Total enrollment
3,058
-75 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
Wayne County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Public education in Wayne County reaches 3,058 students across 9 schools. Wayne County Public Schools is the largest district at 3,058 students. By grade band, the county runs 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Wayne County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
8
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Wayne County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 30.0% | #105 of 109 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,058 | #58 of 110 | #1,821 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 8 | #57 of 110 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.2:1 | #81 of 110 | #2,130 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 77.5% | #5 of 110 | #533 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 27.6% | #47 of 110 | #1,881 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.
Wayne County school rankings
Residents
19,602
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
9
2 districts
Enrollment
3,058
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$45,739
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
77.5%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
3
1,454 students
Middle
1
646 students
High
5
958 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Wayne County Public Schools
3,058 students · 2 districts in Wayne County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Wayne 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+
13.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.8%
civilian labor
Median age
44
20.4% under 18
Test scores in Wayne County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- Wayne County High School· 41.0%
- Monticello Elementary School· 38.0%
- Wayne County Middle School· 31.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County High School | Monticello | High | 09-12 | 895 | · |
| Monticello Elementary School | Monticello | Elementary | 03-05 | 664 | · |
| Wayne County Middle School | Monticello | Middle | 06-08 | 646 | · |
| Bell Elementary School | Monticello | Elementary | 01-02 | 432 | · |
| Walker Early Learning Center | Monticello | Elementary | PK-KG | 358 | · |
| Lake Cumberland Youth Development Center | Monticello | High | 08-12 | 30 | · |
| Wayne County Learning Academy | Monticello | High | 06-12 | 26 | · |
| Otter Creek Academy | Monticello | High | 06-12 | 7 | · |
| Wayne County Area Technology Center | Monticello | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Wayne County
About Wayne County
Across the sparse Kentucky county of Wayne County of about 19,602 residents, the public-school footprint covers 9 schools and about 3,058 students.
In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $45,739 a year, roughly 14% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 17%. That income level is 20% meaningfully below the Kentucky median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Wayne County covers 3 elementary schools (1,454 students), 1 middle school (646), and 5 high schools (958).
Wayne County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,058 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment remained close to its prior level: 3,133 students in SY 2020-21 versus 3,058 in SY 2024-25.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Wayne 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