High Schools in Ballard County

Ballard Memorial High School is the only high school listed in Ballard County, serving grades 9–12 with 276 students. In 2025–2026, its graduation rate was 99%, compared with 94% statewide; its dropout rate was 0%, versus 1% statewide; and chronic absenteeism was 13%, versus 24% statewide. The clearest concern is that grade 10 math proficiency dropped 23 percentage points, from 61% to 38%, turning a substantial lead over the state into a 2-point shortfall.

There are no schools to rank against one another: Ballard Memorial is both the area’s highest- and lowest-performing listed school by default. Within its latest subject results, reading and social studies stand out most favorably, each at 8 percentage points above the state (57% versus 49% in reading; 45% versus 37% in social studies). Science was 1 point above the state, while math was 2 points below and editing and mechanics was 3 points below. The school’s writing result was suppressed. Its chronic absenteeism rate was 1 point higher than the district’s 12%.

Results shifted unevenly over time: reading stayed 8 points above the state in both years, and social studies remained above it, though its lead narrowed from 10 points to 8. Science’s lead shrank from 10 points to 1, while editing and mechanics moved from 7 points above the state to 3 below. Across the five reported subjects, the school’s average advantage over the state narrowed from 11 points in 2024–2025 to 2 points in 2025–2026. SchoolDigger ranked the school 95th of 262 Kentucky high schools, at the 64th percentile and 3 stars, down from 32nd of 254, the 87th percentile and 4 stars, in 2024–2025. The school’s student-teacher ratio was 13.5:1 in 2024–2025, and 54% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that school year; these are context, not explanations for outcomes. Because Ballard Memorial is the only listed school, school-to-school comparisons are not possible.