Total enrollment
4,310
-171 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Harlan County
Kentucky · Public K-12
15 public K-12 schools, roughly 4,310 students, one county, 25,772 residents. That is Harlan County, Kentucky on the numbers. The level mix is 10 elementary and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Harlan County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
+1 (+8%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Harlan County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 43.3% | #46 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,310 | #40 of 110 | #1,471 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 13 | #30 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.9:1 | #11 of 110 | #1,297 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 75.8% | #9 of 110 | #575 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 13.4% | #80 of 110 | #2,410 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.
Harlan County school rankings
Residents
25,772
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
15
3 districts
Enrollment
4,310
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$41,693
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
75.8%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
10
2,810 students
Middle
0
schools
High
5
1,500 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Harlan County Public Schools
3,310 students · 3 districts in Harlan County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Harlan 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+
13.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
21.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
9.5%
civilian labor
Median age
41
23.7% under 18
Test scores in Harlan County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 11 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Green Hills Elementary School· 62.8%
- Harlan Elementary School· 62.0%
- James A. Cawood Elementary· 62.0%
- Rosspoint Elementary School· 55.5%
- Evarts Elementary School· 54.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Harlan County High School· 25.0%
- Wallins Elementary School· 40.3%
- Black Mountain Elementary School· 45.8%
- Harlan High School· 51.4%
- Cawood Elementary School· 51.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan County High School | Baxter | High | 09-12 | 945 | · |
| Harlan High School | Harlan | High | 05-12 | 455 | · |
| Cumberland Elementary School | Cumberland | Elementary | PK-08 | 428 | · |
| Rosspoint Elementary School | Baxter | Elementary | KG-08 | 369 | · |
| Wallins Elementary School | Wallins | Elementary | PK-08 | 352 | · |
| Evarts Elementary School | Evarts | Elementary | PK-08 | 335 | · |
| Harlan Elementary School | Harlan | Elementary | KG-04 | 335 | · |
| James A. Cawood Elementary | Harlan | Elementary | PK-08 | 277 | · |
| Black Mountain Elementary School | Evarts | Elementary | PK-08 | 248 | · |
| Cawood Elementary School | Cawood | Elementary | PK-08 | 209 | · |
| Green Hills Elementary School | Bledsoe | Elementary | PK-08 | 147 | · |
| Sunshine School | Harlan | Elementary | PK-PK | 110 | · |
| Appalachian Challenge Academy | Grays Knob | High | 09-12 | 100 | · |
| Cumberland Tech - Harlan Campus | Harlan | High | UG-UG | 0 | · |
| Kentucky TECH - Harlan Regional Tech Ctr | Harlan | High | UG-UG | 0 | · |
Cities in Harlan County
About Harlan County
Harlan County is a low-population county of about 25,772 residents in Kentucky. Its public-school system instructs approximately 4,310 students across 15 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $41,693, roughly 13% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 21% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 27% noticeably below the Kentucky median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Harlan County is made up of 10 elementary schools (2,810 students), and 5 high schools (1,500).
Harlan County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,310 students across Harlan County.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment fell 4%: 4,481 students in SY 2020-21 versus 4,310 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 12 to 13 across the same 4-year window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Harlan County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data