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Harlan Elementary School

Q: Is Harlan Elementary School a good school?

Harlan Elementary School ranks 150 th of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-4

150^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 684 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 78% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Harlan Elementary School serves 335 students in grades K–4 in Harlan, Kentucky, and is one of 11 nearby schools in the comparison. Its clearest strength is reading: in 2025–26, grade-3 proficiency was 69% and grade-4 proficiency was 70%, both 20 percentage points above the state.

Reading is stronger than nearby results, while math is more mixed. Harlan’s reading matched the Harlan Independent district exactly; it was above the nearby-school average in both grades, and its grade-4 result was the highest among available nearby scores. In math, Harlan’s grade-3 rate of 51% was 8 points above the state and 9 above the nearby average. Grade 4 was weaker: 42%, 1 point below the state, though about 2 points above the nearby average; district results matched Harlan in both grades. Earlier grade-4 science scores were also favorable—62% in 2022–23 and 56% in 2024–25, compared with state rates of 35% and 37%—but the latest result is suppressed, so current science performance cannot be assessed. Chronic absenteeism is another positive: it was 24% in 2025–26, equal to the state rate and below the district’s 28% and nearby-school average of 40%.

Reading has strengthened over time: the average across grades 3 and 4 rose from 59% in 2022–23 to 70% in 2025–26, while the advantage over the state widened from 12 to 20 points. Math’s two-grade average also improved, from 41% to 47%, though grade 4 remains less strong than grade 3. SchoolDigger ranks Harlan 150th of 684 Kentucky schools, at the 78th percentile with four stars; it is fourth among the 11 nearby schools. The school’s student-teacher ratio was 14.7 in 2024–25, above the nearby average of 12.6. In that year, 61% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, compared with an 81% average among nearby schools reporting the same measure. SchoolDigger’s subgroup rankings show particularly high relative standing for Low Socio Economic Status Students: the group ranked at the 95th percentile in 2025–26, versus 78th overall. Female Students ranked at the 61st percentile, below the school’s overall standing.

335

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$30,798

Per pupil spending ?

61.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

420 E Central St
Harlan, KY 40831

(606) 573-8715

District: Harlan Independent

Students who attend Harlan Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Harlan High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.4%

Two or more races:

9.6%

African American:

2.4%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Harlan Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 77th percentile in 2016 → 78th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (58% vs 45% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 22% of Kentucky elementary schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg58%

Kentucky avg45%

150^th of 684

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Top 22%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

26^th of 158Harlan 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
2026	72.9	150 of 684	78.1%	★★★★☆
2025	65.4	216 of 685	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.5	299 of 685	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.1	176 of 687	74.4%	★★★★☆
2022	68.2	162 of 684	76.3%	★★★★☆
2021	72.8	88 of 517	83.0%	★★★★☆
2019	89.7	25 of 700	96.4%	★★★★★
2018	89.3	37 of 691	94.6%	★★★★★
2017	74.3	135 of 694	80.5%	★★★★☆
2016	71.5	161 of 690	76.7%	★★★★☆
2015	33.3	518 of 698	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	24.9	588 of 705	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	54.9	316 of 719	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	63.3	224 of 713	68.6%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	93.1	9 of 206	95.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	57.8	255 of 657	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.3	259 of 648	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	31.2	475 of 644	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	53.7	266 of 639	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.5	303 of 641	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	84.0	47 of 671	93.0%	★★★★★
2018	76.8	97 of 663	85.4%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	51.4	11 of 17	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	96.7	1 of 40	97.5%	★★★★★
2018	92.1	1 of 34	97.1%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	88.5	35 of 674	94.8%	★★★★★
2025	68.6	154 of 672	77.1%	★★★★☆
2024	46.1	348 of 665	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	63.8	178 of 670	73.4%	★★★★☆
2022	73.8	80 of 667	88.0%	★★★★☆
2019	95.0	6 of 664	99.1%	★★★★★
2018	96.0	10 of 631	98.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	81.7	79 of 651	87.9%	★★★★☆
2025	75.9	108 of 653	83.5%	★★★★☆
2024	71.4	135 of 652	79.3%	★★★★☆
2023	71.0	122 of 652	81.3%	★★★★☆
2022	79.7	69 of 657	89.5%	★★★★☆
2019	91.6	17 of 676	97.5%	★★★★★
2018	95.8	5 of 665	99.2%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	78.6	47 of 306	84.6%	★★★★☆
2023	74.6	43 of 257	83.3%	★★★★☆
2019	81.0	74 of 661	88.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	67.7	176 of 650	72.9%	★★★★☆
2025	57.9	254 of 659	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.8	354 of 659	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	63.6	194 of 658	70.5%	★★★★☆
2022	62.3	196 of 656	70.1%	★★★★☆
2019	81.0	76 of 592	87.2%	★★★★☆
2018	88.2	41 of 593	93.1%	★★★★★

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)

Disabled (2022)96th percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)95th percentile+17 vs school

Male (2026)88th percentile+10 vs school

Special Education (2025)85th percentile+16 vs school

White (2026)73rd percentile-5 vs school

Female (2026)61st percentile-17 vs school

Homeless (2022)35th percentile-41 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Reading70%+20 vs state

Mathematics46%+4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Harlan Elementary 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 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 Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Harlan Elementary School	Public	K-4	420 E Central St	Harlan	40831	Harlan County	Harlan Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 573-8715	335	23	14.7	61.2%	286 (85.4%)	8 (2.4%)	6 (1.8%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (9.6%)	72.9	150^th of 684 public elementary schools	78.1%		65.4	216^th of 685 public elementary schools	68.5%	66	51.0	42.0					69.0	70.0													$30,798	$4,562	$20,578
James A. Cawood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	279 Ball Park Rd	Harlan	40831	Harlan County	Harlan County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 573-5029	277	25	10.9	83.0%	273 (98.6%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	73.7	144^th of 684 public elementary schools	78.9%		62.5	232^nd of 685 public elementary schools	66.1%	88	54.0	43.0	56.0	58.0	57.0	40.0	75.0	57.0	64.0	58.0	51.0	44.0	57.0	31.0	32.0		64.0	36.0	68.0	48.0	$15,691	$2,630	$16,708
Rosspoint Elementary School	Public	K-8	132 Hwy 522	Baxter	40806	Harlan County	Harlan County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 573-4600	369	25	14.7	77.2%	361 (97.8%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.1%)	49	347^th of 684 public elementary schools	49.3%		60.7	246^th of 685 public elementary schools	64.1%	101	32.0	17.0	45.0	52.0	43.0	54.0	50.0	45.0	64.0	71.0	66.0	44.0	19.0	23.0	21.0	59.0	48.0	61.0	67.0	63.0	$15,210	$1,911	$13,033
Green Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	123 W Hwy 221	Bledsoe	40810	Harlan County	Harlan County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 558-3533	147	11	13.3	83.7%	132 (89.8%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (9.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	54.5	292^nd of 684 public elementary schools	57.3%		75.1	135^th of 685 public elementary schools	80.3%	157	25.0	64.0		53.0	42.0	25.0	42.0	43.0		73.0	58.0	42.0	43.0	67.0							$21,623	$1,988	$19,586
Wallins Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	993 Hwy 219	Wallins Creek	40873	Harlan County	Harlan County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 664-3444	352	28	12.8	81.0%	344 (97.7%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.7%)	30	498^th of 684 public elementary schools	27.2%		29	508^th of 685 public elementary schools	25.8%	10		36.0		37.0	48.0	13.0	49.0	44.0	44.0	43.0	58.0		28.0		38.0	53.0	28.0	20.0	13.0	30.0	$16,796	$2,523	$14,028
Cawood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	51 Nola St	Cawood	40815	Harlan County	Harlan County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 573-2502	209	16	13.0	86.6%	200 (95.7%)	2 (1.0%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	81.9	90^th of 684 public elementary schools	86.8%		63.7	224^th of 685 public elementary schools	67.3%	134	67.0		30.0	82.0		63.0	75.0		78.0							75.0	57.0				$19,167	$2,203	$16,592
Evarts Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	132 Keister St	Evarts	40828	Harlan County	Harlan County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 837-2386	335	24	13.9	88.1%	320 (95.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.1%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.5%)	61.3	235^th of 684 public elementary schools	65.6%		52.7	315^th of 685 public elementary schools	54.0%	80	30.0	38.0	59.0	53.0	53.0	21.0	43.0	48.0	65.0	81.0	69.0	15.0	35.0	47.0	41.0	64.0	65.0	26.0	65.0	49.0	$16,079	$2,297	$13,529
Black Mountain Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	1555 Hwy 215	Evarts	40828	Harlan County	Harlan County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 837-2214	248	22	11.2	90.7%	236 (95.2%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.8%)	37.2	437^th of 684 public elementary schools	36.1%		45.2	377^th of 685 public elementary schools	45.0%	60	45.0	26.0		43.0	19.0		55.0		50.0	57.0	33.0	15.0	35.0	29.0			19.0	30.0	23.0	30.0	$20,543	$3,196	$17,024
Right Fork School Center	Public	PK, KG-8	5296 Hwy. 221	Stoney Fork	40988	Bell County	Bell County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 337-3271	152	14	11.0	91.4%	147 (96.7%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.0%)	42.3	402^nd of 684 public elementary schools	41.2%		44.3	387^th of 685 public elementary schools	43.5%	15			39.0				38.0	44.0	50.0	70.0					28.0		33.0	55.0	44.0		$51,426	$4,995	$41,597
Stinnett Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	12975 Hwy 421	Hoskinston	40844	Leslie County	Leslie County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 374-3641	314	23	13.8	68.8%	313 (99.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	81.6	93^rd of 684 public elementary schools	86.4%		80.1	101^st of 685 public elementary schools	85.3%	8		59.0	53.0	59.0	31.0	46.0		69.0	63.0	76.0	51.0	51.0	59.0	15.0	33.0	49.0	80.0	31.0	73.0	34.0	$18,852	$2,089	$14,655

Frequently Asked Questions about Harlan Elementary School

What district is Harlan Elementary School in?

Harlan Independent

What is the racial makeup of Harlan Elementary School?

Students at Harlan Elementary School are 85% White, 10% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Hispanic.

Is Harlan Elementary School a good school?

Harlan Elementary School ranks 150^th of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Harlan Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 335 students attended Harlan Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Harlan Elementary School attend?

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

High : Harlan High School

Rate Harlan Elementary School!

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Schools in Harlan, KY

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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.