Total enrollment
4,310
-486 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
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.
7-year change in Harlan County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
+1 (+8%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
93%
was 95%
% Hispanic
2%
was 1%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
15
3 districts
Enrollment
4,310
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 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment fell 10%: 4,796 students in SY 2017-18 versus 4,310 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 12 to 13 across the same 7-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
Harlan County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data