Total enrollment
7,324
-868 (-11%) vs SY 2017-18
Whitley County
Kentucky · Public K-12
Across all districts in Whitley County, public schools number 21 and enroll approximately 7,324 K-12 students (10 elementary, 1 middle, and 7 high).
7-year change in Whitley County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
-1 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
94%
was 97%
% Hispanic
3%
was 2%
% Black
1%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
36,920
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
21
4 districts
Enrollment
7,324
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$44,615
Below Kentucky avg
Free/reduced lunch
70.5%
Above Kentucky avg
Elementary
10
3,761 students
Middle
1
547 students
High
7
1,977 students
Combined / other
3
1,039 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Whitley County Public Schools
4,234 students · 4 districts in Whitley County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Whitley 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+
20.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
21.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.4%
civilian labor
Median age
35
26.2% under 18
Test scores in Whitley County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Kentucky state average: 48.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitley County High School | Williamsburg | High | 09-12 | 919 | · |
| Williamsburg City School | Williamsburg | Combined | PK-12 | 833 | · |
| Corbin High School | Corbin | High | 09-12 | 820 | · |
| Corbin Primary | Corbin | Elementary | KG-03 | 815 | · |
| Oak Grove Elementary School | Corbin | Elementary | PK-06 | 669 | · |
| Whitley County Middle School | Williamsburg | Middle | 07-08 | 547 | · |
| Whitley Central Intermediate School | Williamsburg | Elementary | 03-06 | 456 | · |
| Whitley County Central Primary School | Williamsburg | Elementary | PK-02 | 413 | · |
| CORBIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Corbin | Elementary | 04-05 | 384 | · |
| Whitley County North Elementary School | Rockholds | Elementary | PK-06 | 303 | · |
| Whitley County East Elementary School | Williamsburg | Elementary | PK-06 | 268 | · |
| Pleasant View Elementary School | Williamsburg | Elementary | PK-06 | 229 | · |
| Boston Elementary School | Williamsburg | Elementary | PK-06 | 206 | · |
| Corbin School of Innovation | Corbin | Combined | KG-12 | 173 | · |
| Colonel Academy | Williamsburg | High | 07-12 | 172 | · |
| Whitley County Alternative School | Williamsburg | High | 07-12 | 52 | · |
| Corbin Educational Center | Corbin | Combined | 04-12 | 33 | · |
| Elementary Homebound | Corbin | Elementary | KG-08 | 18 | · |
| High School Homebound | Corbin | High | 09-12 | 14 | · |
| Corbin Area Technology Center | Corbin | High | 08-12 | 0 | · |
| Southeast Kentucky Academy | Corbin | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Whitley County
About Whitley County
Whitley County is a sparse Kentucky county of about 36,920 residents, home to 21 public schools and roughly 7,324 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $44,615, 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 21%. That income level is 22% meaningfully below the Kentucky median.
In terms of grade levels, Whitley County is made up of 10 elementary schools (3,761 students), 1 middle school (547), 7 high schools (1,977), and 3 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Whitley County is Whitley County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 4,234 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 7,324 students, fell 11% from the 8,192 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Whitley County shed 1 school, going from 20 to 19.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Whitley County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Whitley County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data