029 (6.8%)	$1,594 (10.5%)	$2,623 (17.2%)	$10,625 (69.8%)	$3,745 (24.6%)	$14,253 (93.7%)	$15,219

Data source: Kentucky Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on McCreary Central 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 145^th of 285 High schools	Ranks 164^th of 276 High schools	8.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English (McCreary Central High School)	44.5	38	6.5%
11th Grade English (McCreary County)	43.3	38	5.3%
11th Grade English (Kentucky)	49.1	47	2.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (McCreary Central High School)	20.9	18	2.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (McCreary County)	20.3	18	2.3%
11th Grade Mathematics (Kentucky)	36.4	33	3.4%
11th Grade Reading (McCreary Central High School)	44.5	35	9.5%
11th Grade Reading (McCreary County)	43.3	35	8.3%
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	770	734	4.7%
African American	8	4	50%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	2	0	100%
Hispanic	11	9	18.2%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	745	718	3.6%
Two or More Races	3	3
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	77.3%	77.7%	0.4%

Schools Near McCreary Central 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 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 10th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th 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
McCreary Central High School	Public	9-12	400 Raider Way	Stearns	42647	McCreary County	McCreary County	No	No	No	No	(606) 376-5051	734	49	15.0	77.7%	718 (97.8%)	4 (0.5%)	9 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	37.5	183^rd of 290 public high schools	36.9%		41	164^th of 276 public high schools	40.6%	19	28.0	42.0	39.0	41.0	38.0	34.0	12.0	34.0	$15,219	$1,029	$1,594	$2,623	$10,625	$3,745	$14,253
Colonel Academy	Public, Virtual	7-12	300 Main Street	Williamsburg	40769	Whitley County	Whitley County	No	No	Yes	No	(606) 549-7000	97	0		80.4%	94 (96.9%)	1 (1.0%)	2 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5.3	274^th of 290 public high schools	5.5%		4.5	263^rd of 276 public high schools	4.7%	11					14.0	15.0	2.0	10.0
Whitley County Alternative School	Public, Virtual	7-12	351 Boulevard of Champions	Williamsburg	40769	Whitley County	Whitley County	No	No	Yes	No	(606) 549-7050	42	6	7.6	92.9%	41 (97.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Whitley County High School	Public	9-12	350 Blvd of Champions	Williamsburg	40769	Whitley County	Whitley County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 549-7025	980	64	15.4	73.1%	951 (97.0%)	4 (0.4%)	14 (1.4%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (0.9%)	78.8	34^th of 290 public high schools	88.3%		76.7	33^rd of 276 public high schools	88.0%	1	45.0	57.0	59.0	41.0	60.0	64.0	29.0	54.0	$14,934	$1,275	$1,256	$2,531	$8,836	$2,164	$11,001

McCreary Central High School

McCreary Central High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

McCreary County:

What do you think?

Rank History for McCreary Central High School

Rank History for all students at McCreary Central High School

Rank History for Special Education students at McCreary Central High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at McCreary Central High School

Rank History for Female students at McCreary Central High School

Rank History for Disabled students at McCreary Central High School

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at McCreary Central High School

Rank History for Foster Care students at McCreary Central High School

Rank History for Male students at McCreary Central High School

Rank History for White students at McCreary Central High School

Enrollment information for McCreary Central High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at McCreary Central High School

Student/Teacher Ratio McCreary Central High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for McCreary Central High School

Impact of COVID-19 on McCreary Central High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near McCreary Central High School