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Southern Elementary School

Q: Is Southern Elementary School a good school?

Southern Elementary School ranks 509 th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

509^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 26% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Southern Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lexington, Kentucky, serving 490 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Fayette County School District, which is ranked 74 out of 157 districts in the state.

Despite the school's relatively high spending per student, ranging from $18,172 to $25,625 over the past few years, Southern Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom half of Kentucky elementary schools, with proficiency rates in mathematics ranging from 18% to 39% in the 2024-2025 school year, significantly below the Fayette County and state averages. The school also has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25% to 28%, and a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a large proportion of students from low-income families.

Interestingly, the nearby schools, such as Stonewall Elementary, Clays Mill Elementary, and Wellington Elementary, generally outperform Southern Elementary on academic measures, with higher proficiency rates and better statewide rankings. This suggests that the resources at Southern Elementary may not be effectively targeted or utilized to address the specific needs of the student population, and that implementing targeted interventions and support programs could be crucial for improving the school's overall academic performance.

476

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,625

Per pupil spending ?

71%

Free/discounted lunch ?

340 Wilson Downing Rd
Lexington, KY 40517-1431

(859) 381-3589

District: Fayette County

Students who attend Southern Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Southern Middle School
High:	Tates Creek High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

32.8%

African American:

28.8%

Hispanic:

19.7%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Southern Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 7th percentile in 2021 → 26th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 26th (2025) from a 7th-percentile low (2021)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kentucky average (34% vs 44% meeting standards)

!Mathematics scores 14 pts below the Kentucky average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school34%

District avg48%

Kentucky avg44%

509^th of 685

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Bottom 26%▼ down 10 pts since 2015

From bottom 36% (2015) to bottom 26% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

25^th of 39Elementary Schools in the Fayette County

74^th of 157Fayette 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
2025	29.0	509 of 685	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.1	514 of 685	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.1	497 of 687	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.0	587 of 684	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.2	483 of 517	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	34.1	523 of 700	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.1	589 of 691	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	21.0	593 of 694	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	32.7	525 of 690	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	40.9	450 of 698	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	18.1	638 of 705	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	26.0	595 of 719	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	25.7	590 of 713	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	45.6	413 of 688	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	60.4	270 of 683	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	47.4	376 of 658	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	54.2	312 of 651	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	39.8	404 of 638	36.7%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	29.1	107 of 142	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.9	105 of 140	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.2	86 of 129	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.8	71 of 185	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	38.8	116 of 184	37.0%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2018	33.7	298 of 445	33.0%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2024	30.4	47 of 64	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.5	44 of 65	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	21.4	88 of 96	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	45.5	41 of 81	49.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	32.7	462 of 648	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.7	460 of 644	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.4	396 of 639	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.6	499 of 641	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.8	421 of 671	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	23.8	569 of 663	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	20.5	149 of 168	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.7	77 of 135	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.8	74 of 120	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	21.0	100 of 114	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.7	108 of 152	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.7	121 of 153	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	37.6	434 of 672	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.8	537 of 665	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.7	515 of 670	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.2	613 of 667	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.9	542 of 664	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.2	582 of 631	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	31.6	462 of 653	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.8	550 of 652	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.9	599 of 652	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.6	610 of 657	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	27.8	547 of 676	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.1	565 of 665	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2023	29.5	32 of 43	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	15.9	584 of 661	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	47.7	339 of 659	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.9	283 of 659	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.1	296 of 658	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	31.9	455 of 656	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.7	232 of 337	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.6	333 of 592	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.3	424 of 593	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

White (2025)49th percentile+23 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)35th percentile+10 vs school

Disabled (2018)33rd percentile+18 vs school

Male (2025)29th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)29th percentile+3 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)27th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2023)26th percentile~ school

African American (2025)25th percentile~ school

Special Education (2019)12th percentile-14 vs school

Hispanic (2025)11th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Writing39%~ state avg

Reading38%-11 vs state

Social Studies37%~ state avg

Editing and Mechanics34%-13 vs state

Science31%-6 vs state

Mathematics29%-14 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, August 6, 2015

The Principal at Southern Elementary,,,, is such as poor excuse for a school,"" PRINCIPAL ""... Students are suppose to look up to & parents should appreciate..... NOT POSSIBLE WITH HER!!!!!!!!!!!! Southern is in desperate need of a "" REAL PRINCIPAL"" So the total outlook on the school could be """ POSITIVE """ Close Quote

Schools Near Southern Elementary School

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 Reading 3rd Grade	KSA Reading 4th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Science 4th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th 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
Southern Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	340 Wilson Downing Rd	Lexington	40517	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 381-3589	476	39	12.0	71.0%	156 (32.8%)	137 (28.8%)	94 (19.7%)	29 (6.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	57 (12.0%)	29	509^th of 685 public elementary schools	25.7%		28.1	514^th of 685 public elementary schools	25.0%	5	18.0	31.0	39.0	35.0	39.0	41.0	31.0	39.0	37.0	34.0	$25,625	$726	$1,045	$1,772	$17,858	$3,053	$20,911
Lansdowne Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	336 Redding Rd	Lexington	40517	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 381-3500	610	47	12.9	71.6%	206 (33.8%)	191 (31.3%)	122 (20.0%)	38 (6.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (8.5%)	16.3	597^th of 685 public elementary schools	12.8%		19.1	577^th of 685 public elementary schools	15.8%	20	28.0	32.0	26.0	39.0	34.0	33.0	23.0	18.0	23.0	18.0	$23,658	$732	$986	$1,718	$15,821	$2,974	$18,795
Millcreek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1212 Reva Ridge Way	Lexington	40517	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 381-3527	529	44	11.9	70.5%	135 (25.5%)	198 (37.4%)	120 (22.7%)	14 (2.6%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	59 (11.2%)	11.7	631^st of 685 public elementary schools	7.9%		8.4	647^th of 685 public elementary schools	5.5%	16	25.0	25.0	15.0	34.0	28.0	27.0	15.0	22.0	20.0	30.0	$24,709	$1,026	$1,195	$2,221	$16,539	$3,003	$19,542
Veterans Park Elementary School	Public	K-5	4351 Clearwater Way	Lexington	40515	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	No	(859) 381-3161	702	45	15.4	32.2%	465 (66.2%)	87 (12.4%)	44 (6.3%)	34 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	69 (9.8%)	85.4	70^th of 685 public elementary schools	89.8%		83.4	79^th of 685 public elementary schools	88.5%	9	60.0	63.0	67.0	66.0	68.0	63.0	59.0	53.0	59.0	62.0	$23,148	$1,262	$949	$2,211	$15,082	$2,946	$18,028
Tates Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1113 Centre Pkwy	Lexington	40517	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 381-3606	626	49	12.6	78.1%	182 (29.1%)	245 (39.1%)	110 (17.6%)	16 (2.6%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	69 (11.0%)	35.6	459^th of 685 public elementary schools	33.0%		22	559^th of 685 public elementary schools	18.4%	100	33.0	34.0	29.0	40.0	44.0	51.0	32.0	43.0	34.0	41.0	$24,194	$872	$1,120	$1,991	$16,272	$3,000	$19,272
Julius Marks Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3277 Pepperhill Rd	Lexington	40502	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 381-3470	444	34	13.0	68.9%	167 (37.6%)	131 (29.5%)	85 (19.1%)	6 (1.4%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (11.7%)	30.3	503^rd of 685 public elementary schools	26.6%		26.7	525^th of 685 public elementary schools	23.4%	22	29.0	47.0	31.0	35.0	50.0	39.0	26.0	34.0	31.0	33.0	$24,127	$731	$1,114	$1,845	$16,461	$3,021	$19,482
Wellington Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3280 Keithshire Way	Lexington	40503	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	No	(859) 381-3000	608	43	14.2	36.0%	332 (54.6%)	47 (7.7%)	73 (12.0%)	103 (16.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (8.6%)	91.7	27^th of 685 public elementary schools	96.1%		90.1	33^rd of 685 public elementary schools	95.2%	6	63.0	76.0	80.0	75.0	67.0	69.0	57.0	64.0	58.0	75.0	$22,536	$1,382	$975	$2,358	$14,442	$2,832	$17,273
Glendover Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	710 Glendover Rd	Lexington	40502	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 381-3403	482	39	12.3	42.9%	254 (52.7%)	49 (10.2%)	100 (20.7%)	47 (9.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (6.4%)	84.5	77^th of 685 public elementary schools	88.8%		71.9	145^th of 685 public elementary schools	78.8%	68	64.0	73.0	63.0	57.0	77.0	64.0	66.0	52.0	55.0	55.0	$25,778	$512	$949	$1,461	$18,406	$2,919	$21,325
Stonewall Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3215 Cornwall Dr	Lexington	40503	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	No	(859) 381-3079	674	45	14.8	30.7%	475 (70.5%)	45 (6.7%)	63 (9.3%)	44 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (7.0%)	81.5	91^st of 685 public elementary schools	86.7%		80.9	89^th of 685 public elementary schools	87.0%	2	58.0	60.0	63.0	68.0	70.0	69.0	56.0	42.0	63.0	51.0	$22,240	$439	$949	$1,389	$15,233	$2,818	$18,051
Clays Mill Elementary School	Public	K-5	2319 Clays Mill Rd	Lexington	40503	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	No	(859) 381-3355	527	39	13.5	27.1%	407 (77.2%)	21 (4.0%)	39 (7.4%)	15 (2.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (8.3%)	96.1	7^th of 685 public elementary schools	99.0%		93.2	15^th of 685 public elementary schools	97.8%	8	71.0	69.0	81.0	63.0	80.0	91.0	63.0	80.0	83.0	89.0	$24,466	$1,099	$990	$2,088	$16,576	$2,871	$19,447

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Elementary School

Is Southern Elementary School a good school?

Southern Elementary School ranks 509^th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Southern Elementary School?

Students at Southern Elementary School are 33% White, 29% African American, 20% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 6% Asian.

What district is Southern Elementary School in?

Fayette County

What schools do graduates of Southern Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Southern Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Southern Middle School
High : Tates Creek High School

How many students attend Southern Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 476 students attended Southern Elementary School.

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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.