Beta You're viewing our redesigned school list. Prefer the classic layout?

Best Public Schools in Henderson, KY

New rankings! Kentucky test scores for the 2025-26 school year were just released — SchoolDigger posted updated rankings this week.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

At a glance

Schools

5,579

Students

5-star school

Top rankedNiagara Elementary School53^rd of 684 Kentucky elementary schools

▲

Biggest riser

Jefferson Elementary School up 104 spots statewide this year

◉

Smallest classes

Henderson County South Middle School 13.9 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

5★

4★

3★

1★

0★

1 school without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)

Compare Kentucky cities →See the top-ranked Kentucky schools →

Summary:

Henderson, Kentucky, has 10 schools: six elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools, serving students from elementary through high school. The 2025–26 test results show strong performance at some schools and much weaker results at others, rather than one consistent pattern across the area. Across reported elementary grade-and-subject results, schools averaged 44%, close to the matching state average of 41%. The most important finding for families is that this overall figure hides very large differences between individual elementary schools.

Niagara Elementary School leads most elementary subjects, averaging 55% across its reported results versus a matched state average of 37%; South Heights Elementary School averages 29% versus 36%. Their school averages span 31 percentage points in reading and 52 points in science. Cairo Elementary School also performs strongly, averaging 51%, with 75% in fifth-grade editing and mechanics. At middle school, Henderson County South Middle School averages 54% against 45% at Henderson County North Middle School, leading in five of six subject comparisons. Henderson County High School is above state rates in all six reported subjects; The Central Academy has two reported scores, 10% in math and 12% in reading, versus 40% and 49% statewide.

Elementary results declined by an average of about 3 percentage points across matched results from the two years, but the direction varied: Jefferson Elementary School improved by about 5 points, while Cairo fell about 9 and East Heights Elementary School about 8. SchoolDigger’s statewide rankings also moved in different directions: Jefferson rose from the 32nd to the 57th percentile, while South Heights fell from the 36th to the 14th. As context, in 2024–25, free/reduced lunch eligibility was 34% at Niagara and 79% at South Heights; this measure does not explain their results. Attendance offers another contrast: Niagara’s 2025–26 chronic absenteeism was 7%, below the 24% state rate, while Henderson County High School’s was 25%. The Central Academy’s other listed 2025–26 results are suppressed, and its reported graduation rate is from 2023–24, not 2025–26.

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				KSA Mathematics (2026)							KSA Reading (2026)							KSA Science (2026)			KSA Writing (2026)			KSA Social Studies (2026)			KSA Editing and Mechanics (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KSA Mathematics 3rd Grade	KSA Mathematics 4th Grade	KSA Mathematics 5th Grade	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 3rd Grade	KSA Reading 4th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Science 4th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Science 11th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bend Gate Elementary School	Public	K-5	920 Bend Gate Rd	Henderson	42420	Henderson County	Henderson County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 831-5040	421	27	15.4	59.6%	248 (58.9%)	58 (13.8%)	46 (10.9%)	6 (1.4%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	59 (14.0%)	64.8	210^th of 684 public elementary schools	69.3%		66.2	206^th of 685 public elementary schools	69.9%	4	52.0	51.0	58.0					54.0	49.0	58.0					34.0			47.0			58.0			54.0			$14,618	$1,602	$14,360
Cairo Elementary School	Public	K-5	10694 Hwy 41-A	Henderson	42420	Henderson County	Henderson County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 533-1286	233	16	14.6	45.5%	195 (83.7%)	9 (3.9%)	13 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (6.9%)	81.6	94^th of 684 public elementary schools	86.3%		91	36^th of 685 public elementary schools	94.7%	58	51.0	55.0	75.0					59.0	55.0	72.0					57.0			53.0			59.0			75.0			$16,171	$1,371	$15,773
East Heights Elementary School	Public	K-5	1776 Adams Ln	Henderson	42420	Henderson County	Henderson County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 831-5070	377	26	14.3	65.5%	248 (65.8%)	45 (11.9%)	25 (6.6%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	52 (13.8%)	51.4	329^th of 684 public elementary schools	51.9%		68.7	185^th of 685 public elementary schools	73.0%	144	43.0	36.0	41.0					60.0	48.0	51.0					36.0			38.0			43.0			56.0			$15,041	$1,335	$14,798
Henderson County High School	Public	9-12	2424 Zion Rd	Henderson	42420	Henderson County	Henderson County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 831-8800	1,852	110	16.8	43.6%	1,363 (73.6%)	170 (9.2%)	143 (7.7%)	11 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	10 (0.5%)	154 (8.3%)	76.4	42^nd of 262 public high schools	84.0%		79	34^th of 254 public high schools	86.6%	8							49.0							54.0			36.0			50.0			54.0			54.0	$14,437	$1,067	$14,297
Henderson County North Middle School	Public	6-8	1707 Second St	Henderson	42420	Henderson County	Henderson County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 831-5060	670	46	14.7	55.4%	481 (71.8%)	57 (8.5%)	49 (7.3%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	74 (11.0%)	54.2	130^th of 326 public middle schools	60.1%		49.7	150^th of 320 public middle schools	53.1%	20				55.0	44.0	39.0					64.0	50.0	36.0			38.0			38.0			33.0			49.0		$14,185	$912	$13,976
Niagara Elementary School	Public	K-5	13043 Hwy 136 E	Henderson	42420	Henderson County	Henderson County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 831-5142	270	15	18.2	34.4%	254 (94.1%)	3 (1.1%)	8 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	87.5	53^rd of 684 public elementary schools	92.3%		86.2	64^th of 685 public elementary schools	90.7%	11	54.0	77.0	67.0					56.0	77.0	76.0					70.0			62.0			60.0			60.0			$14,478	$941	$14,401
South Heights Elementary School	Public	K-5	1199 Madison St	Henderson	42420	Henderson County	Henderson County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 831-5081	413	30	14.0	78.5%	185 (44.8%)	80 (19.4%)	70 (16.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	73 (17.7%)	18.5	589^th of 684 public elementary schools	13.9%		23.7	542^nd of 685 public elementary schools	20.9%	47		35.0	27.0					39.0	31.0	45.0					18.0			13.0			17.0			35.0			$14,854	$1,748	$14,614
Henderson County South Middle School	Public	6-8	800 S Alves St	Henderson	42420	Henderson County	Henderson County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 831-5050	661	48	13.9	48.0%	495 (74.9%)	61 (9.2%)	38 (5.7%)	9 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	56 (8.5%)	75.9	53^rd of 326 public middle schools	83.7%		65.3	95^th of 320 public middle schools	70.3%	42				63.0	55.0	49.0					68.0	52.0	48.0			34.0			66.0			55.0			52.0		$14,310	$1,071	$14,105
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	K-5	1000 S. Alves Street	Henderson	42420	Henderson County	Henderson County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 831-5090	413	27	15.5	61.5%	203 (49.2%)	75 (18.2%)	54 (13.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	79 (19.1%)	54.4	293^rd of 684 public elementary schools	57.2%		43.4	397^th of 685 public elementary schools	42.0%	104	48.0	55.0	44.0					58.0	56.0	48.0					45.0			34.0			32.0			42.0			$13,351	$1,667	$13,277
The Central Academy	Public	6-12	851 Center Street	Henderson	42420	Henderson County	Henderson County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 831-5100	269	12	22.2	70.3%	186 (69.1%)	36 (13.4%)	15 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	30 (11.2%)	1.5	260^th of 262 public high schools	0.8%		1.5	249^th of 254 public high schools	2.0%	11							10.0							12.0													$10,290	$930	$10,217
Henderson County High School CTE	Public	9-12	2424 Zion Rd	Henderson	42420	Henderson County	Henderson County	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(270) 831-8800	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Cities Near Henderson

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Spottsville	7.64 mi	1	2^nd
Corydon	8.31 mi	1	135^th
Sebree	16.14 mi	1	311^th
Owensboro	18.63 mi	35	146^th
Uniontown	19.1 mi	1	289^th

See the top KY Kentucky cities

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.