Best Public Schools in London, KY

London, Kentucky’s listed schools include 15 schools: eight elementary schools, two middle schools, four high schools and one alternative school, serving students from elementary through high school alongside specialized programs. In 2025–2026, both regular middle schools were above state rates in every reported test comparison, and both regular high schools generally exceeded state rates; elementary results, however, ranged from standout scores to results below the state. The most important takeaway is that elementary performance varies sharply by school and grade, even as the regular middle and high schools generally outperform state rates.

Several elementary schools stand out: Sublimity Elementary scored 83% in grade 4 math and 78% in grade 4 science, respectively 40 and 38 points above state rates, and ranked 5th of 684 Kentucky elementary schools in SchoolDigger’s statewide rankings. Cold Hill Elementary ranked 7th and scored 74% in grade 5 math, 31 points above state. London Elementary led in grade 4 reading at 94%, 44 points above state, and ranked 12th. The clearest low score was at Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary, where grade 5 math was 29%, 14 points below state and 45 points below Cold Hill; Johnson Elementary scored 35% in that grade and subject, 8 points below state. Among middle schools, North Laurel Middle led in several grade 6 and 8 comparisons, while South Laurel Middle led in grade 7 math, reading and science.

Recent changes are mixed rather than pointing to a uniform area-wide trend. Cold Hill grade 4 science rose from 39% to 74%, while Johnson grade 5 math fell from 65% to 35%; London improved in reading across grades 3 through 5. At high school, North Laurel High rose from an average 3-point state advantage across four matched subjects to 14 points, while South Laurel High remained near 11 points; South Laurel’s grade 10 math fell from 55% to 40%. For context, 2024–2025 free/reduced lunch eligible figures ranged from 58% at Cold Hill to 74% at London among elementary schools, but do not explain the different results. Chronic absenteeism also varies: Cold Hill was at 14%, compared with 24% statewide, while both regular high schools were at 35%. Small specialized schools have many state-suppressed test results, so comparisons with conventional schools are limited.