Total enrollment
9,883
-171 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
McCracken County
Kentucky · Public K-12
McCracken County, Kentucky operates 22 public K-12 schools today, enrolling approximately 9,883 students (about 449 per school). By level, that breaks down as 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
4-year change in McCracken County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
20
-1 (-5%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How McCracken County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 53.2% | #10 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 9,883 | #13 of 110 | #827 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 20 | #13 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.6:1 | #56 of 110 | #1,962 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 57.4% | #77 of 110 | #1,226 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 51.2% | #7 of 110 | #1,045 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.
McCracken County school rankings
Residents
67,564
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
22
3 districts
Enrollment
9,883
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$64,373
Above Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
57.4%
Below Kentucky avg
Elementary
11
4,879 students
Middle
4
2,117 students
High
4
2,742 students
Combined / other
3
145 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
McCracken County Public Schools
6,780 students · 3 districts in McCracken County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of McCracken 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+
29.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.2%
civilian labor
Median age
42
21.8% under 18
Test scores in McCracken County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 16 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Lone Oak Elementary School· 75.0%
- Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School· 71.0%
- Heath Elementary School· 69.0%
- McCracken County High School· 69.0%
- Reidland Elementary School· 69.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- McNabb Elementary School· 36.0%
- Morgan Elementary School· 39.7%
- Paducah Middle School· 44.0%
- Reidland Middle School· 50.7%
- Reidland Intermediate School· 51.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCracken County High School | Paducah | High | 09-12 | 1,882 | · |
| Paducah Tilghman High School | Paducah | High | 09-12 | 860 | · |
| Lone Oak Middle School | Paducah | Middle | 06-08 | 702 | · |
| Paducah Middle School | Paducah | Middle | 06-08 | 632 | · |
| Clark Elementary School | Paducah | Elementary | KG-05 | 615 | · |
| Concord Elementary School | Paducah | Elementary | PK-05 | 606 | · |
| Reidland Elementary School | Paducah | Elementary | PK-03 | 548 | · |
| Heath Elementary School | West Paducah | Elementary | PK-05 | 498 | · |
| Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School | Paducah | Elementary | PK-03 | 498 | · |
| Lone Oak Elementary School | Paducah | Elementary | PK-03 | 495 | · |
| Lone Oak Intermediate School | Paducah | Elementary | 04-05 | 437 | · |
| Heath Middle School | West Paducah | Middle | 06-08 | 433 | · |
| Morgan Elementary School | Paducah | Elementary | KG-05 | 369 | · |
| Reidland Middle School | Paducah | Middle | 06-08 | 350 | · |
| McNabb Elementary School | Paducah | Elementary | KG-05 | 334 | · |
| Paducah Head Start Preschool | Paducah | Elementary | PK-PK | 251 | · |
| Reidland Intermediate School | Paducah | Elementary | 04-05 | 228 | · |
| McCracken Open Campus School | West Paducah | Combined | KG-12 | 72 | · |
| Choices Educational Center | Paducah | Combined | KG-12 | 42 | · |
| McCracken Regional School | Paducah | Combined | 04-12 | 31 | · |
| Paducah Area Technology Center | Paducah | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
| West KY Technical College | Paducah | High | UG-UG | 0 | · |
Cities in McCracken County
About McCracken County
McCracken County is a mid-sized county of about 67,564 residents in Kentucky. Its public-school system instructs approximately 9,883 students across 22 schools.
Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $64,373, roughly 29% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 11%. That income level is 13% higher than the Kentucky median.
In terms of grade levels, McCracken County is made up of 11 elementary schools (4,879 students), 4 middle schools (2,117), 4 high schools (2,742), and 3 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in McCracken County is McCracken County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 6,780 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment stayed largely flat: 10,054 students in SY 2020-21 versus 9,883 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, McCracken County lost 1 school, going from 21 to 20.
On this page, the community for McCracken County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data