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Harlan Elementary School

Q: Is Harlan Elementary School a good school?

Harlan Elementary School ranks 216 th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-4

216^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 68% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Harlan Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Harlan, Kentucky, serving 352 students in grades K-4. The school is part of the Harlan Independent School District, which is ranked 21 out of 157 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Harlan Elementary School has consistently performed well on state assessments, with a significant portion of students scoring proficient or better in mathematics, reading, and science. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 62% of 3rd and 4th grade students were proficient or better in reading, compared to the state averages of 47% and 50%, respectively. The school has also shown strong performance across various student subgroups, ranking highly for special education students and low socioeconomic status students. However, the school has faced higher-than-average chronic absenteeism rates, a challenge shared by many schools in the region.

Compared to nearby schools, Harlan Elementary School's performance is generally stronger than other schools within the Harlan County district, such as Evarts Elementary and Wallins Elementary, which have lower test scores and rankings. However, the school lags behind the performance of Stinnett Elementary, a school in the neighboring Leslie County district, which has consistently higher test scores and a 4-star rating. Despite the socioeconomic challenges faced by the school, Harlan Elementary School has been able to effectively utilize its resources, including a relatively low student-to-teacher ratio and high spending per student, to provide a quality education to its diverse student population.

335

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$30,344

Per pupil spending ?

61.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

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: Recently slipping — 96th percentile in 2019 → 68th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (52% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Above the Kentucky median (68th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 96th-percentile peak (2019) to 68th (2025)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school52%

District avg52%

Kentucky avg44%

216^th of 685

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Top 32%▲ up 43 pts since 2015

From bottom 26% (2015) to top 32% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

21^st of 157Harlan 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	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
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
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
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
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

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

Male (2025)83rd percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)77th percentile+9 vs school

White (2025)61st percentile-7 vs school

Female (2025)60th percentile-8 vs school

Homeless (2022)35th percentile-41 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Reading62%+14 vs state

Science56%+19 vs state

Mathematics39%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Harlan 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 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	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
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%)	65.4	216^th of 685 public elementary schools	68.5%		54.5	299^th of 685 public elementary schools	56.4%	83	37.0	41.0					62.0	62.0					56.0								$30,344	$2,977	$1,728	$4,705	$15,367	$3,550	$18,917
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%)	62.5	232^nd of 685 public elementary schools	66.1%		66.5	198^th of 685 public elementary schools	71.1%	34	45.0	58.0	40.0	44.0	55.0	56.0	73.0	79.0	53.0	72.0	36.0	59.0		32.0	17.0	66.0	40.0	53.0	53.0	69.0	$26,118	$3,597	$2,074	$5,671	$10,588	$3,445	$14,033
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%)	60.7	246^th of 685 public elementary schools	64.1%		66	207^th of 685 public elementary schools	69.8%	39	33.0	52.0	49.0	41.0	58.0	43.0	42.0	73.0	54.0	63.0	55.0	46.0	58.0	53.0	24.0	69.0	51.0	49.0	61.0	69.0	$23,811	$2,620	$2,102	$4,722	$8,951	$2,900	$11,851
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%)	75.1	135^th of 685 public elementary schools	80.3%		75.6	117^th of 685 public elementary schools	82.9%	18	43.0		50.0	57.0	67.0	67.0	57.0		63.0	71.0		60.0					56.0	67.0	63.0	73.0	$25,385	$3,438	$2,102	$5,540	$14,170	$3,418	$17,588
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%)	29	508^th of 685 public elementary schools	25.8%		32.6	474^th of 685 public elementary schools	30.8%	34	24.0		24.0	28.0	18.0	43.0	47.0	35.0	41.0	63.0	29.0	27.0	29.0		22.0	59.0	35.0	41.0	35.0	51.0	$21,698	$3,039	$2,143	$5,182	$9,972	$2,846	$12,818
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%)	63.7	224^th of 685 public elementary schools	67.3%		83.9	75^th of 685 public elementary schools	89.1%	149		44.0			85.0	72.0		64.0				39.0	44.0	55.0	28.0	39.0	67.0	44.0			$25,390	$3,682	$2,044	$5,726	$11,331	$3,227	$14,558
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%)	52.7	315^th of 685 public elementary schools	54.0%		61.6	238^th of 685 public elementary schools	65.3%	77	26.0	50.0	33.0	61.0	17.0	19.0	32.0	70.0	54.0	77.0	39.0		35.0		44.0	70.0	33.0		46.0	70.0	$19,232	$3,185	$2,182	$5,367	$9,426	$2,760	$12,186
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%)	45.2	377^th of 685 public elementary schools	45.0%		61	244^th of 685 public elementary schools	64.4%	133	46.0	37.0	42.0	28.0			42.0	59.0	42.0	40.0			41.0				50.0	20.0	50.0	67.0	$24,494	$3,747	$2,097	$5,844	$11,072	$3,508	$14,580
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%)	44.3	387^th of 685 public elementary schools	43.5%					(n/a)		33.0		33.0	73.0		55.0			67.0	45.0	55.0	27.0					55.0		36.0	$41,599	$3,654	$77	$3,731	$27,584	$5,164	$32,748
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%)	80.1	101^st of 685 public elementary schools	85.3%		76.4	112^th of 685 public elementary schools	83.6%	11	84.0	55.0			49.0	54.0		58.0	87.0	58.0	54.0	54.0				57.0		64.0		54.0	$18,389	$1,826	$780	$2,600	$10,079	$2,811	$13,318

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.

What schools do graduates of Harlan Elementary School attend?

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

High : Harlan High School

Is Harlan Elementary School a good school?

Harlan Elementary School ranks 216^th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Harlan Elementary School?

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

Rate Harlan 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.