Total enrollment
3,240
-239 (-7%) vs SY 2020-21
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.
4-year change in Lincoln County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
7
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Lincoln County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 38.0% | #73 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,240 | #54 of 110 | #1,760 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 7 | #63 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.8:1 | #10 of 110 | #1,258 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 75.2% | #13 of 110 | #592 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 21.2% | #61 of 110 | #2,099 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.
Lincoln County school rankings
Residents
24,504
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
8
2 districts
Enrollment
3,240
students · 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
School enrollment
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%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Hustonville Elementary School· 54.7%
- Highland Elementary School· 53.0%
- Waynesburg Elementary School· 51.7%
- Crab Orchard Elementary School· 49.0%
- Stanford Elementary School· 46.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Lincoln County High School· 41.0%
- Lincoln County Middle School· 42.3%
- Stanford Elementary School· 46.3%
- Crab Orchard Elementary School· 49.0%
- Waynesburg Elementary School· 51.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County High School | Stanford | High | 09-12 | 886 | · |
| Lincoln County Middle School | Stanford | Middle | 06-08 | 697 | · |
| Stanford Elementary School | Stanford | Elementary | PK-05 | 572 | · |
| Hustonville Elementary School | Hustonville | Elementary | PK-05 | 439 | · |
| Crab Orchard Elementary School | Crab Orchard | Elementary | PK-05 | 266 | · |
| Waynesburg Elementary School | Waynesburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 194 | · |
| Highland Elementary School | Waynesburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 186 | · |
| Lincoln County Area Technology Center | Stanford | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Lincoln County
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 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Lincoln County has shrank 7% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 3,479 students to 3,240.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data