Total enrollment
2,882
-661 (-19%) vs SY 2017-18
Letcher County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Letcher County operates 11 public K-12 schools inside Kentucky, with combined enrollment of approximately 2,882 (about 262 students per school). The level mix is 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Letcher County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
-2 (-17%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
97%
was 98%
% Hispanic
1%
was 1%
% Black
1%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
11
3 districts
Enrollment
2,882
NCES CCD
Median income
$41,793
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
69.7%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
5
1,413 students
Middle
2
322 students
High
3
694 students
Combined / other
1
453 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Letcher County Public Schools
2,429 students · 3 districts in Letcher County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Letcher 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+
12.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
18.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.2%
civilian labor
Median age
44
21.8% under 18
Test scores in Letcher County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Letcher County Central High School· 54.0%
- Fleming Neon Middle School· 52.7%
- Whitesburg Middle School· 51.0%
- Cowan Elementary School· 43.8%
- West Whitesburg Elementary School· 43.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letcher County Central High School | Whitesburg | High | 09-12 | 692 | · |
| West Whitesburg Elementary School | Whitesburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 462 | · |
| Jenkins Independent School | Jenkins | Combined | PK-12 | 453 | · |
| Letcher Elementary & Middle School | Blackey | Elementary | KG-08 | 322 | · |
| Martha Jane Potter Elementary School | Whitesburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 273 | · |
| Cowan Elementary School | Whitesburg | Elementary | PK-08 | 246 | · |
| Whitesburg Middle School | Whitesburg | Middle | 06-08 | 191 | · |
| Fleming Neon Middle School | Neon | Middle | 06-08 | 131 | · |
| Arlie Boggs Elementary School | Eolia | Elementary | KG-08 | 110 | · |
| Letcher County Alternative Education Ctr | Whitesburg | High | 08-12 | 2 | · |
| Letcher County Area Technology Center | Whitesburg | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Letcher County
About Letcher County
In Kentucky, Letcher County is a rural-scale county of about 20,808 residents. 11 public schools across the county teaches about 2,882 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $41,793 a year, about 13% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 18% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 27% lower than the Kentucky median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Letcher County comprises 5 elementary schools (1,413 students), 2 middle schools (322), 3 high schools (694), and 1 combined or other schools.
Letcher County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,429 students across Letcher County.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,882 students, decreased 19% from the 3,543 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Letcher County shed 2 schools, going from 12 to 10.
On this page, the community for Letcher County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Letcher County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data