Total enrollment
1,015
-305 (-23%) vs SY 2017-18
Ballard County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Ballard County's 5 public schools sit inside Kentucky and collectively enroll about 1,015 K-12 students across 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high.
7-year change in Ballard County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
4
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
86%
was 90%
% Hispanic
2%
was 2%
% Black
3%
was 3%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
5
1 districts
Enrollment
1,015
NCES CCD
Median income
$66,164
Above Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
58.5%
Below Kentucky avg
Elementary
2
537 students
Middle
1
202 students
High
2
276 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Ballard County Public Schools
1,015 students · 1 district in Ballard County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Ballard County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
18.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.6%
civilian labor
Median age
45
19.9% under 18
Test scores in Ballard County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard County Elementary School | Barlow | Elementary | KG-05 | 444 | · |
| Ballard Memorial High School | Barlow | High | 09-12 | 276 | · |
| Ballard County Middle School | Barlow | Middle | 06-08 | 202 | · |
| Ballard Co. Preschool/Headstart Center | Barlow | Elementary | PK-PK | 93 | · |
| Ballard County Career and Technology Ctr | Barlow | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Ballard County
About Ballard County
Across the low-population Kentucky county of Ballard County of about 7,654 residents, the public-school footprint covers 5 schools and about 1,015 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $66,164 a year, roughly 18% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 11%. That income level is 16% meaningfully above the Kentucky median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Ballard County is built around 2 elementary schools (537 students), 1 middle school (202), and 2 high schools (276).
Ballard County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,015 students across Ballard County.
Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment fell 23%: 1,320 students in SY 2017-18 versus 1,015 in SY 2024-25. Demographically, the White share of enrollment declined from 90% to 86%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Ballard County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data