Total enrollment
5,255
+15 (+0%) vs SY 2017-18
Knox County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Knox County's public-school footprint spans 20 K-12 campuses with combined enrollment of about 5,276, the largest district being Knox County Public Schools. That works out to 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 8 high schools.
7-year change in Knox County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
17
+3 (+21%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
95%
was 96%
% Hispanic
2%
was 1%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
20
4 districts
Enrollment
5,276
NCES CCD
Median income
$32,527
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
74.0%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
8
2,039 students
Middle
2
1,197 students
High
8
1,274 students
Combined / other
2
766 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Knox County Public Schools
3,738 students · 4 districts in Knox County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Knox 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+
13.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
32.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
8.1%
civilian labor
Median age
40
23.6% under 18
Test scores in Knox County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- G R Hampton Elementary School· 79.0%
- Dewitt Elementary School· 75.5%
- Corbin Middle School· 71.7%
- Central Elementary School· 67.0%
- Barbourville City School· 61.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Lynn Camp Elementary School· 33.0%
- Lynn Camp Middle High School· 40.3%
- Knox Central High School· 45.0%
- Girdler Elementary School· 49.0%
- Flat Lick Elementary School· 59.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbourville City School | Barbourville | Combined | PK-12 | 755 | · |
| Knox Central High School | Barbourville | High | 09-12 | 720 | · |
| Corbin Middle School | Corbin | Middle | 06-08 | 675 | · |
| Knox County Middle School | Barbourville | Middle | 06-08 | 522 | · |
| Lynn Camp Elementary School | Corbin | Elementary | PK-05 | 501 | · |
| Lynn Camp Middle High School | Corbin | High | 06-12 | 447 | · |
| Jesse D Lay Elementary School | Barbourville | Elementary | PK-05 | 325 | · |
| Central Elementary School | Barbourville | Elementary | PK-05 | 313 | · |
| Girdler Elementary School | Girdler | Elementary | PK-05 | 267 | · |
| G R Hampton Elementary School | Barbourville | Elementary | PK-05 | 244 | · |
| Flat Lick Elementary School | Flat Lick | Elementary | PK-05 | 163 | · |
| Dewitt Elementary School | Flat Lick | Elementary | PK-05 | 120 | · |
| Corbin Preschool | Corbin | Elementary | PK-PK | 106 | · |
| Knox County Learning Academy | Barbourville | High | 06-12 | 52 | · |
| Knox Appalachian School | Barbourville | High | 05-12 | 32 | · |
| Knox County Day Treatment | Barbourville | High | 06-12 | 21 | · |
| Knox Inspire Academy | Barbourville | Combined | KG-12 | 11 | · |
| Barbourville Learning Center | Barbourville | High | 07-12 | 2 | · |
| Knox County Area Technology Center | Barbourville | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
| Knox County Career and Technical Center | Barbourville | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Knox County
About Knox County
Knox County is a low-population county of about 29,865 residents in Kentucky. Its public-school system hosts approximately 5,276 students across 20 schools.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $32,527, about 14% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 33%. That income level is 43% below the Kentucky median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Knox County consists of 8 elementary schools (2,039 students), 2 middle schools (1,197), 8 high schools (1,274), and 2 combined or other schools.
Knox County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,738 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Knox County has stayed largely flat since SY 2017-18, moving from about 5,240 students to 5,255. Knox County now counts 17 public schools, up from 14 in SY 2017-18.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Knox County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Knox County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data