Total enrollment
3,416
-34 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Bourbon County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Bourbon County's public-school directory totals 10 campuses, with student enrollment near 3,416. Bourbon County Public Schools is the largest district. Median household income runs around $61,354. By level, that breaks down as 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
4-year change in Bourbon County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Bourbon County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 31.6% | #99 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,416 | #52 of 110 | #1,705 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 10 | #39 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.3:1 | #82 of 110 | #2,134 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 65.9% | #36 of 110 | #865 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 48.5% | #11 of 110 | #1,173 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Bourbon County school rankings
Residents
20,240
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
10
2 districts
Enrollment
3,416
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$61,354
Above Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
65.9%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
6
1,650 students
Middle
2
735 students
High
2
1,031 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Bourbon County Public Schools
2,557 students · 2 districts in Bourbon County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Bourbon 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+
26.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.2%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.8% under 18
Test scores in Bourbon County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Paris Elementary School· 25.0%
- Paris High School· 28.0%
- Paris Middle School· 28.0%
- Bourbon County Middle School· 35.7%
- Cane Ridge Elementary School· 36.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon County High School | Paris | High | 09-12 | 764 | · |
| Bourbon County Middle School | Paris | Middle | 06-08 | 555 | · |
| Bourbon Central Elementary School | Paris | Elementary | KG-05 | 459 | · |
| Cane Ridge Elementary School | Paris | Elementary | KG-05 | 453 | · |
| Paris Elementary School | Paris | Elementary | KG-05 | 346 | · |
| Paris High School | Paris | High | 09-12 | 267 | · |
| Bourbon County Preschool Headstart | Paris | Elementary | PK-PK | 198 | · |
| Paris Middle School | Paris | Middle | 06-08 | 180 | · |
| North Middletown Elementary School | North Middletown | Elementary | KG-05 | 128 | · |
| Paris Preschool Center | Paris | Elementary | PK-PK | 66 | · |
Cities in Bourbon County
About Bourbon County
Across the rural-scale Kentucky county of Bourbon County of about 20,240 residents, the public-school footprint covers 10 schools and about 3,416 students.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $61,354, roughly 26% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 8% meaningfully above the Kentucky median.
In terms of grade levels, Bourbon County is made up of 6 elementary schools (1,650 students), 2 middle schools (735), and 2 high schools (1,031).
Bourbon County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,557 students across Bourbon County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 3,450 students in SY 2020-21 versus 3,416 in SY 2024-25.
On allk12, the community for Bourbon County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data