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Johnson County

Kentucky · Public K-12

Of the public K-12 schools operating across Kentucky, 14 sit inside Johnson County, collectively enrolling roughly 4,044 students (6 elementary, 1 middle, and 5 high).

7-year change in Johnson County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
4,044
-359 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
10
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
96%
was 98%
% Hispanic
2%
was 1%
% Black
1%
was 0%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
14
2 districts
Enrollment
4,044
NCES CCD
Median income
$44,904
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
60.9%
Below Kentucky avg
Elementary
6
2,229 students
Middle
1
449 students
High
5
1,206 students
Combined / other
2
160 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Johnson County Public Schools
3,292 students · 2 districts in Johnson County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Johnson 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
White
94%
Hispanic
1%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
96%
Hispanic
2%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
1%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
16.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
15.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.2%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.2% under 18

Test scores in Johnson County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.

See all 9 schools in Johnson County ranked by score →

All schools (14)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Johnson Central High SchoolPaintsvilleHigh09-12888·
Johnson County Middle SchoolPaintsvilleMiddle07-08449·
Paintsville Elementary SchoolPaintsvilleElementaryPK-06434·
Porter Elementary SchoolHagerhillElementaryPK-06431·
Highland Elementary SchoolStaffordsvilleElementaryPK-06392·
W R Castle Memorial Elementary SchoolWittensvilleElementaryPK-06390·
Central Elementary SchoolPaintsvilleElementaryPK-06341·
Paintsville High SchoolPaintsvilleHigh07-12318·
Flat Gap Elementary SchoolFlatgapElementaryPK-06241·
Johnson County Eagle AcademyPaintsvilleCombinedKG-12160·
Carl D Perkins Comprehensive Rehab CtrThelmaHighUG-UG0·
Kentucky TECH - Mayo Regional Tech CtrPaintsvilleHighUG-UG0·
Mayo Technical CollegePaintsvilleHighUG-UG0·
Tiger Virtual AcademyPaintsvilleCombinedM-M··

Cities in Johnson County

Paintsville9 schoolsFlatgap1 schoolHagerhill1 schoolStaffordsville1 schoolThelma1 schoolWittensville1 school

About Johnson County

Across the rural-scale Kentucky county of Johnson County of about 22,334 residents, the public-school footprint covers 14 schools and about 4,044 students.

For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $44,904, about 17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 16% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 21% lower than the Kentucky median.

For a sense of the school types, Johnson County consists of 6 elementary schools (2,229 students), 1 middle school (449), 5 high schools (1,206), and 2 combined or other schools.

The largest single district in Johnson County is Johnson County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 3,292 students.

Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 4,044 students, shrank 8% from the 4,403 reported in SY 2017-18.

On allk12, the community for Johnson County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Johnson County?
Johnson County, Kentucky has 14 public K-12 schools serving approximately 4,044 students.
How many high schools are in Johnson County?
Johnson County, Kentucky has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 1,206 students.
How many middle schools are in Johnson County?
Johnson County, Kentucky has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 449 students.
How many elementary schools are in Johnson County?
Johnson County, Kentucky has 6 public elementary schools, serving approximately 2,229 students.
What is the largest school district in Johnson County?
Johnson County Public Schools is the largest school district in Johnson County, serving approximately 3,292 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Johnson County?
Johnson County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 22,334, with a median age of 42. About 22.2% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Johnson County?
Median household income in Johnson County is $44,904, below the Kentucky average of $56,863. About 15.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Johnson County?
Approximately 16.8% of adults 25 and older in Johnson County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Johnson County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 60.9% of students in Johnson County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Kentucky county average of 62.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Johnson County schools?
Across Johnson County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.5 to 1.

Johnson County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data