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Perry County

Kentucky · Public K-12

Perry County hosts 15 public K-12 schools. Together they educate about 4,432 Kentucky students across 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 5 high.

7-year change in Perry County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
4,432
-689 (-13%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
12
-2 (-14%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
94%
was 95%
% Hispanic
2%
was 1%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
27,499
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
15
2 districts
Enrollment
4,432
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$42,181
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
69.8%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
7
2,695 students
Middle
1
256 students
High
5
1,161 students
Combined / other
2
320 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Perry County Public Schools
3,416 students · 2 districts in Perry County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Perry 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
94%
Hispanic
0%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
94%
Hispanic
2%
Black
2%
Asian
0%
Two or more
2%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
14.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
24.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.8%
civilian labor
Median age
42
23.4% under 18

Test scores in Perry County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.

See all 10 schools in Perry County ranked by score →

All schools (15)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Perry County Central High SchoolHazardHigh09-12819·
West Perry Elementary SchoolHazardElementaryPK-08743·
East Perry County Elementary SchoolHazardElementaryPK-08603·
Roy G. Eversole Elementary SchoolHazardElementaryPK-04457·
Robert W Combs Elementary SchoolHappyElementaryPK-08325·
Buckhorn SchoolBuckhornCombinedKG-12320·
Hazard High SchoolHazardHigh09-12303·
Viper Elementary SchoolViperElementaryPK-08282·
Robinson Elementary SchoolAryElementaryPK-08278·
Hazard Middle SchoolHazardMiddle05-08256·
Learning AcademyHazardHigh09-1239·
Perry County Alternative SchoolHazardElementaryKG-087·
Hazard Community College Tech CampusHazardHighUG-UG0·
Kentucky TECH - Hazard Regional Tech CtrHazardHighUG-UG0·
Leatherwood Elementary SchoolLeatherwoodCombinedM-M··

Cities in Perry County

Hazard10 schoolsAry1 schoolBuckhorn1 schoolHappy1 schoolLeatherwood1 schoolViper1 school

About Perry County

Perry County is a small county of about 27,499 residents in Kentucky. Its public-school system serves approximately 4,432 students across 15 schools.

Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $42,181, about 15% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 25% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 26% lower than the Kentucky median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Perry County is built around 7 elementary schools (2,695 students), 1 middle school (256), 5 high schools (1,161), and 2 combined or other schools.

The largest single district in Perry County is Perry County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 3,416 students.

Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 4,432 students, contracted 13% from the 5,121 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 14 to 12 across the same 7-year window.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Perry 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 Perry County?
There are 15 public K-12 schools in Perry County, Kentucky, with a combined enrollment of about 4,432.
How many high schools are in Perry County?
Perry County, Kentucky has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 1,161 students.
How many middle schools are in Perry County?
Perry County, Kentucky has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 256 students.
How many elementary schools are in Perry County?
Perry County, Kentucky has 7 public elementary schools, serving approximately 2,695 students.
What is the largest school district in Perry County?
Perry County Public Schools is the largest school district in Perry County, serving approximately 3,416 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Perry County?
Perry County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 27,499, with a median age of 42. About 23.4% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Perry County?
Median household income in Perry County is $42,181, below the Kentucky average of $56,863. About 24.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Perry County?
Approximately 14.8% of adults 25 and older in Perry County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Perry County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 69.8% of students in Perry 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 Perry County schools?
Across Perry County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 15.2 to 1.

Perry County school rankings

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