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James A. Cawood Elementary

Q: Is James A. Cawood Elementary a good school?

James A. Cawood Elementary ranks 232 nd of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

232^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 66% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

James A. Cawood Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Harlan, Kentucky, with 283 students. The school is part of the Harlan County School District, which is ranked 52 out of 157 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

James A. Cawood Elementary has shown strong performance in several subject areas compared to the Harlan County and Kentucky averages, with significantly higher proficiency rates in 3rd grade reading, 4th grade reading, and 8th grade writing. The school also outperforms the county and state in 7th grade math and 8th grade math. However, the school struggles in some areas, such as 5th grade writing and 7th grade reading.

The school has exceptional performance for its special education and low socioeconomic status students, ranking highly compared to other Kentucky elementary schools. Additionally, the school is ranked 1st out of 18 Kentucky elementary schools for its homeless student population. While the school has relatively high per-student spending and a low student-teacher ratio, it faces challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates, which is a concern shared by many nearby schools in the Harlan County district. Compared to nearby schools, Stinnett Elementary School in the Leslie County district has consistently outperformed James A. Cawood Elementary in both math and reading.

277

Students ?

10.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,118

Per pupil spending ?

83%

Free/discounted lunch ?

279 Ball Park Rd
Harlan, KY 40831

(606) 573-5029

District: Harlan County

Students who attend James A. Cawood Elementary usually attend:

High:

Harlan County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

98.6%

African American:

0.7%

Hispanic:

0.4%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare James A. Cawood Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 36th percentile in 2015 → 66th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (53% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 30 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Kentucky median (66th percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (52% vs 25% Kentucky)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school53%

District avg47%

Kentucky avg44%

Elementary school

232^nd of 685

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Top 34%▲ up 30 pts since 2015

From bottom 36% (2015) to top 34% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

75^th of 320

Kentucky public middle schools ?

Top 23%▲ up 41 pts since 2015

From bottom 36% (2015) to top 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 8Elementary Schools in the Harlan County

52^nd of 157Harlan 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	62.5	232 of 685	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.5	198 of 685	71.1%	★★★★☆
2023	53.9	298 of 687	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	21.8	559 of 684	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.9	343 of 517	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	60.9	262 of 700	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.4	243 of 691	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	63.9	221 of 694	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	30.7	540 of 690	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	41.3	448 of 698	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	25.5	584 of 705	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	13.1	677 of 719	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	11.9	682 of 713	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	38.8	472 of 688	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	59.8	281 of 683	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	35.0	472 of 658	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	24.5	524 of 651	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	40.5	397 of 638	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	73.5	39 of 206	81.1%	★★★★☆
2019	97.1	12 of 474	97.5%	★★★★★
2018	98.0	13 of 445	97.1%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	59.4	228 of 648	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.9	190 of 644	70.5%	★★★★☆
2023	67.7	165 of 639	74.2%	★★★★☆
2022	21.9	532 of 641	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.3	300 of 671	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.3	358 of 663	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2024	88.0	1 of 18	94.4%	★★★★★
2023	88.4	1 of 18	94.4%	★★★★★
2022	55.0	7 of 17	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.1	9 of 40	77.5%	★★★★☆
2018	65.6	11 of 34	67.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	76.9	90 of 672	86.6%	★★★★☆
2024	79.9	76 of 665	88.6%	★★★★☆
2023	63.0	181 of 670	73.0%	★★★★☆
2022	38.5	414 of 667	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.5	218 of 275	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	59.1	237 of 664	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.1	271 of 631	57.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	51.3	307 of 653	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.8	203 of 652	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.0	223 of 652	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	36.5	420 of 657	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.6	225 of 676	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.6	139 of 665	79.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	98.5	5 of 306	98.4%	★★★★★
2024	98.2	6 of 279	97.8%	★★★★★
2019	42.3	424 of 661	35.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	56.6	265 of 659	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.7	237 of 659	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.8	329 of 658	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	17.1	585 of 656	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.3	316 of 337	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	61.0	211 of 592	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.3	356 of 593	40.0%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	71.7	75 of 320	76.6%	★★★★☆
2024	66.0	87 of 324	73.1%	★★★★☆
2023	82.3	38 of 327	88.4%	★★★★☆
2022	70.0	66 of 320	79.4%	★★★★☆
2021	60.6	75 of 282	73.4%	★★★★☆
2019	47.7	172 of 335	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.8	119 of 322	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.2	132 of 330	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	29.3	262 of 331	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	40.3	217 of 337	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	22.0	289 of 335	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	21.1	294 of 335	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	21.5	283 of 319	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	29.6	235 of 304	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	19.2	268 of 299	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	16.4	263 of 289	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	24.2	234 of 287	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	15.1	255 of 284	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	97.2	4 of 111	96.4%	★★★★★
2019	95.4	5 of 226	97.8%	★★★★★
2018	95.9	9 of 219	95.9%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	74.3	47 of 298	84.2%	★★★★☆
2024	65.3	76 of 300	74.7%	★★★★☆
2023	68.2	68 of 295	76.9%	★★★★☆
2022	46.0	148 of 299	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.1	187 of 299	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.2	193 of 290	33.4%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2024	92.3	1 of 28	96.4%	★★★★★
2023	88.8	2 of 21	90.5%	★★★★★
2022	65.4	6 of 22	72.7%	★★★★☆
2019	80.7	6 of 58	89.7%	★★★★★
2018	74.2	6 of 32	81.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	80.0	37 of 314	88.2%	★★★★☆
2024	85.4	19 of 311	93.9%	★★★★★
2023	95.4	6 of 309	98.1%	★★★★★
2022	80.0	25 of 310	91.9%	★★★★★
2019	48.8	150 of 303	50.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	82.2	32 of 303	89.4%	★★★★☆
2024	69.3	75 of 304	75.3%	★★★★☆
2023	88.2	18 of 307	94.1%	★★★★★
2022	88.0	17 of 304	94.4%	★★★★★
2019	49.0	146 of 303	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.0	57 of 293	80.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2023	99.9	1 of 124	99.2%	★★★★★
2019	21.3	251 of 294	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	66.8	84 of 314	73.2%	★★★★☆
2024	56.0	122 of 316	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	76.4	52 of 320	83.8%	★★★★☆
2022	63.7	85 of 314	72.9%	★★★★☆

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)

Elementary school

Special Education (2025)98th percentile+32 vs school

Homeless (2024)94th percentile+23 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)87th percentile+20 vs school

Disabled (2022)81st percentile+63 vs school

Female (2025)65th percentile~ school

White (2025)60th percentile-6 vs school

Male (2025)53rd percentile-13 vs school

Middle school

Special Education (2023)99th percentile+11 vs school

Homeless (2024)96th percentile+23 vs school

Disabled (2022)96th percentile+17 vs school

Male (2025)89th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)88th percentile+12 vs school

Female (2025)84th percentile+8 vs school

White (2025)73rd percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Reading62%+14 vs state

Editing and Mechanics61%+13 vs state

Mathematics50%+7 vs state

Social Studies46%+8 vs state

Writing42%~ state avg

Science32%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near James A. Cawood 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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 James A. Cawood Elementary

Is James A. Cawood Elementary a good school?

James A. Cawood Elementary ranks 232^nd of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is James A. Cawood Elementary in?

Harlan County

How many students attend James A. Cawood Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 277 students attended James A. Cawood Elementary.

What schools do graduates of James A. Cawood Elementary attend?

Students who attend James A. Cawood Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Harlan County High School

What is the racial makeup of James A. Cawood Elementary?

Students at James A. Cawood Elementary are 99% White.

Rate James A. Cawood Elementary!

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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.