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Southwestern High School

Q: Is Southwestern High School a good school?

Southwestern High School ranks 95 th of 254 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

95^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 254 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 63% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Southwestern High School is a public high school located in Somerset, Kentucky, serving 1,203 students in grades 9-12. It is part of the Pulaski County School District, which is ranked 12th out of 157 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Southwestern High School has consistently maintained a 4-star rating, indicating it is a high-performing school within Kentucky.

Southwestern High School stands out for its strong academic performance. The school has maintained a high 4-year graduation rate, ranging from 91.9% to 96.8% in recent years, which is higher than the state average. Additionally, the school's dropout rate is low, ranging from 0.1% to 1.3%, suggesting it effectively retains and supports its students. Southwestern High School generally outperforms the state and Pulaski County averages in standardized tests, such as KSA Mathematics, Reading, and ACT English, Mathematics, and Reading. For instance, in 2024-2025, the school's 10th-grade KSA Mathematics proficiency rate was 52%, compared to the Pulaski County score of 56% and the state average of 41%.

While Southwestern High School's performance is impressive, the school faces some challenges. It has struggled with chronic absenteeism, with rates ranging from 25.0% to 35.3% in recent years. Additionally, the school serves a population with significant economic challenges, as a relatively high percentage of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 63.79% to 64.88% in recent years. When compared to nearby high schools, such as Pulaski County High School and Somerset High School, Southwestern High School generally performs well, but there are some areas where it lags behind, such as in certain test score metrics.

1,213

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,247

Per pupil spending ?

61.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1765 WTLO Rd
Somerset, KY 42503

(606) 678-9000

District: Pulaski County

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.6%

Hispanic:

7.1%

Two or more races:

4.0%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Southwestern High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 81st percentile in 2015 → 63rd in 2025

Strengths

✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the Kentucky average (94%)

✓Above the Kentucky median (63rd percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (35% vs 25% Kentucky)

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

District avg46%

Kentucky avg39%

95^th of 254

Kentucky public high schools ?

Top 37%▼ down 18 pts since 2015

From top 19% (2015) to top 37% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2High Schools in the Pulaski County

12^th of 157Pulaski County among Kentucky districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	56.1	95 of 254	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.6	63 of 290	78.3%	★★★★☆
2023	71.5	51 of 276	81.5%	★★★★☆
2022	63.1	77 of 271	71.6%	★★★★☆
2021	61.3	65 of 267	75.7%	★★★★☆
2019	65.5	76 of 285	73.3%	★★★★☆
2018	77.6	44 of 271	83.8%	★★★★☆
2017	81.3	28 of 287	90.2%	★★★★★
2016	71.4	61 of 288	78.8%	★★★★☆
2015	74.4	57 of 295	80.7%	★★★★☆
2014	68.0	69 of 290	76.2%	★★★★☆
2013	77.5	36 of 291	87.6%	★★★★☆
2012	76.4	31 of 229	86.5%	★★★★☆
2011	62.5	65 of 226	71.2%	★★★★☆
2010	74.4	40 of 223	82.1%	★★★★☆
2009	80.8	19 of 217	91.2%	★★★★★
2008	70.5	38 of 217	82.5%	★★★★☆
2007	38.0	136 of 217	37.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	44.0	73 of 153	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	18.0	136 of 154	11.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	56.6	59 of 166	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	23.4	146 of 166	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	44.2	149 of 239	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	68.6	64 of 261	75.5%	★★★★☆
2023	69.4	50 of 253	80.2%	★★★★☆
2022	65.3	65 of 252	74.2%	★★★★☆
2021	61.8	64 of 236	72.9%	★★★★☆
2019	69.0	55 of 249	77.9%	★★★★☆
2018	83.1	25 of 234	89.3%	★★★★☆

Foster Care

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2023	38.1	2 of 3	33.3%	★★★★☆
2019	39.6	6 of 9	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	77.4	8 of 38	78.9%	★★★★☆
2019	58.4	42 of 102	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.3	47 of 115	59.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	62.3	36 of 115	68.7%	★★★★☆
2024	73.2	20 of 124	83.9%	★★★★☆
2023	92.3	4 of 116	96.6%	★★★★★
2022	66.5	30 of 114	73.7%	★★★★☆
2021	64.9	21 of 92	77.2%	★★★★☆
2019	87.9	9 of 88	89.8%	★★★★★
2018	37.8	50 of 80	37.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	44.7	133 of 242	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	75.3	38 of 274	86.1%	★★★★☆
2023	77.1	26 of 272	90.4%	★★★★★
2022	63.1	67 of 266	74.8%	★★★★☆
2021	66.7	39 of 234	83.3%	★★★★☆
2019	74.8	41 of 254	83.9%	★★★★☆
2018	82.9	22 of 232	90.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	62.3	69 of 239	71.1%	★★★★☆
2024	67.5	65 of 262	75.2%	★★★★☆
2023	70.2	45 of 259	82.6%	★★★★☆
2022	50.3	108 of 257	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.1	83 of 238	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.1	79 of 251	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.7	55 of 237	76.8%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	27.5	71 of 89	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.8	56 of 87	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	72.3	11 of 77	85.7%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2024	25.8	135 of 168	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	52.0	53 of 162	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.1	76 of 226	66.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	48.7	119 of 251	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.9	84 of 273	69.2%	★★★★☆
2023	61.4	79 of 264	70.1%	★★★★☆
2022	52.0	112 of 260	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.4	91 of 203	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.5	87 of 219	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.3	46 of 198	76.8%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Gifted and Talented (2022)79th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)71st percentile+9 vs school

Hispanic (2025)69th percentile+6 vs school

White (2025)53rd percentile-10 vs school

Disabled (2022)52nd percentile-19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)45th percentile-18 vs school

Female (2025)38th percentile-25 vs school

Foster Care (2023)33rd percentile-48 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)20th percentile-42 vs school

Special Education (2024)20th percentile-59 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Reading55%+8 vs state

Mathematics52%+11 vs state

Editing and Mechanics44%+3 vs state

Writing36%-9 vs state

Social Studies35%-3 vs state

Science24%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Southwestern High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				KSA Mathematics (2025)	KSA Reading (2025)	KSA Science (2025)	KSA Writing (2025)	KSA Social Studies (2025)	KSA Editing and Mechanics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Science 11th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Southwestern High School	Public	9-12	1765 WTLO Rd	Somerset	42503	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 678-9000	1,213	73	16.6	61.2%	1,038 (85.6%)	18 (1.5%)	86 (7.1%)	21 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (4.0%)	56.1	95^th of 254 public high schools	62.6%		71.6	63^rd of 290 public high schools	78.3%	32	52.0	55.0	24.0	36.0	35.0	44.0	$13,247	$1,140	$404	$1,544	$9,173	$2,530	$11,703
Pulaski County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	3865 S Hwy 27	Somerset	42501	Pulaski County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(606) 678-2998	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Eagle Academy	Public	6-12	300 Chandler St	Somerset	42503	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	No	(606) 679-1303	38	1	38.0	78.9%	28 (73.7%)	7 (18.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (7.9%)								(n/a)		17.0
Somerset High School	Public	9-12	301 College St	Somerset	42501	Pulaski County	Somerset Independent	No	No	No	No	(606) 678-4721	526	42	12.5	55.9%	428 (81.4%)	14 (2.7%)	58 (11.0%)	6 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.6%)	75.1	43^rd of 254 public high schools	83.1%		66.4	84^th of 290 public high schools	71.0%	41	55.0	57.0	29.0	44.0	55.0	52.0	$16,416	$900	$1,457	$2,347	$10,892	$3,177	$14,069
Pulaski County High School	Public	9-12	511 University Dr	Somerset	42503	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 679-1574	1,113	73	15.2	54.0%	993 (89.2%)	5 (0.4%)	74 (6.6%)	3 (0.3%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (3.1%)	85.3	20^th of 254 public high schools	92.1%		76.1	44^th of 290 public high schools	84.8%	24	63.0	61.0	33.0	58.0	53.0	52.0	$14,073	$1,028	$505	$1,533	$9,939	$2,601	$12,541
Wayne County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	38 Academic Ave	Monticello	42633	Wayne County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(606) 348-8424	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Wayne County High School	Public	9-12	2 Kenny Davis Blvd	Monticello	42633	Wayne County	Wayne County	No	No	No	No	(606) 348-5575	895	46	19.3	72.6%	742 (82.9%)	12 (1.3%)	120 (13.4%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	16 (1.8%)	18.7	212^th of 254 public high schools	16.5%		22	224^th of 290 public high schools	22.8%	12	32.0	41.0	12.0	30.0	20.0	22.0	$17,206	$900	$367	$1,267	$8,141	$2,542	$10,683
Wayne County Learning Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	1025 South Main Street	Monticello	42633	Wayne County	Wayne County	No	No	Yes	No	(606) 348-8484	26	3	8.6	84.6%	20 (76.9%)	1 (3.8%)	3 (11.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (7.7%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwestern High School

Is Southwestern High School a good school?

Southwestern High School ranks 95^th of 254 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Southwestern High School in?

Pulaski County

How many students attend Southwestern High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,213 students attended Southwestern High School.

What is the racial makeup of Southwestern High School?

Students at Southwestern High School are 86% White, 7% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% African American.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Kentucky Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.