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Owsley County

Kentucky · Public K-12

Owsley County, Kentucky operates 2 public K-12 schools today, enrolling approximately 727 students (about 364 per campus). By level, that breaks down as 1 elementary and 1 high schools.

7-year change in Owsley County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
727
-111 (-13%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
2
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
96%
was 98%
% Hispanic
2%
was 1%
% Black
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
2
1 districts
Enrollment
727
NCES CCD
Median income
$22,188
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
80.9%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
1
436 students
Middle
0
schools
High
1
291 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Owsley County Public Schools
727 students · 1 district in Owsley County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Owsley 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
96%
Hispanic
0%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
96%
Hispanic
2%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
n/r
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
7.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
39.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
12.6%
civilian labor
Median age
48
19.3% under 18

Test scores in Owsley County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 2 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.

See all 2 schools in Owsley County ranked by score →

All schools (2)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Owsley County Elementary SchoolBoonevilleElementaryPK-05436·
Owsley County High SchoolBoonevilleHigh06-12291·

Cities in Owsley County

Booneville2 schools

About Owsley County

Owsley County is a thinly populated Kentucky county of about 3,971 residents, home to 2 public schools and roughly 727 students.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show median household income runs near $22,188, about 7% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 40%. That income level is 61% lower than the Kentucky median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Owsley County spans 1 elementary school (436 students), and 1 high school (291).

Owsley County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 727 students on its own.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 727 students, contracted 13% from the 838 reported in SY 2017-18.

On this page, the community for Owsley County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Owsley County?
There are 2 public K-12 schools in Owsley County, Kentucky, with a combined enrollment of about 727.
How many high schools are in Owsley County?
Owsley County, Kentucky has 1 public high school, serving approximately 291 students.
How many elementary schools are in Owsley County?
Owsley County, Kentucky has 1 public elementary school, serving approximately 436 students.
What is the largest school district in Owsley County?
Owsley County Public Schools is the largest school district in Owsley County, serving approximately 727 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
How many people live in Owsley County?
Owsley County has roughly 3,971 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Owsley County?
Median household income in Owsley County is $22,188, below the Kentucky average of $56,863. About 39.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Owsley County?
Approximately 7.1% of adults 25 and older in Owsley County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Owsley County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 80.9% of students in Owsley 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 Owsley County schools?
Across Owsley County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.8 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Owsley County?
Owsley County residents are approximately 96% White, 0% Hispanic, 0% Asian, 4% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data