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Lincoln County

Kentucky · Public K-12

In Lincoln County, 8 public K-12 schools make up the local education system, comprising 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high. Combined enrollment is about 3,240 students.

7-year change in Lincoln County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
3,240
-653 (-17%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
7
-2 (-22%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
89%
was 91%
% Hispanic
5%
was 4%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
8
2 districts
Enrollment
3,240
NCES CCD
Median income
$52,440
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
75.2%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
5
1,657 students
Middle
1
697 students
High
2
886 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Lincoln County Public Schools
3,240 students · 2 districts in Lincoln County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Lincoln 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
92%
Hispanic
2%
Black
2%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
88%
Hispanic
5%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
15.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.5%
civilian labor
Median age
41
24.4% under 18

Test scores in Lincoln County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.

See all 7 schools in Lincoln County ranked by score →

All schools (8)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Lincoln County High SchoolStanfordHigh09-12886·
Lincoln County Middle SchoolStanfordMiddle06-08697·
Stanford Elementary SchoolStanfordElementaryPK-05572·
Hustonville Elementary SchoolHustonvilleElementaryPK-05439·
Crab Orchard Elementary SchoolCrab OrchardElementaryPK-05266·
Waynesburg Elementary SchoolWaynesburgElementaryPK-05194·
Highland Elementary SchoolWaynesburgElementaryPK-05186·
Lincoln County Area Technology CenterStanfordHigh08-120·

Cities in Lincoln County

Stanford4 schoolsWaynesburg2 schoolsCrab Orchard1 schoolHustonville1 school

About Lincoln County

Across the thinly populated Kentucky county of Lincoln County of about 24,504 residents, the public-school footprint covers 8 schools and about 3,240 students.

Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $52,440 a year, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 11%. That income level is 8% meaningfully below the Kentucky median.

On the school-mix side, Lincoln County consists of 5 elementary schools (1,657 students), 1 middle school (697), and 2 high schools (886).

The largest single district in Lincoln County is Lincoln County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 3,240 students.

Looking at the last 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Lincoln County has shrank 17% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 3,893 students to 3,240. The school count fell from 9 to 7 across the same 7-year window.

On allk12, the community for Lincoln County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County, Kentucky has 8 public K-12 schools serving approximately 3,240 students.
How many high schools are in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County, Kentucky has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 886 students.
How many middle schools are in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County, Kentucky has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 697 students.
How many elementary schools are in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County, Kentucky has 5 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,657 students.
What is the largest school district in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County Public Schools is the largest school district in Lincoln County, serving approximately 3,240 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Lincoln County?
Lincoln County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 24,504, with a median age of 41. About 24.4% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Lincoln County?
Median household income in Lincoln County is $52,440, below the Kentucky average of $56,863. About 10.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Lincoln County?
Approximately 15.9% of adults 25 and older in Lincoln County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Lincoln County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 75.2% of students in Lincoln County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Kentucky county average of 62.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lincoln County schools?
Across Lincoln County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.1 to 1.

Lincoln County school rankings

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