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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 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

158^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 262 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 40% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Harlan County High School in Baxter, Kentucky, enrolls 945 students in grades 9–12 and serves families in an area with several nearby high schools, including Leslie County High School and Harlan High School. The clearest concern for families is academic performance: in 2025–26, the school had lower KSA results than both nearby schools in every subject with reported scores.

The school’s strongest KSA result relative to Kentucky was Editing and Mechanics, at 44%—4 points above the state; Social Studies was weakest, at 26%, or 11 points below. It was below the state in the other four subjects as well, including Reading at 43% (6 points below) and Writing at 41% (6 points below). Results matched those of the Harlan County district in all six subjects, so the district comparison shows no separate gap. The contrast with nearby schools was especially large in Social Studies: Harlan County High was 32 points below the average for Leslie County High School and Harlan High School.

Results and attendance give families important context. SchoolDigger placed the school at the 40th percentile statewide with 2 stars in 2025–26, down 28 percentile points from 2023–24; the two nearby schools ranked at the 95th and 92nd percentiles, each with 5 stars. Chronic absenteeism was 55% in 2025–26, compared with 24% statewide and 32% at Harlan High. KSA trends are mixed: Mathematics rose 3 points over three years, while Writing fell 9 points and Social Studies fell 16. The 2024–25 student–teacher ratio was 13.8, below the nearby-school average of 16.1, and 81% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible in 2024–25. SchoolDigger’s Special Education Students ranking was at the 92nd percentile, compared with 40th overall; its Homeless Students ranking fell from the 90th percentile in 2023–24 to the 55th in 2025–26.

945

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,691

Per pupil spending ?

81.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

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: Declining — 45th percentile in 2016 → 40th in 2026

Worth a look

!Graduation rate below the Kentucky average (88% vs 94%)

!High chronic absenteeism (55% vs 24% Kentucky)

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg35%

Kentucky avg39%

158^th of 262

Kentucky public high schools ?

Bottom 40%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 45% (2016) to bottom 40% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

54^th of 158Harlan 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
2026	40.1	158 of 262	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	33.7	175 of 244	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	57.7	10 of 22	54.5%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	56.3	86 of 245	64.9%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	42.8	146 of 243	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	85.6	7 of 84	91.7%	★★★★★
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
2026	32.4	171 of 253	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
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 (2026)92nd percentile+52 vs school

Disabled (2022)66th percentile+46 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)65th percentile+25 vs school

Homeless (2026)55th percentile+15 vs school

Male (2026)40th percentile~ school

White (2026)32nd percentile-7 vs school

Female (2026)28th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Editing and Mechanics44%+4 vs state

Reading43%-6 vs state

Writing41%-6 vs state

Mathematics36%-4 vs state

Social Studies26%-11 vs state

Science22%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Harlan County High 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 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	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/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%)	40.1	158^th of 262 public high schools	39.7%		42.5	158^th of 254 public high schools	37.8%						36.0					43.0		22.0			41.0			26.0			44.0	$15,691	$1,892	$13,671
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%)	83.6	22^nd of 262 public high schools	91.6%		87.2	15^th of 254 public high schools	94.1%	7	30.0	46.0	37.0	18.0	48.0	48.0	55.0	57.0	35.0	73.0	39.0	23.0	19.0		85.0	29.0	33.0	53.0	40.0	38.0	66.0	$30,598	$4,358	$20,582
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%)	88.8	12^th of 262 public high schools	95.4%		94.3	6^th of 254 public high schools	97.6%	6					60.0					69.0		42.0			54.0			63.0			58.0	$21,242	$1,602	$15,765
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

How many students attend Harlan County High School?

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

Is Harlan County High School a good school?

Harlan County High School ranks 158^th of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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.

What district is Harlan County High School in?

Harlan County

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

Rate Harlan County High School!

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Schools in Baxter, 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.