Total enrollment
6,634
-327 (-5%) vs SY 2020-21
Boyd County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Public education in Boyd County reaches 6,634 students across 25 schools. Ashland Independent is the largest district at 3,083 students. By grade band, the county runs 12 elementary, 2 middle, and 9 high schools.
4-year change in Boyd County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
21
-1 (-5%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Boyd County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 40.3% | #63 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 6,634 | #26 of 110 | #1,098 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 21 | #12 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.4:1 | #5 of 110 | #1,065 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 62.9% | #45 of 110 | #977 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 21.1% | #63 of 110 | #2,110 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.
Boyd County school rankings
Residents
47,911
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
25
4 districts
Enrollment
6,634
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$61,118
Above Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
62.9%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
12
3,319 students
Middle
2
1,289 students
High
9
2,002 students
Combined / other
2
24 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Ashland Independent
3,083 students · 4 districts in Boyd County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Boyd 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+
20.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.4%
civilian labor
Median age
42
21.2% under 18
Test scores in Boyd County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 15 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Ponderosa Elementary School· 57.7%
- Hager Elementary School· 57.3%
- Paul G. Blazer High School· 55.0%
- Crabbe Elementary School· 49.3%
- Boyd County High School· 49.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Fairview High School· 34.0%
- Fairview Elementary School· 38.3%
- Boyd County Middle School· 41.3%
- Cannonsburg Elementary School· 41.7%
- Charles Russell Elementary School· 45.3%
Cities in Boyd County
About Boyd County
Across the low-population Kentucky county of Boyd County of about 47,911 residents, the public-school footprint covers 25 schools and about 6,634 students.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $61,118, roughly 20% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 12% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 7% noticeably above the Kentucky median.
In terms of grade levels, Boyd County is made up of 12 elementary schools (3,319 students), 2 middle schools (1,289), 9 high schools (2,002), and 2 combined or other schools.
Ashland Independent is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,083 students across Boyd County.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment declined 5%: 6,961 students in SY 2020-21 versus 6,634 in SY 2024-25. Boyd County now counts 21 public schools, down from 22 in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Boyd County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data