Total enrollment
42,142
+973 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Fayette County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Fayette County, Kentucky hosts 81 public K-12 schools and around 42,142 students, averaging roughly 520 per school. Fayette County Public Schools runs the largest share. The level mix is 44 elementary, 12 middle, and 24 high schools.
4-year change in Fayette County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
73
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Fayette County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 45.5% | #31 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 42,142 | #2 of 110 | #258 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 73 | #2 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.0:1 | #14 of 110 | #1,346 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 50.3% | #99 of 110 | #1,605 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 71.5% | #2 of 110 | #62 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.
Fayette County school rankings
Residents
323,725
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
81
2 districts
Enrollment
42,142
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$69,479
Above Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
50.3%
Below Kentucky avg
Elementary
44
19,868 students
Middle
12
8,890 students
High
24
13,384 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Fayette County Public Schools
42,105 students · 2 districts in Fayette County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Fayette 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+
48.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.9%
civilian labor
Median age
35
21.0% under 18
Test scores in Fayette County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 55 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Scapa At Bluegrass· 86.0%
- Clays Mill Elementary School· 78.0%
- Rosa Parks Elementary School· 76.0%
- Cassidy Elementary School· 75.0%
- Athens-Chilesburg Elementary· 74.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Fayette County
About Fayette County
Fayette County is a population-heavy Kentucky county of about 323,725 residents, home to 81 public schools and roughly 42,142 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $69,479, 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 9%. That income level is 22% above the Kentucky median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Fayette County consists of 44 elementary schools (19,868 students), 12 middle schools (8,890), 24 high schools (13,384), and 1 combined or other schools.
Fayette County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 42,105 students across Fayette County.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment stayed largely flat: 41,169 students in SY 2020-21 versus 42,142 in SY 2024-25.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Fayette County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data