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ENROLLMENT TRENDS · KENTUCKY

Kentucky schools in decline

Kentucky public schools with the largest enrollment loss from 2017-18 to 2024-25.

Schools in this report
50
steepest declines in state
Largest drop
-80%
Young Elementary
Range
-80% to -32%
2017-18 → 2024-25
TOP 50 KY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY ENROLLMENT LOSS · 2017-18 → 2024-25
SchoolCityDistrict2017-182024-25% change ↑
Young ElementaryLOUISVILLEJefferson County509100-80.4%
BrooklawnLOUISVILLEJefferson County11828-76.3%
Hager PreschoolOWENSBOROOwensboro Independent356120-66.3%
Liberty HighLOUISVILLEJefferson County262100-61.8%
Pine Knot IntermediatePINE KNOTMcCreary County921352-61.8%
Shelby AcademyLOUISVILLEJefferson County730290-60.3%
Owensboro Innovation Middle SchoolOWENSBOROOwensboro Independent753311-58.7%
Churchill Park SchoolLOUISVILLEJefferson County15374-51.6%
Kathryn Winn PrimaryCARROLLTONCarroll County467233-50.1%
Coleridge-Taylor Montessori ElementaryLOUISVILLEJefferson County606315-48.0%
DuValle Education CenterLOUISVILLEJefferson County274143-47.8%
Herald Whitaker Middle SchoolSALYERSVILLEMagoffin County497260-47.7%
The New Haven SchoolNEW HAVENNelson County304162-46.7%
Foster Traditional AcademyLOUISVILLEJefferson County581317-45.4%
Russellville High SchoolRUSSELLVILLERussellville Independent552304-44.9%
Western HighLOUISVILLEJefferson County739409-44.7%
Byck ElementaryLOUISVILLEJefferson County484272-43.8%
Lexington Trad Magnet SchoolLEXINGTONFayette County505284-43.8%
Zachary Taylor ElementaryLOUISVILLEJefferson County461260-43.6%
Nelson County Early Learning CenterBARDSTOWNNelson County264150-43.2%
Newburg MiddleLOUISVILLEJefferson County1,073615-42.7%
North Livingston Elementary SchoolBURNALivingston County193113-41.5%
Duff-Allen Central ElementaryEASTERNFloyd County637376-41.0%
Latonia Elementary SchoolCOVINGTONCovington Independent392233-40.6%
Johnson Traditional MiddleLOUISVILLEJefferson County868516-40.6%
Elliott County High SchoolSANDY HOOKElliott County490293-40.2%
Dawson Orman Education CenterLOUISVILLEJefferson County248149-39.9%
Wurtland Middle SchoolWURTLANDGreenup County336202-39.9%
Marion County Middle SchoolLEBANONMarion County481290-39.7%
Waller-Williams EnvironmentalLOUISVILLEJefferson County10564-39.0%
Fairview High SchoolASHLANDFairview Independent420257-38.8%
Peace AcademyLOUISVILLEJefferson County172107-37.8%
Julius Marks Elementary SchoolLEXINGTONFayette County709444-37.4%
Big Creek ElementaryONEIDAClay County216136-37.0%
Anne Mason Elementary SchoolGEORGETOWNScott County615390-36.6%
Catlettsburg Elementary SchoolCATLETTSBURGBoyd County287184-35.9%
White Hall Elementary SchoolRICHMONDMadison County566364-35.7%
Mcferran Preparatory AcademyLOUISVILLEJefferson County906584-35.5%
Fleming Neon Middle SchoolNEONLetcher County202131-35.1%
Martin County Middle SchoolWARFIELDMartin County399262-34.3%
Feds Creek Elementary SchoolFEDSCREEKPike County207136-34.3%
Lebanon Middle SchoolLEBANONMarion County502330-34.3%
Arnett Elementary SchoolERLANGERErlanger-Elsmere Independent381253-33.6%
Fallsburg Elementary SchoolLOUISALawrence County286190-33.6%
Martha Jane Potter Elementary SchoolWHITESBURGLetcher County410273-33.4%
Waynesburg Elementary SchoolWAYNESBURGLincoln County291194-33.3%
Park City Elementary SchoolPARK CITYBarren County433290-33.0%
Central Elementary SchoolBARBOURVILLEKnox County464313-32.5%
Sebastian Elementary SchoolJACKSONBreathitt County581393-32.4%
Dewitt Elementary SchoolFLAT LICKKnox County177120-32.2%
50 of 50 rows · Brick-and-mortar only. Virtual, online, and cyber schools excluded. Schools must have had ≥100 students in 2017-18 and be open in both school years.↓ Download schools-in-decline-by-state-ky.csv

How this list was built

Every Kentucky public school that reported total enrollment in both the NCES SY 2017-18 and SY 2024-25 vintages was scored on percent change in enrollment. Schools needed at least 100 students in 2017-18 to qualify, and must have been open in both school years. Schools that closed entirely are tracked in the separate school closures report. Virtual academies, cyber charters, and online schools are excluded so the list reflects neighborhood schools that families have moved away from rather than program-design changes.

Enrollment loss is not a verdict on a school. Schools shrink because catchment populations shrink, because new schools open nearby, because a magnet program elsewhere pulls transfers, because districts redraw boundaries, or because the building physically aged out. Use this list as a starting point for understanding which Kentucky schools are operating with substantially fewer students than they were seven years ago.

Source data

NCES Common Core of Data, EDGE_ADMINDATA_PUBLICSCH MapServer, vintages 2017-18 and 2024-25. Refreshed yearly when NCES publishes a new admin-data release. School names, slugs, and current district affiliation come from the 2024-25 snapshot.

HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT

Anyone is welcome to cite or republish these findings. Please credit allk12.com and link back to this page so readers can verify the underlying data.

allk12 (2026). "Kentucky schools in decline: enrollment loss 2017–2024." Retrieved from https://allk12.com/reports/in-decline/kentucky
For interview requests or custom data pulls: [email protected]
DOWNLOAD THE DATA
↓ schools-in-decline-by-state-ky.csv
RELATED
Kentucky schools on the rise · All Kentucky schools · Best Kentucky schools · All states
DATA NOTICE

allk12 is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCES, the US Census Bureau, any state education agency or assessment program, or any other government agency. Source data is compiled from public records and provided "as is," without warranty of accuracy or completeness. You rely on it, and any analysis derived from it, at your own risk. See the full disclaimer.