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Harlan County High School

Q: Is Harlan County High School a good school?

Harlan County High School ranks 158 th of 254 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

158^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 254 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 38% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Harlan County High School is a public high school in Baxter, Kentucky, serving 944 students in grades 9-12. 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.

Harlan County High School has consistently underperformed the state average in academic test scores, with proficiency rates in KSA Mathematics (34%) and KSA Reading (25%) for 10th-grade students significantly lower than the state averages of 41% and 47%, respectively. The school's performance on ACT assessments is also below the state average, with only 27% of 11th-grade students proficient in ACT Mathematics and 42% proficient in ACT Reading, compared to the state averages of 30% and 45%. While the school maintains a relatively high four-year graduation rate, its dropout rate is slightly higher than the state's average, and it experiences high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 25.0% to 58.2% in recent years.

Interestingly, Harlan County High School's performance is generally lower than that of the nearby Leslie County High School, which is ranked among the top 10% of Kentucky high schools and has significantly higher academic proficiency rates. However, Harlan County High School outperforms the nearby Appalachian Challenge Academy, a public virtual high school, in several academic areas. Additionally, Harlan High School, a public high school in the neighboring Harlan Independent School District, consistently outperforms Harlan County High School across various academic measures and has a higher state ranking.

945

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,889

Per pupil spending ?

81.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4000 N US Hwy 119
Baxter, KY 40806

(606) 574-2020

District: Harlan County

Feeder schools for Harlan County High School:

Elementary:	Black Mountain Elementary School
	Cawood Elementary School
	Cumberland Elementary School
	Evarts Elementary School
	More...
	Green Hills Elementary School
	James A. Cawood Elementary
	Rosspoint Elementary School
	Wallins Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.1%

African American:

2.3%

Hispanic:

2.1%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Harlan County High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 11th percentile in 2021 → 38th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 38th (2025) from a 11th-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (58% vs 25% Kentucky)

!Reading scores 22 pts below the Kentucky average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg38%

Kentucky avg42%

158^th of 254

Kentucky public high schools ?

Bottom 38%▼ down 5 pts since 2015

From bottom 43% (2015) to bottom 38% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	42.5	158 of 254	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.8	94 of 290	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.2	135 of 276	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	21.8	217 of 271	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.7	237 of 267	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.4	199 of 285	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.3	194 of 271	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	50.2	169 of 287	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	50.7	157 of 288	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	49.1	169 of 295	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	52.6	148 of 290	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	52.2	136 of 291	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	29.2	177 of 229	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	22.9	196 of 226	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	38.9	149 of 223	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	52.4	52 of 153	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.4	95 of 154	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	73.8	23 of 166	86.1%	★★★★☆
2018	67.2	29 of 166	82.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	41.0	158 of 239	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.7	146 of 261	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.4	168 of 253	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.2	200 of 252	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.8	210 of 236	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.1	187 of 249	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.1	188 of 234	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	57.5	7 of 21	66.7%	★★★★☆
2024	77.9	3 of 30	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	65.3	11 of 37	70.3%	★★★★☆
2022	38.0	21 of 32	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.9	21 of 26	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.5	17 of 33	48.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.4	14 of 25	44.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	53.6	92 of 242	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.6	56 of 274	79.6%	★★★★☆
2023	63.1	70 of 272	74.3%	★★★★☆
2022	29.7	204 of 266	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.1	208 of 234	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.1	188 of 254	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.5	133 of 232	42.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	38.0	154 of 239	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	74.9	43 of 262	83.6%	★★★★☆
2023	52.6	106 of 259	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	20.6	212 of 257	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.8	223 of 238	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.0	200 of 251	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.1	179 of 237	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	85.1	5 of 86	94.2%	★★★★★
2024	96.8	2 of 168	98.8%	★★★★★
2023	87.6	6 of 162	96.3%	★★★★★
2019	25.8	185 of 226	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	35.0	168 of 251	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.4	114 of 273	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.5	164 of 264	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	16.4	232 of 260	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	5.3	196 of 203	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.8	179 of 219	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.7	172 of 198	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2025)94th percentile+56 vs school

Homeless (2025)67th percentile+29 vs school

Disabled (2022)66th percentile+46 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)62nd percentile+24 vs school

Male (2025)36th percentile~ school

Female (2025)34th percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)33rd percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Writing50%+5 vs state

Editing and Mechanics44%+3 vs state

Social Studies37%~ state avg

Mathematics34%-7 vs state

Reading25%-22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Harlan County 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 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
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)
Leslie County High School	Public	9-12	25 Eagle Lane	Hyden	41749	Leslie County	Leslie County	No	No	No	No	(606) 672-2337	455	30	15.2	68.1%	451 (99.1%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	94.3	6^th of 254 public high schools	97.6%		77.5	38^th of 290 public high schools	86.9%	32					62.0					67.0		41.0			63.0			70.0			65.0	$21,527	$1,216	$752	$1,963	$10,249	$4,224	$14,949
Leslie County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	175 Eagle Lane	Hyden	41749	Leslie County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(606) 672-2859	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Harlan County High School

Is Harlan County High School a good school?

Harlan County High School ranks 158^th of 254 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Harlan County High School in?

Harlan County

What is the racial makeup of Harlan County High School?

Students at Harlan County High School are 94% White, 2% African American, 2% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Harlan County High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 945 students attended Harlan County High School.

What schools feed into Harlan County High School?

Harlan County High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Black Mountain Elementary School
Elementary : Cawood Elementary School
Elementary : Cumberland Elementary School
Elementary : Evarts Elementary School
Elementary : Green Hills Elementary School
Elementary : James A. Cawood Elementary
Elementary : Rosspoint Elementary School
Elementary : Wallins Elementary School

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Schools in Baxter, 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.