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Dawson Springs Elementary

Q: Is Dawson Springs Elementary a good school?

Dawson Springs Elementary ranks 473 rd of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

473^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 31% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Dawson Springs Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, with 313 students. The school is part of the Dawson Springs Independent School District, which is ranked 75 out of 157 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dawson Springs Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Kentucky elementary schools over the past decade, with a 0-2 star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's proficiency rates on the Kentucky State Assessments (KSA) are significantly below the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's 3rd grade math proficiency was 35% compared to the state average of 43%, and its 5th grade reading proficiency was 47% compared to the state's 50%. Additionally, Dawson Springs Elementary has had high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 19.4% to 28.0% in recent years, which is much higher than the state average.

Interestingly, the nearby schools, such as Pride Elementary, Crofton Elementary, and West Hopkins School, generally outperform Dawson Springs Elementary on academic measures, despite serving similar student populations in terms of socioeconomic status and demographics. For example, Pride Elementary, which is 15.63 miles away, has significantly higher proficiency rates in math and reading, with 3rd grade math proficiency at 58% compared to Dawson Springs' 35%. Despite the school's high spending per student and relatively small class sizes, Dawson Springs Elementary has not shown any meaningful improvement in its academic performance or state rankings over the past decade.

342

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,118

Per pupil spending ?

78.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

317 Eli St
Dawson Springs, KY 42408

(270) 797-3811

District: Dawson Springs Independent

Students who attend Dawson Springs Elementary usually attend:

High:

Dawson Springs Junior/Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.8%

Two or more races:

5.6%

Hispanic:

2.0%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Dawson Springs Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 33rd percentile in 2014 → 31st in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kentucky average (36% vs 44% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Writing scores 25 pts below the Kentucky average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg36%

Kentucky avg44%

473^rd of 685

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Bottom 31%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

75^th of 157Dawson Springs Independent 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
2025	33.8	473 of 685	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.3	470 of 685	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.0	513 of 687	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.2	493 of 684	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.5	579 of 700	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.4	627 of 691	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	13.4	640 of 694	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	29.1	549 of 690	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	38.0	474 of 698	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	38.8	469 of 705	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	35.0	527 of 719	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	44.9	407 of 713	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	29.4	537 of 688	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	29.6	549 of 683	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	16.8	564 of 648	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	47.7	325 of 644	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.2	473 of 639	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.2	466 of 641	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.8	544 of 671	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.6	600 of 663	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	36.9	441 of 672	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.7	462 of 665	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.7	435 of 670	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.8	523 of 667	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.6	507 of 664	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.8	580 of 631	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	35.7	434 of 653	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	22.9	531 of 652	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.8	453 of 652	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.3	480 of 657	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.1	567 of 676	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.7	603 of 665	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	26.0	537 of 661	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	25.2	517 of 659	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.6	527 of 659	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.9	533 of 658	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.1	525 of 656	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.2	537 of 592	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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 (2025)34th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)34th percentile+3 vs school

White (2025)22nd percentile-9 vs school

Special Education (2019)19th percentile~ school

Female (2025)13th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Editing and Mechanics53%+6 vs state

Mathematics40%-4 vs state

Reading38%-11 vs state

Social Studies33%-5 vs state

Science29%-8 vs state

Writing13%-25 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dawson Springs Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				KSA Mathematics (2025)						KSA Reading (2025)						KSA Science (2025)		KSA Writing (2025)		KSA Social Studies (2025)	KSA Editing and Mechanics (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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 Reading 3rd Grade	KSA Reading 4th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Science 4th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Dawson Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	317 Eli St	Dawson Springs	42408	Hopkins County	Dawson Springs Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 797-3811	342	23	14.9	78.4%	314 (91.8%)	2 (0.6%)	7 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.6%)	33.8	473^rd of 685 public elementary schools	30.9%		33.3	470^th of 685 public elementary schools	31.4%	3	35.0	27.0	57.0				40.0	27.0	47.0				29.0		13.0		33.0	53.0		$20,118	$1,184	$595	$1,779	$10,048	$3,196	$13,244
West Hopkins School	Public	PK, KG-8	2695 Rabbit Ridge Rd	Nebo	42441	Hopkins County	Hopkins County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 825-6130	293	24	12.2	59.0%	263 (89.8%)	3 (1.0%)	7 (2.4%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.5%)	47.2	362^nd of 685 public elementary schools	47.2%		48	343^rd of 685 public elementary schools	49.9%	19	50.0	59.0	35.0	26.0	43.0	12.0	54.0	49.0	46.0	45.0	51.0	38.0	43.0	26.0	24.0	38.0	32.0	62.0	42.0	$16,330	$841	$285	$1,126	$10,956	$2,020	$12,976
Caldwell County Elementary School	Public	3-5	105 Education Dr	Princeton	42445	Caldwell County	Caldwell County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 365-8030	386	23	16.9	57.8%	317 (82.1%)	16 (4.1%)	8 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (11.7%)	53.4	308^th of 685 public elementary schools	55.0%		46.7	354^th of 685 public elementary schools	48.3%	46	56.0	60.0	53.0				51.0	48.0	45.0				40.0		20.0		35.0	46.0		$17,855	$1,641	$1,534	$3,175	$7,712	$2,266	$9,978
Caldwell County Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	1000 Marion Rd	Princeton	42445	Caldwell County	Caldwell County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 365-8040	532	30	17.5	67.3%	425 (79.9%)	23 (4.3%)	14 (2.6%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (12.0%)								(n/a)																				$23,895	$1,190	$1,580	$2,770	$9,329	$2,185	$11,515
Southside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	9220 Hopkinsville Rd	Nortonville	42442	Hopkins County	Hopkins County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 825-6143	549	37	14.8	67.4%	500 (91.1%)	12 (2.2%)	12 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	21 (3.8%)	59.8	257^th of 685 public elementary schools	62.5%		60.2	256^th of 685 public elementary schools	62.6%	1	52.0	50.0	37.0				57.0	54.0	52.0				36.0		45.0		47.0	56.0		$16,166	$872	$278	$1,150	$8,196	$1,746	$9,942
Crofton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	12145 S Madisonville Rd	Crofton	42217	Christian County	Christian County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 887-7190	378	25	15.1	69.8%	298 (78.8%)	30 (7.9%)	20 (5.3%)	5 (1.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.1%)	59.6	261^st of 685 public elementary schools	61.9%		60.4	254^th of 685 public elementary schools	62.9%	7	36.0	71.0	59.0				53.0	50.0	57.0				45.0		28.0		38.0	52.0		$16,556	$1,132	$614	$1,746	$8,580	$2,202	$10,782
Grapevine Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1150 Hayes Ave.	Madisonville	42431	Hopkins County	Hopkins County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 825-6012	318	25	12.7	61.0%	229 (72.0%)	22 (6.9%)	34 (10.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	32 (10.1%)	67.3	195^th of 685 public elementary schools	71.5%		67	195^th of 685 public elementary schools	71.5%		55.0	50.0	61.0				50.0	52.0	65.0				46.0		30.0		48.0	63.0		$14,858	$664	$292	$956	$9,851	$1,833	$11,684
West Broadway Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	127 W Broadway	Madisonville	42431	Hopkins County	Hopkins County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 825-6036	486	28	17.3	60.7%	320 (65.8%)	54 (11.1%)	44 (9.1%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (13.2%)	41.1	416^th of 685 public elementary schools	39.3%		48.9	338^th of 685 public elementary schools	50.7%	78	53.0	36.0	32.0				54.0	46.0	41.0				27.0		45.0		27.0	44.0		$13,237	$554	$379	$933	$8,549	$1,675	$10,223
Pride Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	861 Pride Ave	Madisonville	42431	Hopkins County	Hopkins County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 825-6030	404	26	15.5	59.9%	316 (78.2%)	40 (9.9%)	10 (2.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (8.9%)	78.2	120^th of 685 public elementary schools	82.5%		79	100^th of 685 public elementary schools	85.4%	20	58.0	57.0	51.0				59.0	64.0	59.0				49.0		56.0		56.0	64.0		$14,083	$747	$331	$1,077	$9,179	$1,667	$10,846
Providence Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	470 S Broadway	Providence	42450	Webster County	Webster County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 667-7041	299	15	19.9	76.9%	243 (81.3%)	25 (8.4%)	7 (2.3%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	20 (6.7%)	14.1	619^th of 685 public elementary schools	9.6%		13.5	610^th of 685 public elementary schools	10.9%	9	25.0	18.0	34.0	26.0					31.0	45.0							17.0	21.0		$14,819	$1,173	$706	$1,879	$10,534	$2,406	$12,940

Frequently Asked Questions about Dawson Springs Elementary

What schools do graduates of Dawson Springs Elementary attend?

Students who attend Dawson Springs Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Dawson Springs Junior/Senior High School

Is Dawson Springs Elementary a good school?

Dawson Springs Elementary ranks 473^rd of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Dawson Springs Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 342 students attended Dawson Springs Elementary.

What district is Dawson Springs Elementary in?

Dawson Springs Independent

What is the racial makeup of Dawson Springs Elementary?

Students at Dawson Springs Elementary are 92% White, 6% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

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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.