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Paces Creek Elementary

Public Grades K-6

3^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 684 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 100% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Paces Creek Elementary serves 273 students in kindergarten through sixth grade in Manchester, in rural Clay County, where Clay County ranks 23rd among Kentucky’s 158 districts on SchoolDigger. The most important takeaway is that exceptionally strong achievement, especially in math, coexists with chronic absenteeism affecting 41% of students.

Math is the school’s clearest strength: its four-grade average was 88% in 2025–2026, compared with 70% in the district, 43% statewide, and 64% across six nearby Clay County schools with reported results. Fifth-grade writing was 84% and editing and mechanics was 92%, respectively 49 and 44 points above state averages. Reading is a less decisive strength: the four-grade average was 77%, just 2 points above the district, though 26 points above the state. Fourth-grade reading stands out as a weakness: 63%, below the district’s 70% and lower than reported results at Big Creek Elementary, Goose Rock Elementary, Hacker Elementary School and Manchester Elementary School. Chronic absenteeism is also high compared with the state: 41%, versus 24% statewide and 40% in the district.

Results have risen substantially over time, though not every year: from 2022–2023 to 2025–2026, the four-grade math average increased from 57% to 88%, and reading from 52% to 77%. SchoolDigger’s ranking improved from 181st of 685 schools and 4 stars in 2024–2025 to 3rd of 684 and 5 stars in 2025–2026; nearby Burning Springs Elementary currently ranks ahead of it locally. The student-teacher ratio was 13.4 in 2024–2025, exactly the comparison-group median. That year, 87% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, the second-highest share among the comparison schools; this is context, not an explanation for scores. SchoolDigger’s statewide effectiveness ranking for Special Education Students rose from the 47th percentile in 2018–2019 to the 97th percentile in 2022–2023, then stood at the 95th percentile in 2023–2024.

273

Students ?

13.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,513

Per pupil spending ?

86.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

1983 S Hwy 421
Manchester, KY 40962

(606) 598-6333

District: Clay County

Students who attend Paces Creek Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Clay County Middle School
High:	Clay County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.8%

Two or more races:

2.6%

Hispanic:

2.2%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Paces Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 20th percentile in 2015 → 100th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (83% vs 45% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Kentucky elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 80 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (41% vs 24% Kentucky)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school83%

District avg72%

Kentucky avg45%

3^rd of 684

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 66 pts since 2016

From bottom 34% (2016) to top 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 7Elementary Schools in the Clay County

23^rd of 158Clay 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
2026	96.6	3 of 684	99.6%	★★★★★
2025	69.0	181 of 685	73.6%	★★★★☆
2024	75.4	119 of 685	82.6%	★★★★☆
2023	60.4	245 of 687	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.6	314 of 684	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.3	228 of 700	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.9	344 of 691	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	31.7	527 of 694	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	39.1	455 of 690	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	27.9	555 of 698	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	28.2	561 of 705	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	18.3	654 of 719	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	13.6	677 of 713	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	65.9	213 of 688	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	23.8	577 of 683	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	11.9	603 of 658	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	18.9	569 of 651	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	89.8	38 of 638	94.0%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	65.1	51 of 206	75.2%	★★★★☆
2018	66.5	100 of 445	77.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	93.2	15 of 657	97.7%	★★★★★
2025	66.4	178 of 648	72.5%	★★★★☆
2024	68.2	161 of 644	75.0%	★★★★☆
2023	59.6	223 of 639	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.5	365 of 641	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	67.6	173 of 671	74.2%	★★★★☆
2018	51.9	322 of 663	51.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	97.8	4 of 674	99.4%	★★★★★
2025	75.1	106 of 672	84.2%	★★★★☆
2024	84.1	51 of 665	92.3%	★★★★★
2023	66.5	149 of 670	77.8%	★★★★☆
2022	62.4	170 of 667	74.5%	★★★★☆
2019	56.4	272 of 664	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.9	242 of 631	61.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	96.1	5 of 651	99.2%	★★★★★
2025	68.5	157 of 653	76.0%	★★★★☆
2024	77.0	96 of 652	85.3%	★★★★☆
2023	60.1	222 of 652	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.5	273 of 657	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.1	254 of 676	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.0	359 of 665	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2024	93.2	14 of 279	95.0%	★★★★★
2023	95.3	8 of 257	96.9%	★★★★★
2019	49.1	350 of 661	47.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	94.4	9 of 650	98.6%	★★★★★
2025	67.1	172 of 659	73.9%	★★★★☆
2024	69.8	156 of 659	76.3%	★★★★☆
2023	53.9	279 of 658	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.0	355 of 656	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	75.1	109 of 592	81.6%	★★★★☆
2018	46.9	322 of 593	45.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)99th percentile~ school

Male (2026)99th percentile~ school

White (2026)99th percentile~ school

Female (2026)98th percentile~ school

Special Education (2024)95th percentile+12 vs school

Disabled (2022)75th percentile+21 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Editing and Mechanics92%+44 vs state

Mathematics88%+45 vs state

Writing84%+49 vs state

Reading77%+26 vs state

★

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Schools Near Paces Creek Elementary

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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 Reading 3rd Grade	KSA Reading 4th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Science 4th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Paces Creek Elementary	Public	K-6	1983 S Hwy 421	Manchester	40962	Clay County	Clay County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 598-6333	273	20	13.4	86.8%	256 (93.8%)	2 (0.7%)	6 (2.2%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.6%)	96.6	3^rd of 684 public elementary schools	99.6%		69	181^st of 685 public elementary schools	73.6%	178	86.0	84.0	95.0	86.0	84.0	63.0	74.0	86.0		84.0		92.0	$16,513	$2,579	$12,182
Manchester Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1908 N Hwy 421	Manchester	40962	Clay County	Clay County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 598-3444	409	29	14.0	71.9%	388 (94.9%)	12 (2.9%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.2%)	94.4	11^th of 684 public elementary schools	98.4%		92.2	24^th of 685 public elementary schools	96.5%	13	62.0	80.0	66.0	80.0	78.0	71.0		93.0	52.0	71.0	79.0	95.0	$16,069	$2,280	$12,174
Hacker Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	84 Hooker Rd	Manchester	40962	Clay County	Clay County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 598-3338	244	20	12.0	71.3%	240 (98.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	75.2	131^st of 684 public elementary schools	80.8%		70.5	167^th of 685 public elementary schools	75.6%	36	50.0	54.0	50.0	69.0	50.0	68.0	56.0	62.0	54.0	74.0	53.0	59.0	$17,405	$2,871	$13,162
Goose Rock Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	364 Hwy 1524	Manchester	40962	Clay County	Clay County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 598-3740	231	20	11.4	83.5%	219 (94.8%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (3.5%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	84.7	63^rd of 684 public elementary schools	90.8%		75.7	133^rd of 685 public elementary schools	80.6%	70	44.0	49.0	63.0	58.0	65.0	71.0	74.0	81.0	54.0	78.0	63.0	81.0	$18,205	$2,406	$14,191
Burning Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	9847 N Hwy 421	Manchester	40962	Clay County	Clay County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 598-3138	297	21	13.9	80.1%	288 (97.0%)	2 (0.7%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	97.7	1^st of 684 public elementary schools	99.9%		97.5	2^nd of 685 public elementary schools	99.7%	1	89.0	80.0	66.0	76.0			81.0	90.0		78.0	84.0	84.0	$17,015	$2,503	$12,954
Big Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	523 N Hwy 66	Oneida	40972	Clay County	Clay County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 598-2812	136	13	10.6	81.6%	133 (97.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.2%)	83.1	76^th of 684 public elementary schools	88.9%		49.9	336^th of 685 public elementary schools	50.9%	260	69.0	59.0	65.0	55.0	75.0	65.0		45.0		71.0	65.0	82.0	$22,716	$3,445	$17,448
Oneida Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	435 Newfound Rd	Oneida	40972	Clay County	Clay County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 598-2168	110	9	12.7	77.3%	110 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	59	253^rd of 684 public elementary schools	63.0%		61.9	235^th of 685 public elementary schools	65.7%	18	39.0	86.0			50.0	43.0	67.0	73.0			42.0	33.0	$25,188	$2,989	$15,042
Girdler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5452 N Ky 11	Girdler	40943	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 645-2838	267	21	12.9	86.9%	259 (97.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	69.6	178^th of 684 public elementary schools	74.0%		44.3	388^th of 685 public elementary schools	43.4%	210	55.0	45.0	58.0		66.0	43.0	67.0		40.0	58.0	42.0	70.0	$20,380	$1,950	$13,070
Bush Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1832 E Laurel Rd	London	40741	Laurel County	Laurel County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 862-4618	511	30	17.0	61.1%	487 (95.3%)	2 (0.4%)	8 (1.6%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.0%)	92.4	24^th of 684 public elementary schools	96.5%		95.6	8^th of 685 public elementary schools	98.8%	16	66.0	75.0	63.0		77.0	79.0	78.0		64.0		62.0	62.0	$21,755	$2,350	$19,220
Camp Ground Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6800 Barbourville Rd	London	40744	Laurel County	Laurel County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 862-4625	327	20	16.3	68.2%	314 (96.0%)	3 (0.9%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.8%)	78	119^th of 684 public elementary schools	82.6%		79.9	105^th of 685 public elementary schools	84.7%	14	49.0	62.0	58.0		57.0	70.0	58.0			81.0	44.0	65.0	$21,436	$2,678	$18,758

Frequently Asked Questions about Paces Creek Elementary

What schools do graduates of Paces Creek Elementary attend?

Students who attend Paces Creek Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Clay County Middle School
High : Clay County High School

What is the racial makeup of Paces Creek Elementary?

Students at Paces Creek Elementary are 94% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

How many students attend Paces Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 273 students attended Paces Creek Elementary.

Is Paces Creek Elementary a good school?

Yes! Paces Creek Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 3^rd of 684 Kentucky elementary schools.

What district is Paces Creek Elementary in?

Clay County

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Latest Kentucky data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 KSA test scoresNewOct 15, 2026

2024–25 KSA test scoresOct 30, 2025

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.