Total enrollment
2,042
-248 (-11%) vs SY 2017-18
Breathitt County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Inside Breathitt County, Kentucky, public K-12 schools number 9 and serve about 2,042 students out of a population of 13,276. The level mix is 3 elementary and 4 high schools.
7-year change in Breathitt County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
7
-2 (-22%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
98%
was 98%
% Hispanic
1%
was 1%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
9
3 districts
Enrollment
2,042
NCES CCD
Median income
$34,808
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
71.1%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
3
948 students
Middle
0
schools
High
4
723 students
Combined / other
2
371 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Breathitt County Public Schools
1,671 students · 3 districts in Breathitt County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Breathitt 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+
15.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
27.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
9.3%
civilian labor
Median age
43
21.2% under 18
Test scores in Breathitt County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 4 schools (ELA)
- Highland-Turner Elementary School· 62.0%
- Jackson City School· 38.7%
- Sebastian Elementary School· 38.3%
- Breathitt County High School· 38.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breathitt County High School | Jackson | High | 07-12 | 669 | · |
| Sebastian Elementary School | Jackson | Elementary | 03-06 | 393 | · |
| Breathitt Elementary | Jackson | Elementary | PK-02 | 371 | · |
| Jackson City School | Jackson | Combined | PK-12 | 371 | · |
| Highland-Turner Elementary School | Booneville | Elementary | PK-06 | 184 | · |
| Breathitt Regional School | Jackson | High | 06-12 | 36 | · |
| Breathitt Learning Academy | Jackson | High | 06-12 | 18 | · |
| Breathitt County Area Technology Center | Jackson | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
| Marie Roberts-Caney Elementary School | Lost Creek | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Breathitt County
About Breathitt County
Breathitt County is a compact Kentucky county of about 13,276 residents, home to 9 public schools and roughly 2,042 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $34,808, 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 28% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 39% noticeably below the Kentucky median.
On the school-mix side, Breathitt County consists of 3 elementary schools (948 students), 4 high schools (723), and 2 combined or other schools.
Breathitt County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,671 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 11%: 2,290 students in SY 2017-18 versus 2,042 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Breathitt County closed 2 schools, going from 9 to 7.
On this page, the community for Breathitt County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Breathitt County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data