Total enrollment
9,989
-323 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Pulaski County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Parents in Pulaski County researching K-12 options have 19 public schools to consider, with combined enrollment near 9,989 (11 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high).
4-year change in Pulaski County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
18
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Pulaski County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 54.4% | #7 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 9,989 | #12 of 110 | #819 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 18 | #21 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.8:1 | #67 of 110 | #2,024 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 63.8% | #43 of 110 | #952 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 24.8% | #53 of 110 | #1,969 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.
Pulaski County school rankings
Residents
65,897
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
19
4 districts
Enrollment
9,989
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$51,898
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
63.8%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
11
4,945 students
Middle
3
2,154 students
High
5
2,890 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Pulaski County Public Schools
7,729 students · 4 districts in Pulaski County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Pulaski 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+
18.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
15.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.9%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.2% under 18
Test scores in Pulaski County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 16 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Oak Hill Elementary School· 76.7%
- Nancy Elementary School· 69.3%
- Northern Elementary School· 66.0%
- Burnside Elementary School· 65.7%
- Hopkins Elementary School· 64.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Meece Middle School· 50.5%
- Shopville Elementary School· 54.7%
- Southwestern High School· 55.0%
- Eubank Elementary School· 56.0%
- Southern Elementary School· 56.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern High School | Somerset | High | 09-12 | 1,213 | · |
| Pulaski County High School | Somerset | High | 09-12 | 1,113 | · |
| Southern Middle School | Somerset | Middle | 06-08 | 871 | · |
| Northern Middle School | Somerset | Middle | 06-08 | 797 | · |
| Hopkins Elementary School | Somerset | Elementary | PK-04 | 750 | · |
| Southern Elementary School | Somerset | Elementary | KG-05 | 611 | · |
| Oak Hill Elementary School | Somerset | Elementary | KG-05 | 551 | · |
| Pulaski Elementary School | Somerset | Elementary | KG-05 | 535 | · |
| Somerset High School | Somerset | High | 09-12 | 526 | · |
| Science Hill Elementary School | Science Hill | Elementary | PK-08 | 498 | · |
| Meece Middle School | Somerset | Middle | 05-08 | 486 | · |
| Burnside Elementary School | Burnside | Elementary | PK-05 | 414 | · |
| Shopville Elementary School | Somerset | Elementary | PK-05 | 385 | · |
| Northern Elementary School | Somerset | Elementary | PK-05 | 352 | · |
| Eubank Elementary School | Eubank | Elementary | PK-05 | 319 | · |
| Nancy Elementary School | Nancy | Elementary | PK-05 | 299 | · |
| Memorial Education Center | Somerset | Elementary | PK-KG | 231 | · |
| Eagle Academy | Somerset | High | 06-12 | 38 | · |
| Pulaski County Area Technology Center | Somerset | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Pulaski County
About Pulaski County
Pulaski County is a moderately sized Kentucky county of about 65,897 residents, home to 19 public schools and roughly 9,989 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $51,898 a year, about 18% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 16%. That income level is 9% lower than the Kentucky median.
For a sense of the school types, Pulaski County comprises 11 elementary schools (4,945 students), 3 middle schools (2,154), and 5 high schools (2,890).
The largest single district in Pulaski County is Pulaski County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 7,729 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Pulaski County has contracted 3% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 10,312 students to 9,989.
On this page, the community for Pulaski 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