Best Middle Schools in Salyersville, KY

The city of Salyersville, Kentucky is home to a single middle school, Herald Whitaker Middle School, which serves students in grades 6-8. The school's performance and student demographics provide a mixed picture of the educational landscape in this area.

Herald Whitaker Middle School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Kentucky middle schools, with a ranking of 281 out of 320 in 2024-2025 and 264 out of 324 in 2023-2024. The school's academic performance on state assessments is significantly below the state averages across multiple subjects, including mathematics, reading, writing, social studies, and editing/mechanics. For instance, in 2024-2025, only 20% of 7th graders were proficient or better in mathematics, compared to the state average of 43%, and only 35% of 8th graders were proficient or better in reading, compared to the state average of 42%.

Regarding student demographics, Magoffin County, where Herald Whitaker Middle School is located, has a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, at 68.27% in 2023-2024. The school's student-teacher ratio of 11.3 is slightly lower than the state average. Despite the higher per-student spending of $18,589 at Herald Whitaker Middle School compared to the state average, the school's academic performance remains significantly below the state's, suggesting the need for more effective allocation and utilization of resources to support student learning.