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Harlan High School

Public Grades 5-12

15^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 254 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 94% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Harlan High School is a public high school located in Harlan, Kentucky, serving grades 5-12 with a total enrollment of 449 students. The school is part of the Harlan Independent School District, which is ranked 21 out of 157 districts in Kentucky and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Harlan High School has demonstrated a remarkable track record of academic excellence, consistently ranking among the top high schools in Kentucky over the past decade. The school's strong performance across various academic measures, including test scores, ACT performance, and subgroup achievement, is a testament to the quality of education provided. Notably, Harlan High School outperforms the state and district averages in key areas such as mathematics and reading proficiency, as well as maintaining high graduation rates and low dropout rates.

While Harlan High School stands out as an exceptional educational institution, the nearby Harlan County High School and Appalachian Challenge Academy perform reasonably well, but do not match the academic excellence of Harlan High School. The school's commitment to equity and inclusion, as evidenced by its strong performance across diverse student populations, is particularly noteworthy. However, the school faces challenges with relatively high chronic absenteeism rates, which may be an area of concern that the school and district should address.

455

Students ?

17.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$30,750

Per pupil spending ?

54.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

420 E Central St
Harlan, KY 40831

(606) 573-8750

District: Harlan Independent

Feeder schools for Harlan High School:

Elementary:

Harlan Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.4%

Two or more races:

5.5%

African American:

3.7%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Harlan High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 93rd percentile in 2015 → 94th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 6% of Kentucky high schools

✓100% graduate in 4 years — above the Kentucky average (94%)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (34% vs 25% Kentucky)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg46%

Kentucky avg42%

Middle school

141^st of 320

Kentucky public middle schools ?

Top 44%▼ down 15 pts since 2015

From top 29% (2015) to top 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

15^th of 254

Kentucky public high schools ?

Top 6%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	53.2	141 of 320	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.4	127 of 324	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.7	75 of 327	77.1%	★★★★☆
2022	77.9	43 of 320	86.6%	★★★★☆
2021	78.0	28 of 282	90.1%	★★★★★
2019	57.7	126 of 335	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.4	150 of 322	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	44.2	193 of 330	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	64.0	99 of 331	70.1%	★★★★☆
2015	64.5	98 of 337	70.9%	★★★★☆
2014	68.1	80 of 335	76.1%	★★★★☆
2013	76.2	44 of 335	86.9%	★★★★☆
2012	83.3	26 of 319	91.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	41.9	179 of 298	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.7	180 of 300	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	62.5	89 of 295	69.8%	★★★★☆
2022	61.0	80 of 299	73.2%	★★★★☆
2019	62.8	92 of 299	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.2	76 of 290	73.8%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2024	51.6	10 of 28	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	34.2	22 of 32	31.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	56.3	120 of 314	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.0	95 of 311	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.0	77 of 309	75.1%	★★★★☆
2022	82.8	23 of 310	92.6%	★★★★★
2019	46.5	165 of 303	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.0	210 of 285	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	67.8	77 of 303	74.6%	★★★★☆
2024	73.5	55 of 304	81.9%	★★★★☆
2023	74.5	55 of 307	82.1%	★★★★☆
2022	85.2	23 of 304	92.4%	★★★★★
2019	47.9	152 of 303	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	34.1	211 of 293	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	96.7	4 of 126	96.8%	★★★★★
2019	53.9	131 of 294	55.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	51.4	149 of 314	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.4	134 of 316	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.9	103 of 320	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.9	75 of 314	76.1%	★★★★☆
2019	59.9	98 of 266	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.6	143 of 253	43.5%	★★☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	87.2	15 of 254	94.1%	★★★★★
2024	92.7	10 of 290	96.6%	★★★★★
2023	87.7	12 of 276	95.7%	★★★★★
2022	58.2	94 of 271	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.9	107 of 267	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	96.4	6 of 285	97.9%	★★★★★
2018	84.5	27 of 271	90.0%	★★★★★
2017	78.7	38 of 287	86.8%	★★★★☆
2016	84.0	25 of 288	91.3%	★★★★★
2015	85.7	20 of 295	93.2%	★★★★★
2014	84.6	20 of 290	93.1%	★★★★★
2013	86.3	19 of 291	93.5%	★★★★★
2012	84.2	19 of 229	91.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	87.7	14 of 239	94.1%	★★★★★
2024	85.3	16 of 261	93.9%	★★★★★
2023	82.9	19 of 253	92.5%	★★★★★
2022	69.6	49 of 252	80.6%	★★★★☆
2021	50.2	98 of 236	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	97.1	2 of 249	99.2%	★★★★★
2018	42.9	149 of 234	36.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	89.2	13 of 242	94.6%	★★★★★
2024	91.0	8 of 274	97.1%	★★★★★
2023	91.4	7 of 272	97.4%	★★★★★
2022	56.9	95 of 266	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	12.6	225 of 234	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	93.9	3 of 254	98.8%	★★★★★
2018	80.5	26 of 232	88.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	85.0	20 of 239	91.6%	★★★★★
2024	95.0	5 of 262	98.1%	★★★★★
2023	86.2	13 of 259	95.0%	★★★★★
2022	38.9	143 of 257	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.6	203 of 238	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	90.2	12 of 251	95.2%	★★★★★
2018	93.9	10 of 237	95.8%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	98.2	2 of 226	99.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	79.9	31 of 251	87.6%	★★★★☆
2024	89.4	15 of 273	94.5%	★★★★★
2023	87.5	18 of 264	93.2%	★★★★★
2022	58.1	88 of 260	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.5	57 of 198	71.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Middle school

Special Education (2025)97th percentile+41 vs school

Male (2025)75th percentile+19 vs school

Homeless (2024)64th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)62nd percentile+6 vs school

White (2025)53rd percentile-3 vs school

Female (2025)40th percentile-16 vs school

High school

Special Education (2019)99th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)95th percentile~ school

Female (2025)94th percentile~ school

Male (2025)92nd percentile~ school

White (2025)88th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Editing and Mechanics54%+8 vs state

Reading51%+4 vs state

Social Studies46%+7 vs state

Mathematics45%+3 vs state

Writing38%-6 vs state

Science31%+6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Harlan High 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 5th Grade	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Science 11th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 11th 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 High School	Public	5-12	420 E Central St	Harlan	40831	Harlan County	Harlan Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 573-8750	455	27	17.0	54.9%	402 (88.4%)	17 (3.7%)	8 (1.8%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.5%)	87.2	15^th of 254 public high schools	94.1%		92.7	10^th of 290 public high schools	96.6%	5	47.0	55.0	34.0	33.0	54.0	42.0	61.0	47.0	50.0	57.0	28.0	34.0	27.0	48.0		40.0	38.0	59.0	34.0	67.0	61.0	$30,750	$3,013	$1,416	$4,429	$15,528	$4,071	$19,599
Appalachian Challenge Academy	Public	9-12	465 Grays Drive	Grays Knob	40829	Harlan County	Kentucky National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academies	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(502) 607-5950	100			3.0%	86 (86.0%)	9 (9.0%)	2 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.0%)								(n/a)
Harlan County High School	Public	9-12	4000 N US Hwy 119	Baxter	40806	Harlan County	Harlan County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 574-2020	945	68	13.8	81.2%	889 (94.1%)	22 (2.3%)	20 (2.1%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (1.3%)	42.5	158^th of 254 public high schools	37.8%		62.8	94^th of 290 public high schools	67.6%	64					34.0					25.0					50.0			37.0			44.0	$20,889	$2,394	$2,241	$4,635	$8,535	$3,502	$12,037

Frequently Asked Questions about Harlan High School

What district is Harlan High School in?

Harlan Independent

How many students attend Harlan High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 455 students attended Harlan High School.

Is Harlan High School a good school?

Yes. Harlan High School ranks in the top 5.9% of Kentucky high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Harlan High School?

Students at Harlan High School are 88% White, 5% Two or more races, 4% African American, 2% Hispanic.

What schools feed into Harlan High School?

Harlan High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Harlan Elementary School

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Schools in Harlan, KY

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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.