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Public School Review - Established 2003

Ballard County School District

11 Vocational School Road
Barlow, KY 42024
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
9/
10
Top 20%
Tel: (270) 665-8400
www.ballard.k12.ky.us

Top Rankings

Ballard County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Kentucky for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public schools serving 1,015 students in Ballard County School District. This district's average testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public schools in Kentucky.
Public Schools in Ballard County School District have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Kentucky public school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the Kentucky public school average of 29% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (KY)
# Schools
5 Schools
1,549 Schools
# Students
1,015 Students
655,997 Students
# Teachers
66 Teachers
42,813 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeBallard County School DistrictKentucky
Pre-K93142
Kind80265
179276
277279
378289
463271
567276
670276
770257
862274
981298
1065295
1182283
1248264
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District Rank

Ballard County School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 171 school districts in Kentucky (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 85-89% has decreased from 90-94% over five school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (KY)
#32 out of 172 school districts
(Top 20%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearBallard County School District
2023#32
2022#44
2021#67
2019#93
2018#74
2017#58
2016#60
2015#56
2014#35
2013#71
2012#51
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42%
38%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
202342%38%
202238%38%
202131%30%
201943%46%
201845%47%
201747%47%
201646%49%
201543%45%
201451%46%
201338%42%
201243%41%
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55%
45%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
202255%45%
202140%42%
201956%56%
201845%56%
201759%56%
201660%56%
201559%55%
201459%54%
201353%51%
201250%48%
201178%72%
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22%
22%

Science Proficiency Trends

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
202222%22%
202122%24%
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(21-22)
85-89%
90%

Graduation Rate Trends

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
202287%90%
202192%90%
202092%90%
201995%90%
201895%90%
201792%89%
201692%89%
201592%89%
201492%88%
201392%89%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.26
0.48

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
20240.250.46
20230.230.45
20220.210.44
20210.210.42
20200.200.41
20190.200.41
20180.190.39
20170.190.39
20160.180.38
20150.180.38
20140.180.36
20130.170.35
20120.150.33
20110.150.32
20100.120.32
20090.110.30
20080.100.30
20070.100.28
20060.080.24
20050.100.25
20040.100.24
20030.080.23
20020.100.24
20010.110.25
20000.110.23
19990.090.23
19980.080.22
19970.090.22
19960.090.20
19950.070.20
19940.090.23
19930.080.18
19920.100.18
19910.090.18
19900.080.18
19890.080.18
19880.090.18
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% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
2%
10%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2001-2024)

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
20243%10%
20232%9%
20222%8%
20212%8%
20202%7%
20192%7%
20181%6%
20171%6%
20161%6%
20151%6%
20141%5%
20131%5%
20121%4%
20111%4%
20101%4%
20092%4%
20071%3%
20051%2%
20041%2%
20021%1%
20011%1%
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% Black
3%
11%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
20242%11%
20232%11%
20222%11%
20213%11%
20203%11%
20193%11%
20184%11%
20174%11%
20163%11%
20154%11%
20144%11%
20134%11%
20123%11%
20115%11%
20105%12%
20094%11%
20085%11%
20075%11%
20064%11%
20054%11%
20045%11%
20034%11%
20024%10%
20014%11%
20005%11%
19994%11%
19984%10%
19974%10%
19964%10%
19954%10%
19945%11%
19934%9%
19925%10%
19915%10%
19904%10%
19893%10%
19884%10%
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% White
86%
71%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
202486%72%
202387%73%
202289%74%
202189%75%
202090%76%
201990%76%
201890%77%
201790%77%
201691%78%
201591%78%
201491%79%
201391%80%
201292%81%
201192%82%
201094%82%
200994%83%
200895%83%
200794%84%
200696%86%
200595%86%
200494%86%
200396%87%
200295%87%
200195%86%
200094%87%
199995%87%
199896%88%
199795%88%
199695%89%
199596%89%
199495%87%
199396%90%
199295%90%
199195%90%
199096%90%
198996%90%
198896%90%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
9%
6%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2012-2024)

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
20248%5%
20239%5%
20227%5%
20216%4%
20205%4%
20195%4%
20185%4%
20175%4%
20165%3%
20154%3%
20144%3%
20134%3%
20124%2%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $17,551 is higher than the state median of $14,269. The school district revenue/student has grown by 24% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,609 is higher than the state median of $14,008. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (KY)
Total Revenue
$18 MM
$9,360 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
2023$18 MM$31 MM
2022$17 MM$28 MM
2021$18 MM$31 MM
2020$17 MM$28 MM
2019$17 MM$29 MM
2018$17 MM$28 MM
2017$17 MM$27 MM
2016$17 MM$26 MM
2015$16 MM$24 MM
2014$16 MM$25 MM
2012$17 MM$25 MM
2011$17 MM$25 MM
2010$16 MM$24 MM
2009$14 MM$24 MM
2008$15 MM$23 MM
2007$15 MM$21 MM
2006$14 MM$21 MM
2005$14 MM$19 MM
2004$11 MM$18 MM
2003$11 MM$17 MM
2002$10 MM$16 MM
2001$10 MM$16 MM
2000$10 MM$15 MM
1999$9 MM$15 MM
1998$9 MM$13 MM
1997$9 MM$13 MM
1996$8 MM$12 MM
1995$8 MM$12 MM
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Spending
$16 MM
$9,189 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
2023$16 MM$31 MM
2022$17 MM$30 MM
2021$16 MM$31 MM
2020$17 MM$30 MM
2019$14 MM$29 MM
2018$15 MM$29 MM
2017$17 MM$27 MM
2016$15 MM$26 MM
2015$16 MM$24 MM
2014$14 MM$24 MM
2012$15 MM$25 MM
2011$17 MM$25 MM
2010$16 MM$24 MM
2009$14 MM$23 MM
2008$15 MM$23 MM
2007$17 MM$23 MM
2006$20 MM$21 MM
2005$20 MM$20 MM
2004$11 MM$18 MM
2003$10 MM$17 MM
2002$10 MM$16 MM
2001$9 MM$15 MM
2000$9 MM$16 MM
1999$9 MM$15 MM
1998$8 MM$14 MM
1997$8 MM$14 MM
1996$8 MM$13 MM
1995$8 MM$12 MM
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Revenue / Student
$17,551
$14,269

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
2023$16,933$14,017
2022$14,147$12,277
2021$15,991$13,947
2020$14,147$12,277
2019$13,603$12,601
2018$12,695$12,004
2017$12,084$11,655
2016$12,107$11,340
2015$10,964$10,260
2014$11,536$10,525
2012$11,506$10,538
2011$11,603$10,815
2010$10,657$10,260
2009$9,777$10,129
2008$10,665$9,593
2007$10,648$9,177
2006$9,531$8,595
2005$9,123$8,058
2004$7,470$7,571
2003$7,253$7,233
2002$6,932$6,765
2001$6,659$6,804
2000$6,411$6,297
1999$6,218$6,223
1998$5,821$5,571
1997$6,146$5,719
1995$5,600$5,143
1992$4,076$3,961
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Spending / Student
$15,609
$14,008

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearBallard County School DistrictKentucky
2023$15,060$14,031
2022$14,643$13,046
2021$14,222$13,961
2020$14,643$13,046
2019$11,290$12,743
2018$11,574$12,248
2017$12,277$11,623
2016$11,024$11,206
2015$11,318$10,180
2014$10,195$10,401
2012$10,111$10,497
2011$11,499$10,742
2010$11,002$10,180
2009$9,841$9,906
2008$10,703$9,747
2007$12,162$9,749
2006$13,261$8,847
2005$12,911$8,358
2004$7,269$7,657
2003$6,307$7,021
2002$6,758$6,829
2001$6,319$6,553
2000$6,095$6,848
1999$5,799$6,265
1998$5,599$5,710
1997$5,726$6,044
1995$5,674$4,886
1992$4,009$3,804
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Best Ballard County School District Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Ballard Memorial High School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3561 Paducah Rd
Barlow, KY 42024
(270) 665-8400
Gr: 9-12 | 276 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #22.
Ballard County Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3383 Paducah Rd
Barlow, KY 42024
(270) 665-8400
Gr: K-5 | 444 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #33.
Ballard County Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3561 Paducah Rd
Barlow, KY 42024
(270) 665-8400
Gr: 6-8 | 202 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: n/an/a
Ballard Co. Preschool/headstart Center
3383 Paducah Road
Barlow, KY 42024
(270) 665-8400
Gr: PK | 93 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: n/an/a
Ballard County Career And Technology Center
Vocational School
11 Vocational School Rd
Barlow, KY 42024
(270) 665-8400
Gr: 9-12

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Ballard County School District?
Ballard County School District manages 5 public schools serving 1,015 students.
What is the rank of Ballard County School District?
Ballard County School District is ranked #31 out of 171 school districts in Kentucky (top 20%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Kentucky school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 20%) and Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
What is the racial composition of students in Ballard County School District?
86% of Ballard County School District students are White, 9% of students are Two or more races, 3% of students are Black, and 2% of students are Hispanic.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Ballard County School District?
Ballard County School District has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is equal to the Kentucky state average of 15:1.
What is Ballard County School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $15,609 is higher than the state median of $14,008. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 5 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 1,015 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 14%
  • : 85-89% (Btm 50% in KY)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 42% (Top 30%)
  • : 55% (Top 20%)
  • : 22% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), KY Dept. of Education

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