Total enrollment
6,985
+24 (+0%) vs SY 2020-21
Shelby County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Shelby County number 16, teaching approximately 6,985 Kentucky students against a population of 49,096. The level mix is 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Shelby County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
14
+1 (+8%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Shelby County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 34.6% | #91 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 6,985 | #23 of 110 | #1,054 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 14 | #27 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.9:1 | #93 of 110 | #2,279 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 44.6% | #105 of 110 | #1,893 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 57.0% | #5 of 110 | #738 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.
Shelby County school rankings
Residents
49,096
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
16
2 districts
Enrollment
6,985
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$82,604
Above Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
44.6%
Below Kentucky avg
Elementary
8
3,643 students
Middle
2
1,068 students
High
5
2,274 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Shelby County Public Schools
6,985 students · 2 districts in Shelby County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Shelby 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+
32.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.2%
civilian labor
Median age
41
22.2% under 18
Test scores in Shelby County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 11 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Simpsonville Elementary· 62.7%
- Heritage Elementary· 59.7%
- Shelby County East Middle School· 41.3%
- Southside Elementary· 40.3%
- Martha Layne Collins High School· 40.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Clear Creek Elementary· 33.0%
- Painted Stone Elementary· 33.0%
- Shelby County West Middle School· 34.3%
- Marnel C. Moorman School· 37.8%
- Shelby County High School· 38.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martha Layne Collins High School | Shelbyville | High | 09-12 | 1,157 | · |
| Shelby County High School | Shelbyville | High | 09-12 | 1,003 | · |
| Marnel C. Moorman School | Shelbyville | Elementary | KG-08 | 803 | · |
| Shelby County West Middle School | Shelbyville | Middle | 06-08 | 563 | · |
| Shelby County East Middle School | Shelbyville | Middle | 06-08 | 505 | · |
| Wright Elementary | Shelbyville | Elementary | KG-05 | 489 | · |
| Painted Stone Elementary | Shelbyville | Elementary | KG-05 | 458 | · |
| Simpsonville Elementary | Simpsonville | Elementary | KG-05 | 441 | · |
| Clear Creek Elementary | Shelbyville | Elementary | KG-05 | 425 | · |
| Southside Elementary | Shelbyville | Elementary | KG-05 | 412 | · |
| Heritage Elementary | Waddy | Elementary | KG-05 | 387 | · |
| Northside Early Childhood Center | Shelbyville | Elementary | PK-PK | 228 | · |
| Cultivate Virtual Learning Academy | Shelbyville | High | 06-12 | 82 | · |
| Ascension Academy | Shelbyville | High | 07-12 | 32 | · |
| Shelby County Area Technology Center | Shelbyville | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
| Shelby County Summer School | Shelbyville | Combined | KG-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Shelby County
About Shelby County
Across the compact Kentucky county of Shelby County of about 49,096 residents, the public-school footprint covers 16 schools and about 6,985 students.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $82,604 a year, about 33% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 45% higher than the Kentucky median.
In terms of grade levels, Shelby County is built around 8 elementary schools (3,643 students), 2 middle schools (1,068), 5 high schools (2,274), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Shelby County is Shelby County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 6,985 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 6,985 students, remained close to its prior level from the 6,961 reported in SY 2020-21. The school count climbed from 13 to 14 across the same 4-year window.
On this page, the community for Shelby County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. 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