Total enrollment
1,856
+33 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Monroe County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Monroe County's 7 public schools sit inside Kentucky and collectively enroll about 1,856 K-12 students across 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high.
4-year change in Monroe County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
5
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Monroe County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 54.9% | #6 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,856 | #91 of 110 | #2,284 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 5 | #93 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.6:1 | #24 of 110 | #1,623 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 69.9% | #23 of 110 | #752 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 26.6% | #48 of 110 | #1,919 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.
Residents
11,269
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
7
2 districts
Enrollment
1,856
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$51,280
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
69.9%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
3
951 students
Middle
1
399 students
High
3
506 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Monroe County Public Schools
1,856 students · 2 districts in Monroe County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Monroe 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+
16.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
18.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.0%
civilian labor
Median age
41
24.4% under 18
Test scores in Monroe County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Gamaliel Elementary· 73.3%
- Tompkinsville Elem· 72.0%
- Joe Harrison Carter· 56.0%
- Monroe Co High· 45.0%
- Monroe Co Middle· 44.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe Co High | Tompkinsville | High | 09-12 | 506 | · |
| Tompkinsville Elem | Tompkinsville | Elementary | PK-05 | 437 | · |
| Monroe Co Middle | Tompkinsville | Middle | 06-08 | 399 | · |
| Joe Harrison Carter | Tompkinsville | Elementary | PK-05 | 260 | · |
| Gamaliel Elementary | Gamaliel | Elementary | PK-05 | 254 | · |
| Falcon Academy | Tompkinsville | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Monroe County Area Technology Center | Tompkinsville | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Monroe County
About Monroe County
Across the low-population Kentucky county of Monroe County of about 11,269 residents, the public-school footprint covers 7 schools and about 1,856 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $51,280, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 19%. That income level is 10% below the Kentucky median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Monroe County consists of 3 elementary schools (951 students), 1 middle school (399), and 3 high schools (506).
Monroe County Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,856 students across Monroe County.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment stayed largely flat: 1,823 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,856 in SY 2024-25.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Monroe County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data