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Brenda Cowan Elementary

Q: Is Brenda Cowan Elementary a good school?

Brenda Cowan Elementary ranks 305 th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

305^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 55% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Brenda Cowan Elementary is a public elementary school in Lexington, Kentucky, serving 570 students in grades PK-5 and part of the Fayette County School District. The school has consistently performed above the district and state averages in both mathematics and reading proficiency, indicating its ability to effectively educate its students.

Brenda Cowan Elementary has shown strong performance for its African American and Hispanic student subgroups, ranking in the top 20% of Kentucky elementary schools in these categories. However, the school's performance for its English Language Learner and Special Education student subgroups has been relatively lower, ranking in the middle to bottom half of Kentucky elementary schools. The school's higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to the district and state averages may be an area of concern that the school should investigate and address.

When compared to nearby schools in the Fayette County School District, Brenda Cowan Elementary generally outperforms the other schools in both mathematics and reading proficiency, particularly in the upper elementary grades. The nearby schools, such as Tates Creek Elementary and Millcreek Elementary, have higher percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, which may contribute to their lower academic performance compared to Brenda Cowan Elementary.

586

Students ?

13.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,920

Per pupil spending ?

44.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4801 Athens-Boonesboro Road
Lexington, KY 40509

(859) 381-4000

District: Fayette County

Students who attend Brenda Cowan Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Edythe Jones Hayes Middle School
High:	Henry Clay High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

41.3%

African American:

20.5%

Asian:

16.4%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Brenda Cowan Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 79th percentile in 2021 → 55th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Kentucky median (55th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 24 percentile points since 2021

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg48%

Kentucky avg44%

305^th of 685

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Top 45%▼ down 24 pts since 2021

From top 21% (2021) to top 45% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

17^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	53.9	305 of 685	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.3	211 of 685	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	75.2	114 of 687	83.4%	★★★★☆
2022	80.1	84 of 684	87.7%	★★★★☆
2021	68.7	108 of 517	79.1%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	48.9	59 of 142	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	79.3	13 of 140	90.7%	★★★★★
2023	76.8	12 of 129	90.7%	★★★★★
2022	79.9	11 of 118	90.7%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	49.0	16 of 26	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.2	14 of 25	44.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.9	8 of 23	65.2%	★★★★☆
2022	74.2	5 of 19	73.7%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	60.2	23 of 69	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.3	17 of 64	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	78.0	8 of 65	87.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	50.9	310 of 648	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.8	323 of 644	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.1	110 of 639	82.8%	★★★★☆
2022	72.9	111 of 641	82.7%	★★★★☆
2021	59.1	107 of 312	65.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	81.0	17 of 168	89.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	30.2	503 of 672	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	49.5	311 of 665	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.1	172 of 670	74.3%	★★★★☆
2022	69.5	114 of 667	82.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	52.7	298 of 653	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	77.7	91 of 652	86.0%	★★★★☆
2023	69.2	142 of 652	78.2%	★★★★☆
2022	77.0	84 of 657	87.2%	★★★★☆
2021	75.1	49 of 325	84.9%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2023	35.4	29 of 43	32.6%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2023	33.9	181 of 257	29.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	57.6	255 of 659	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.0	141 of 659	78.6%	★★★★☆
2023	80.8	83 of 658	87.4%	★★★★☆
2022	76.1	103 of 656	84.3%	★★★★☆
2021	84.1	31 of 337	90.8%	★★★★★

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)

Hispanic (2025)90th percentile+34 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)67th percentile+11 vs school

White (2025)61st percentile+6 vs school

African American (2025)58th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)54th percentile~ school

Female (2025)52nd percentile-3 vs school

Asian (2025)38th percentile-17 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)33rd percentile-51 vs school

Special Education (2023)30th percentile-54 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)25th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Reading58%+9 vs state

Mathematics44%~ state avg

Social Studies43%+5 vs state

Science40%+3 vs state

Editing and Mechanics38%-9 vs state

Writing31%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Brenda Cowan 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 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
Brenda Cowan Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4801 Athens-Boonesboro Road	Lexington	40509	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	No	(859) 381-4000	586	43	13.5	44.9%	242 (41.3%)	120 (20.5%)	71 (12.1%)	96 (16.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (9.6%)	53.9	305^th of 685 public elementary schools	55.5%		65.3	211^th of 685 public elementary schools	69.2%	94	43.0	45.0	43.0	61.0	57.0	56.0	40.0	31.0	43.0	38.0	$22,920	$693	$997	$1,691	$15,495	$2,934	$18,430
Athens-Chilesburg Elementary	Public	K-5	930 Jouett Creek Dr	Lexington	40509	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	No	(859) 381-4955	620	41	15.1	21.3%	412 (66.5%)	39 (6.3%)	34 (5.5%)	102 (16.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.3%)	94.2	16^th of 685 public elementary schools	97.7%		94.1	12^th of 685 public elementary schools	98.2%	4	71.0	76.0	76.0	76.0	71.0	77.0	70.0	61.0	63.0	72.0	$22,982	$1,132	$951	$2,084	$15,093	$3,005	$18,098
Garrett Morgan Elementary	Public	K-5	1150 Passage Mound Way	Lexington	40509	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	No	(859) 381-3165	746	51	14.6	32.4%	429 (57.5%)	126 (16.9%)	58 (7.8%)	75 (10.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (7.6%)	79.9	104^th of 685 public elementary schools	84.8%		79.9	93^rd of 685 public elementary schools	86.4%	11	54.0	58.0	49.0	61.0	69.0	63.0	52.0	62.0	56.0	61.0	$21,466	$291	$949	$1,240	$14,477	$2,839	$17,316
Ridge Hospital Alternative Elementary	Public	K-5	3050 Rio Dosa Dr	Lexington	40509	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	No	(859) 269-2325	1	5	.2		1 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Squires Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3337 Squire Oak Dr.	Lexington	40515	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 381-3002	447	34	13.1	55.7%	209 (46.8%)	84 (18.8%)	99 (22.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	52 (11.6%)	56.7	284^th of 685 public elementary schools	58.5%		73.2	134^th of 685 public elementary schools	80.4%	150	54.0	78.0	48.0	50.0	65.0	47.0	54.0	24.0	27.0	32.0	$26,077	$904	$1,012	$1,915	$18,198	$3,017	$21,216
Liberty Elementary	Public	K-5	2585 Liberty Rd	Lexington	40509	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	No	(859) 381-4979	721	51	14.2	42.0%	339 (47.0%)	144 (20.0%)	120 (16.6%)	55 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	62 (8.6%)	78	121^st of 685 public elementary schools	82.3%		66.8	197^th of 685 public elementary schools	71.2%	76	58.0	54.0	66.0	55.0	64.0	67.0	46.0	48.0	58.0	59.0	$22,697	$367	$949	$1,316	$15,590	$2,883	$18,472
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
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
Madeline M Breckinridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2101 St. Mathilda Dr.	Lexington	40502	Fayette County	Fayette County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 381-3273	576	50	11.5	81.1%	86 (14.9%)	205 (35.6%)	230 (39.9%)	10 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (7.6%)	47.4	358^th of 685 public elementary schools	47.7%		40.6	411^th of 685 public elementary schools	40.0%	53	43.0	39.0	59.0	37.0	36.0	57.0	25.0	53.0	41.0	46.0	$24,211	$640	$1,315	$1,955	$16,342	$2,987	$19,329
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Brenda Cowan Elementary

How many students attend Brenda Cowan Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 586 students attended Brenda Cowan Elementary.

Is Brenda Cowan Elementary a good school?

Brenda Cowan Elementary ranks 305^th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Brenda Cowan Elementary attend?

Students who attend Brenda Cowan Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Edythe Jones Hayes Middle School
High : Henry Clay High School

What district is Brenda Cowan Elementary in?

Fayette County

What is the racial makeup of Brenda Cowan Elementary?

Students at Brenda Cowan Elementary are 41% White, 20% African American, 16% Asian, 12% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races.

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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.