Southern Elementary School

As a tight-knit primary school in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, Southern Elementary School caters to 269 students from grades pre-K through 6, operated by Ohio County. Compared to the state average of about 421 students per school, that is 36% smaller than typical.

Ohio County comprises 10 schools with combined enrollment of 3,726 students; Southern Elementary School is among them.

In terms of who attends, Southern Elementary School shows that nearly all students (87%) are White. Other groups include 12% Hispanic.

In terms of school funding signals, On paper, Southern Elementary School has 18 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 14.8:1. The state averages about 15.4:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. Roughly 65% of students at Southern Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Southern Elementary School is in the OUTPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations model, which fits a per-state line through proficiency and FRL share. Schools with this campus's poverty mix typically land near 41.0%; this one delivers 57.4%, a residual of +16.4 points.

Across the wider county, community-level numbers for Ohio County indicate median household income runs about $57,798, roughly 14% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 9%. In all, Ohio County runs 11 public schools (combined enrollment of about 3,726 students), of which Southern Elementary School is one.

Beaver Dam Elementary School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 5.5 miles from this campus. Within ten miles, there are 7 other public schools, a sparser pattern than typical urban areas. Among the 7 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Southern Elementary School ranks 1st on composite proficiency, ahead of the local average of 44.4%.

The campus sits in a small-town setting.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count shrank 15%: 317 students in 2018 compared to 269 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share contracted from 96% to 87%. The student-to-teacher ratio pulled in from 16.9:1 in 2018 to 14.8:1 today.

On allk12, the feed for Southern Elementary School typically covers school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Members of the school community can share what they know.