Total enrollment
3,980
-231 (-5%) vs SY 2020-21
Carter County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Carter County number 12 per the most recent NCES data, averaging about 332 students per school. By grade band, the county runs 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
4-year change in Carter County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Carter County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 39.3% | #65 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,980 | #48 of 110 | #1,537 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 11 | #36 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.5:1 | #87 of 110 | #2,192 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 64.7% | #39 of 110 | #917 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 8.5% | #94 of 110 | #2,559 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.
Carter County school rankings
Residents
26,341
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
12
1 districts
Enrollment
3,980
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$51,235
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
64.7%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
6
1,867 students
Middle
2
882 students
High
3
1,184 students
Combined / other
1
47 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Carter County Public Schools
3,980 students · 1 district in Carter County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Carter 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+
15.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.3%
civilian labor
Median age
41
22.6% under 18
Test scores in Carter County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Carter City Elementary School· 76.0%
- Star Elementary School· 55.3%
- Prichard Elementary School· 52.0%
- West Carter County High School· 52.0%
- Tygart Creek Elementary School· 48.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- East Carter Middle School· 37.7%
- West Carter Middle School· 38.0%
- Olive Hill Elementary School· 42.3%
- East Carter County High School· 44.0%
- Heritage Elementary School· 44.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Carter County High School | Grayson | High | 09-12 | 678 | · |
| Prichard Elementary School | Grayson | Elementary | PK-05 | 612 | · |
| West Carter County High School | Olive Hill | High | 09-12 | 506 | · |
| East Carter Middle School | Grayson | Middle | 06-08 | 490 | · |
| West Carter Middle School | Olive Hill | Middle | 06-08 | 392 | · |
| Olive Hill Elementary School | Olive Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 360 | · |
| Heritage Elementary School | Grayson | Elementary | PK-05 | 336 | · |
| Tygart Creek Elementary School | Olive Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 318 | · |
| Star Elementary School | Rush | Elementary | PK-05 | 124 | · |
| Carter City Elementary School | Grayson | Elementary | PK-05 | 117 | · |
| Carter Virtual Academy | Olive Hill | Combined | KG-12 | 47 | · |
| Carter County Career and Technical Center | Olive Hill | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Carter County
About Carter County
Across the compact Kentucky county of Carter County of about 26,341 residents, the public-school footprint covers 12 schools and about 3,980 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $51,235, about 16% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 16%. That income level is 10% meaningfully below the Kentucky median.
For a sense of the school types, Carter County is built around 6 elementary schools (1,867 students), 2 middle schools (882), 3 high schools (1,184), and 1 combined or other schools.
Carter County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,980 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Carter County has shrank 5% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 4,211 students to 3,980.
On allk12, the community for Carter 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