Total enrollment
4,135
-465 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
Bell County
Kentucky · Public K-12
On the public-school side, Bell County (Kentucky) totals 18 K-12 campuses and roughly 4,135 students. Median household income is around $31,354. By grade band, the county runs 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 9 high schools.
7-year change in Bell County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
93%
was 94%
% Hispanic
1%
was 1%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
18
4 districts
Enrollment
4,135
NCES CCD
Median income
$31,354
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
79.8%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
7
2,328 students
Middle
1
284 students
High
9
992 students
Combined / other
1
531 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Bell County Public Schools
2,436 students · 4 districts in Bell County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Bell 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+
15.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
25.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
10.1%
civilian labor
Median age
42
21.9% under 18
Test scores in Bell County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 11 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Yellow Creek School Center· 62.7%
- Frakes School Center· 60.0%
- Bell County High School· 58.0%
- Middlesboro High School· 56.0%
- Pineville Independent School· 56.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Middlesboro Middle School· 41.8%
- Middlesboro Elementary School· 45.0%
- Page School Center· 53.6%
- Bell Central School Center· 54.0%
- Lone Jack School Center· 54.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell County High School | Pineville | High | 09-12 | 622 | · |
| Yellow Creek School Center | Middlesboro | Elementary | PK-08 | 575 | · |
| Pineville Independent School | Pineville | Combined | PK-12 | 531 | · |
| Middlesboro Elementary School | Middlesboro | Elementary | PK-04 | 514 | · |
| Bell Central School Center | Pineville | Elementary | PK-08 | 502 | · |
| Middlesboro High School | Middlesboro | High | 09-12 | 337 | · |
| Middlesboro Middle School | Middlesboro | Middle | 05-08 | 284 | · |
| Page School Center | Pineville | Elementary | PK-08 | 272 | · |
| Lone Jack School Center | Fourmile | Elementary | PK-08 | 196 | · |
| Right Fork School Center | Stoney Fork | Elementary | PK-08 | 152 | · |
| Frakes School Center | Frakes | Elementary | PK-08 | 117 | · |
| Middlesboro Alternative School | Middlesboro | High | 07-12 | 31 | · |
| Middlesboro Group Home School | Middlesboro | High | 06-12 | 2 | · |
| Bell County Area Technology Center | Pineville | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
| Cumberland Tech - Southeast Campus | Middlesboro | High | UG-UG | 0 | · |
| Cumberland Technical College | Pineville | High | UG-UG | 0 | · |
| Cumberland Valley Health Tech Center | Pineville | High | UG-UG | 0 | · |
| Southeast TECH | Middlesboro | High | UG-UG | 0 | · |
Cities in Bell County
About Bell County
In Kentucky, Bell County is a compact county of about 23,509 residents. 18 public schools across the county instructs about 4,135 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $31,354, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 25% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 45% lower than the Kentucky median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Bell County is made up of 7 elementary schools (2,328 students), 1 middle school (284), 9 high schools (992), and 1 combined or other schools.
Bell County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,436 students across Bell County.
Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 10%: 4,600 students in SY 2017-18 versus 4,135 in SY 2024-25.
On allk12, the community for Bell County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Bell County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data