Total enrollment
9,220
-164 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
Laurel County
Kentucky · Public K-12
20 public K-12 schools operate inside Laurel County, with roughly 9,220 students enrolled, an average of 461 per school. By level, that breaks down as 12 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Laurel County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
+1 (+6%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Laurel County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 56.3% | #4 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 9,220 | #15 of 110 | #862 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 19 | #15 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.6:1 | #90 of 110 | #2,219 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 68.0% | #28 of 110 | #802 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 14.1% | #77 of 110 | #2,377 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.
Laurel County school rankings
Residents
62,983
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
20
2 districts
Enrollment
9,220
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$57,771
Above Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
68.0%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
12
4,909 students
Middle
2
1,807 students
High
5
2,463 students
Combined / other
1
41 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Laurel County Public Schools
8,676 students · 2 districts in Laurel County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Laurel 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+
17.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.5%
civilian labor
Median age
40
22.6% under 18
Test scores in Laurel County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 16 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Sublimity Elementary School· 85.0%
- Bush Elementary School· 76.0%
- Cold Hill Elementary School· 75.0%
- Keavy Elementary School· 73.0%
- London Elementary School· 71.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- North Laurel High School· 52.0%
- Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary· 52.3%
- Camp Ground Elementary School· 58.3%
- South Laurel High School· 61.0%
- North Laurel Middle School· 62.0%
Cities in Laurel County
About Laurel County
Laurel County is an average-sized Kentucky county of about 62,983 residents, home to 20 public schools and roughly 9,220 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $57,771, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 17%.
On the school-mix side, Laurel County consists of 12 elementary schools (4,909 students), 2 middle schools (1,807), 5 high schools (2,463), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Laurel County is Laurel County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 8,676 students.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 9,220 students, held roughly steady from the 9,384 reported in SY 2020-21. Laurel County now counts 19 public schools, up from 18 in SY 2020-21.
On allk12, the community for Laurel County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data