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Public School Review - Established 2003

Nicholas County School District

395 West Main St.
Carlisle, KY 40311
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
3/
10
Bottom 50%
Tel: (859) 289-3770
www.nicholas.k12.ky.us

Top Rankings

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

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public schools serving 1,080 students in Nicholas County School District. This district's average testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Kentucky.
Public Schools in Nicholas County School District have an average math proficiency score of 31% (versus the Kentucky public school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 7% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Kentucky public school average of 29% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (KY)
# Schools
2 Schools
1,549 Schools
# Students
1,080 Students
655,997 Students
# Teachers
60 Teachers
42,813 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
Pre-K69142
Kind79265
179276
290279
391289
494271
566276
677276
777257
883274
978298
1069295
1166283
1262264
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District Rank

Nicholas County School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% 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 92% has decreased from 95% over five school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (KY)
#133 out of 172 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearNicholas County School District
2023#133
2022#125
2021#139
2019#114
2018#150
2017#110
2016#109
2015#91
2014#145
2013#134
2012#153
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31%
38%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
202331%38%
202233%38%
202122%30%
201944%46%
201835%47%
201738%47%
201641%49%
201539%45%
201436%46%
201332%42%
201226%41%
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37%
45%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
202237%45%
202132%42%
201949%56%
201835%56%
201754%56%
201654%56%
201553%55%
201446%54%
201344%51%
201240%48%
201165%72%
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13%
22%

Science Proficiency Trends

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
202213%22%
202116%24%
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92%
90%

Graduation Rate Trends

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
202392%90%
202292%90%
202192%90%
202092%90%
201995%90%
201895%90%
201795%89%
201695%89%
201592%89%
201490%88%
201392%89%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.14
0.48

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
20240.130.46
20230.130.45
20220.130.44
20210.130.42
20200.120.41
20190.120.41
20180.100.39
20170.100.39
20160.110.38
20150.110.38
20140.110.36
20130.110.35
20120.090.33
20110.070.32
20100.050.32
20090.030.30
20080.030.30
20070.030.28
20060.030.24
20050.030.25
20040.030.24
20030.020.23
20020.020.24
20010.010.25
19950.020.20
19940.060.23
19930.030.18
19920.030.18
19910.030.18
19900.030.18
19890.030.18
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% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
5%
10%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2004-2024)

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
20245%10%
20235%9%
20226%8%
20216%8%
20205%7%
20195%7%
20185%6%
20175%6%
20165%6%
20155%6%
20145%5%
20135%5%
20124%4%
20112%4%
20101%4%
20091%4%
20081%4%
20071%3%
20061%2%
20051%2%
20041%2%
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% Black
1%
11%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
20241%11%
20231%11%
20101%12%
20071%11%
20061%11%
20051%11%
20041%11%
19951%10%
19944%11%
19931%9%
19922%10%
19912%10%
19902%10%
19891%10%
19882%10%
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% White
93%
71%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
202493%72%
202393%73%
202293%74%
202193%75%
202094%76%
201994%76%
201895%77%
201795%77%
201694%78%
201594%78%
201494%79%
201394%80%
201295%81%
201196%82%
201097%82%
200999%83%
200899%83%
200798%84%
200698%86%
200598%86%
200498%86%
200399%87%
200299%87%
2001100%86%
2000100%87%
1999100%87%
1998100%88%
1997100%88%
1996100%89%
199599%89%
199496%87%
199399%90%
199298%90%
199198%90%
199098%90%
198999%90%
198898%90%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
6%

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

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
20241%5%
20231%5%
20221%5%
20211%4%
20201%4%
20191%4%
20161%3%
20151%3%
20141%3%
20131%3%
20121%2%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,229 in this school district is less than the state median of $14,269. The school district revenue/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,706 is less than the state median of $14,008. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (KY)
Total Revenue
$15 MM
$9,360 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
2023$15 MM$31 MM
2022$13 MM$28 MM
2021$15 MM$31 MM
2020$13 MM$28 MM
2019$14 MM$29 MM
2018$14 MM$28 MM
2017$14 MM$27 MM
2016$12 MM$26 MM
2015$12 MM$24 MM
2014$11 MM$25 MM
2012$12 MM$25 MM
2011$11 MM$25 MM
2010$12 MM$24 MM
2009$12 MM$24 MM
2008$11 MM$23 MM
2007$10 MM$21 MM
2006$10 MM$21 MM
2005$9 MM$19 MM
2004$8 MM$18 MM
2003$8 MM$17 MM
2002$8 MM$16 MM
2001$8 MM$16 MM
2000$8 MM$15 MM
1999$8 MM$15 MM
1998$7 MM$13 MM
1997$7 MM$13 MM
1996$7 MM$12 MM
1995$8 MM$12 MM
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Spending
$13 MM
$9,189 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
2023$13 MM$31 MM
2022$13 MM$30 MM
2021$13 MM$31 MM
2020$13 MM$30 MM
2019$13 MM$29 MM
2018$18 MM$29 MM
2017$23 MM$27 MM
2016$13 MM$26 MM
2015$17 MM$24 MM
2014$10 MM$24 MM
2012$12 MM$25 MM
2011$15 MM$25 MM
2010$17 MM$24 MM
2009$11 MM$23 MM
2008$10 MM$23 MM
2007$9 MM$23 MM
2006$9 MM$21 MM
2005$9 MM$20 MM
2004$8 MM$18 MM
2003$8 MM$17 MM
2002$8 MM$16 MM
2001$8 MM$15 MM
2000$10 MM$16 MM
1999$9 MM$15 MM
1998$7 MM$14 MM
1997$7 MM$14 MM
1996$7 MM$13 MM
1995$6 MM$12 MM
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Revenue / Student
$14,229
$14,269

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
2023$13,733$14,017
2022$11,930$12,277
2021$14,085$13,947
2020$11,930$12,277
2019$12,468$12,601
2018$12,569$12,004
2017$12,053$11,655
2016$9,914$11,340
2015$10,034$10,260
2014$10,528$10,525
2012$9,617$10,538
2011$9,445$10,815
2010$9,529$10,260
2009$9,429$10,129
2008$8,670$9,593
2007$8,222$9,177
2006$7,659$8,595
2005$7,131$8,058
2004$6,855$7,571
2003$6,719$7,233
2002$6,664$6,765
2001$6,891$6,804
2000$6,656$6,297
1999$6,254$6,223
1998$5,794$5,571
1997$5,780$5,719
1995$5,885$5,143
1992$3,927$3,961
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Spending / Student
$11,706
$14,008

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearNicholas County School DistrictKentucky
2023$11,298$14,031
2022$11,222$13,046
2021$11,588$13,961
2020$11,222$13,046
2019$11,813$12,743
2018$16,354$12,248
2017$19,230$11,623
2016$11,313$11,206
2015$14,528$10,180
2014$9,849$10,401
2012$9,864$10,497
2011$12,358$10,742
2010$13,797$10,180
2009$9,054$9,906
2008$8,055$9,747
2007$7,579$9,749
2006$6,993$8,847
2005$6,905$8,358
2004$6,560$7,657
2003$6,316$7,021
2002$6,383$6,829
2001$6,355$6,553
2000$8,178$6,848
1999$7,443$6,265
1998$5,662$5,710
1997$5,500$6,044
1995$4,990$4,886
1992$3,705$3,804
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Best Nicholas County School District Public Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Nicholas County High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
103 School Dr
Carlisle, KY 40311
(859) 289-3780
Gr: 7-12 | 435 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #22.
Nicholas County Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
133 School Drive
Carlisle, KY 40311
(859) 289-3785
Gr: PK-6 | 645 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 8%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Nicholas County School District?
Nicholas County School District manages 2 public schools serving 1,080 students.
What is the rank of Nicholas County School District?
Nicholas County School District is ranked #136 out of 171 school districts in Kentucky (bottom 50%) 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 graduation rate (Top 20%)
What is the racial composition of students in Nicholas County School District?
93% of Nicholas County School District students are White, 5% of students are Hispanic, 1% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Nicholas County School District?
Nicholas County School District has a student/teacher ratio of 18:1, which is higher than the Kentucky state average of 15:1.
What is Nicholas County School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $11,706 is less than the state median of $14,008. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 2 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 1,080 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 7%
  • : 92% (Top 20% in KY)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 31% (Btm 50%)
  • : 37% (Btm 50%)
  • : 13% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), KY Dept. of Education

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