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Central Hardin High School

Q: Is Central Hardin High School a good school?

Central Hardin High School ranks 32 nd of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

32^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 262 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 88% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Central Hardin High School in Cecilia serves grades 9–12 and has 1,831 students in Hardin County. Its 2025–26 KSA proficiency rates were above state and district rates in all six reported subjects, and 98% of students graduated, compared with 94% in the state and 94% in the district. The main concern for families to weigh alongside these results is chronic absenteeism: 27% of students were chronically absent, above the state’s 24% and the district’s 19%.

Social studies is Central Hardin’s clearest test strength among nearby comparable high schools: 56% were proficient, 19 points above the state and tied for the highest result among the five schools. The school placed second in math, reading, science, and editing and mechanics, and third in writing. Writing is its weakest subject relative to nearby peers: 57% were proficient, 3 points below their 60% average, though still 10 points above the state. Chronic absenteeism is also higher than at three of the four nearby schools, including John Hardin, LaRue County, and Elizabethtown; only North Hardin has a higher rate.

Test results have generally improved: from 2022–23 to 2025–26, proficiency rose 16 points in science, 12 in social studies, 11 in math, 9 in reading, and 8 in writing, while editing and mechanics dipped 1 point. SchoolDigger ranks the school 32nd of 262 statewide, at the 88th percentile with four stars; that is second among these nearby schools, just behind Elizabethtown at the 91st percentile. Its 2024–25 student-teacher ratio was 19.3, the highest among the five comparable schools, and 39% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible. One notable SchoolDigger subgroup result is the African American students’ effectiveness ranking: it reached the 95th percentile in 2025–26, up from the 26th percentile in 2023–24 and above the school’s overall 88th percentile.

1,831

Students ?

19.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,993

Per pupil spending ?

38.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

3040 Leitchfield Rd
Cecilia, KY 42724

(270) 737-6800

District: Hardin County

Feeder schools for Central Hardin High School:

Elementary:	Cecilia Valley Elementary School
	Creekside Elementary School
	G C Burkhead Elementary School
	Lakewood Elementary School
	More...
	Lincoln Trail Elementary School
Middle:	East Hardin Middle School
	West Hardin Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.8%

Hispanic:

7.4%

Two or more races:

6.0%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Central Hardin High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 86th percentile in 2016 → 88th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (51% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 12% of Kentucky high schools

✓98% graduate in 4 years — above the Kentucky average (94%)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school51%

District avg46%

Kentucky avg39%

32^nd of 262

Kentucky public high schools ?

Top 12%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3High Schools in the Hardin County

90^th of 158Hardin 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	80.2	32 of 262	87.8%	★★★★☆
2025	59.4	79 of 254	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.7	87 of 290	70.0%	★★★★☆
2023	71.2	52 of 276	81.2%	★★★★☆
2022	75.3	37 of 271	86.3%	★★★★☆
2021	69.1	46 of 267	82.8%	★★★★☆
2019	72.0	53 of 285	81.4%	★★★★☆
2018	76.3	46 of 271	83.0%	★★★★☆
2017	80.4	32 of 287	88.9%	★★★★☆
2016	77.7	40 of 288	86.1%	★★★★☆
2015	81.6	31 of 295	89.5%	★★★★☆
2014	83.3	27 of 290	90.7%	★★★★★
2013	74.9	44 of 291	84.9%	★★★★☆
2012	60.8	71 of 229	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	75.8	32 of 226	85.8%	★★★★☆
2010	78.8	29 of 223	87.0%	★★★★☆
2009	41.9	128 of 217	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	53.2	90 of 217	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	60.8	65 of 217	70.0%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	82.5	4 of 75	94.7%	★★★★★
2025	82.9	7 of 75	90.7%	★★★★★
2024	26.8	69 of 93	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	82.3	7 of 89	92.1%	★★★★★
2021	43.7	37 of 78	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	99.1	2 of 89	97.8%	★★★★★
2018	93.5	5 of 94	94.7%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	40.9	88 of 153	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	57.6	47 of 154	69.5%	★★★★☆
2019	41.3	91 of 166	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.6	90 of 166	45.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	76.4	37 of 244	84.8%	★★★★☆
2025	54.9	95 of 239	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.3	68 of 261	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	72.4	43 of 253	83.0%	★★★★☆
2022	72.8	42 of 252	83.3%	★★★★☆
2021	68.9	44 of 236	81.4%	★★★★☆
2019	73.9	43 of 249	82.7%	★★★★☆
2018	75.2	46 of 234	80.3%	★★★★☆

Foster Care

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2024	22.9	3 of 4	25.0%	★★★★☆
2018	76.8	1 of 7	85.7%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	83.5	3 of 18	83.3%	★★★★☆
2025	36.0	12 of 17	29.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	80.2	5 of 23	78.3%	★★★★☆
2022	67.3	12 of 38	68.4%	★★★★☆
2019	70.0	18 of 102	82.4%	★★★★☆
2018	44.8	77 of 115	33.0%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	90.1	5 of 115	95.7%	★★★★★
2025	92.0	5 of 115	95.7%	★★★★★
2024	84.2	11 of 124	91.1%	★★★★★
2023	79.4	12 of 116	89.7%	★★★★★
2022	92.0	4 of 114	96.5%	★★★★★
2021	83.7	8 of 92	91.3%	★★★★★
2019	91.8	3 of 88	96.6%	★★★★★
2018	89.0	6 of 80	92.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	71.2	40 of 245	83.7%	★★★★☆
2025	55.9	83 of 242	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.2	101 of 274	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.5	62 of 272	77.2%	★★★★☆
2022	68.0	48 of 266	82.0%	★★★★☆
2021	45.9	116 of 234	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	75.5	40 of 254	84.3%	★★★★☆
2018	65.5	58 of 232	75.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	79.3	30 of 243	87.7%	★★★★☆
2025	58.8	78 of 239	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.3	108 of 262	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.6	57 of 259	78.0%	★★★★☆
2022	72.5	41 of 257	84.0%	★★★★☆
2021	59.8	60 of 238	74.8%	★★★★☆
2019	72.3	48 of 251	80.9%	★★★★☆
2018	73.9	44 of 237	81.4%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	67.6	1 of 5	80.0%	★★★★★
2024	79.4	1 of 5	80.0%	★★★★★
2023	66.9	2 of 5	60.0%	★★★★☆
2022	75.9	2 of 5	60.0%	★★★★☆
2021	96.9	1 of 5	80.0%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	58.8	29 of 87	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.1	53 of 89	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.9	48 of 87	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.5	33 of 76	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.8	21 of 77	72.7%	★★★★☆
2021	66.7	13 of 49	73.5%	★★★★☆
2019	70.9	10 of 39	74.4%	★★★★☆
2018	69.7	11 of 42	73.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	50.6	29 of 84	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	30.7	61 of 86	29.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.6	87 of 168	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.5	130 of 162	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	76.5	33 of 226	85.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	74.8	45 of 253	82.2%	★★★★☆
2025	51.4	110 of 251	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.0	98 of 273	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.1	69 of 264	73.9%	★★★★☆
2022	69.1	48 of 260	81.5%	★★★★☆
2021	58.3	58 of 203	71.4%	★★★★☆
2019	64.9	60 of 219	72.6%	★★★★☆
2018	66.0	56 of 198	71.7%	★★★★☆

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)

Hispanic (2026)96th percentile+8 vs school

African American (2026)95th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)88th percentile~ school

Female (2026)85th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)84th percentile-4 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)83rd percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)82nd percentile-6 vs school

Military Connected (2025)80th percentile+11 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)67th percentile-21 vs school

Special Education (2026)65th percentile-22 vs school

Disabled (2022)42nd percentile-44 vs school

Foster Care (2024)25th percentile-45 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Reading58%+9 vs state

Writing57%+10 vs state

Social Studies56%+19 vs state

Editing and Mechanics53%+13 vs state

Mathematics52%+12 vs state

Science32%+9 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Saturday, December 31, 2016

Great school! It is a learning environment! Close Quote

Schools Near Central Hardin High School

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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 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Science 11th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Hardin High School	Public	9-12	3040 Leitchfield Rd	Cecilia	42724	Hardin County	Hardin County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 737-6800	1,831	95	19.3	38.9%	1,498 (81.8%)	59 (3.2%)	136 (7.4%)	22 (1.2%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	110 (6.0%)	80.2	32^nd of 262 public high schools	87.8%		59.4	79^th of 254 public high schools	68.9%	47			52.0			58.0		32.0		57.0		56.0		53.0	$25,993	$1,874	$24,119
Early College and Career Center	Public	9-12	200 University Drive	Elizabethtown	42701	Hardin County	Hardin County	No	No	No	No	(270) 769-7930	0	22	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Hardin County Day Treatment Center	Public	6-12	643 Westport Road	Elizabethtown	42701	Hardin County	Hardin County	No	No	No	No	(270) 769-8800	8	3	2.6	—	2 (25.0%)	4 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (25.0%)								(n/a)															$35,221	$3,188	$32,033
Glen Dale Center	Public, Virtual	7-12	1030 Commerce Dr	Elizabethtown	42701	Hardin County	Elizabethtown Independent	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(270) 506-1215	10	2	5.0	30.0%	9 (90.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (10.0%)								(n/a)															$34,053	$5,553	$26,065
Elizabethtown High School	Public	9-12	620 N Mulberry St	Elizabethtown	42701	Hardin County	Elizabethtown Independent	No	No	No	No	(270) 769-3381	757	45	16.9	36.6%	489 (64.6%)	65 (8.6%)	83 (11.0%)	24 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	95 (12.5%)	83.4	23^rd of 262 public high schools	91.2%		82.9	26^th of 254 public high schools	89.8%	3			45.0			56.0		34.0		71.0		56.0		63.0	$16,875	$715	$13,724
John Hardin High School	Public	9-12	384 W A Jenkins Rd	Elizabethtown	42701	Hardin County	Hardin County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 769-8906	868	54	15.9	48.2%	493 (56.8%)	153 (17.6%)	106 (12.2%)	20 (2.3%)	2 (0.2%)	4 (0.5%)	90 (10.4%)	79.7	34^th of 262 public high schools	87.0%		78.3	38^th of 254 public high schools	85.0%	4			58.0			63.0		28.0		63.0		46.0		51.0	$29,019	$1,893	$27,125
North Hardin High School	Public	9-12	801 S Logsdon Parkway	Radcliff	40160	Hardin County	Hardin County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 351-3167	1,593	88	18.1	49.2%	809 (50.8%)	329 (20.7%)	194 (12.2%)	22 (1.4%)	4 (0.3%)	16 (1.0%)	219 (13.7%)	55.4	104^th of 262 public high schools	60.3%		55.3	105^th of 254 public high schools	58.7%	1			43.0			47.0		22.0		51.0		40.0		44.0	$26,533	$1,762	$24,771
LaRue County High School	Public	9-12	925 S Lincoln Blvd	Hodgenville	42748	Larue County	LaRue County	No	No	No	No	(270) 358-2210	754	45	16.7	57.0%	641 (85.0%)	26 (3.4%)	63 (8.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	22 (2.9%)	49.6	123^rd of 262 public high schools	53.1%		63.9	68^th of 254 public high schools	73.2%	55			32.0			48.0		19.0		55.0		42.0		40.0	$15,330	$839	$12,367
Bluegrass Challenge Academy	Public	9-12	Bldg 296-714 Dixie St	Fort Knox	40121	Hardin County	Kentucky National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academies	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(502) 624-3842	80			3.8%	58 (72.5%)	10 (12.5%)	9 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.8%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Hardin High School

What is the racial makeup of Central Hardin High School?

Students at Central Hardin High School are 82% White, 7% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% African American, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Central Hardin High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,831 students attended Central Hardin High School.

What schools feed into Central Hardin High School?

Central Hardin High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Cecilia Valley Elementary School
Elementary : Creekside Elementary School
Elementary : G C Burkhead Elementary School
Elementary : Lakewood Elementary School
Elementary : Lincoln Trail Elementary School
Middle : East Hardin Middle School
Middle : West Hardin Middle School

Is Central Hardin High School a good school?

Central Hardin High School ranks 32^nd of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Central Hardin High School in?

Hardin 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.