Total enrollment
2,668
-61 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
5 schools in McCreary County
Kentucky · 2,668 students · 3 cities
Public K-12 education in McCreary County runs across 5 schools with combined enrollment of about 2,668 students, averaging 534 per school.
4-year change in McCreary County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
5
+1 (+25%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How McCreary County ranks
Among districts| Measure | This district | In Kentucky | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 41.0% | #76 of 139 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,668 | #71 of 158 | #3,589 of 9,234 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 5 | #103 of 158 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.1:1 | #66 of 158 | #5,595 of 9,044 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 82.3% | #8 of 158 | #1,082 of 8,164 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 8.4% | #117 of 137 | #6,640 of 6,853 |
Districts need at least 2 schools and 500 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.
Inside McCreary County
State test results across the district's 4 scored schools run from Whitley City Elementary School at 54.2% proficient to McCreary County Middle School at 30.6%, a gap of 23.6 points. That is the 48th widest gap among 101 Kentucky districts with four or more scored schools.
Since 2017-18, the 4 district schools that reported both years went from 2,704 to 2,243 students (down 17%) and from 160 to 148 full-time teachers (down 7%), as of 2024-25.
Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across each school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25; schools with fewer than 100 students and schools serving specialized populations are left out. Staffing figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data and count only schools that reported students and teachers in both years.
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCreary Central High School | Stearns | High | 09-12 | 711 |
| McCreary County Middle School | Stearns | Middle | 06-08 | 633 |
| Whitley City Elementary School | Whitley City | Elementary | PK-05 | 547 |
| Pine Knot Primary | Pine Knot | Elementary | PK-02 | 425 |
| Pine Knot Intermediate | Pine Knot | Elementary | 03-05 | 352 |
About McCreary County
McCreary County operates 5 public schools across Kentucky, collectively enrolling roughly 2,668 students.
Looking at the level breakdown, McCreary County is made up of 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school.
Average enrollment per school in McCreary County is about 534, noticeably above the Kentucky average of roughly 467.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 2,729 students in SY 2020-21 versus 2,668 in SY 2024-25. McCreary County now counts 5 public schools, up from 4 in SY 2020-21.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for McCreary County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.