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Central Elementary School

Q: Is Central Elementary School a good school?

Central Elementary School ranks 139 th of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

139^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 684 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 80% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Central Elementary School serves 341 students in PK–6 in Paintsville, in Johnson County. Its academic results are strong overall, but chronic absenteeism is the most important concern: 34% of students were chronically absent in 2025–26, compared with 24% statewide and 36% in the Johnson County district.

Science and reading are the school’s clearest academic strengths. Fourth-grade science proficiency was 63%, versus 40% statewide, 54% in the district, and 37% at nearby schools; Central had the highest reported local score. Reading averaged 68% across grades 3–6, ahead of the state at 51%, the district at 62%, and nearby schools at 54%. Results are less even by grade: fifth-grade reading was 54%, compared with 71% in third grade, 72% in fourth, and 75% in sixth. Mathematics averaged 49%, above nearby schools at 44% and the state at 43%, but below the district at 52%. Fifth-grade Editing and Mechanics is the clearest subject-level shortfall against the district: 54% proficiency versus 61%, though it was above the state’s 48% and nearby schools’ 51%. The 2025–26 Writing score is suppressed, so no current-year comparison is available.

Results have improved substantially: from 2022–23 to 2025–26, reading proficiency rose 25 points and mathematics rose 15 points. SchoolDigger ranks Central at the 80th percentile statewide, 139 of 684 schools, with four stars; nearby Porter Elementary School ranks higher at the 86th percentile. SchoolDigger also ranks Central at the 96th percentile for Special Education Students in 2025–26, compared with the school’s overall 80th percentile, indicating notably strong performance for this group in its ranking. The student-teacher ratio was 11.8 in 2024–25, the lowest among nearby schools with reported conventional-school ratios. That same year, 77% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, compared with a 69% average at nearby schools—context that describes the school community, not what explains its results. Chronic absenteeism rose 10 points from the prior year, another reason to ask how the school is responding.

341

Students ?

11.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,993

Per pupil spending ?

77.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

1715 Euclid Ave
Paintsville, KY 41240

(606) 789-2541

District: Johnson County

Students who attend Central Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Johnson County Middle School
High:	Johnson Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.4%

Two or more races:

3.5%

Hispanic:

1.2%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Central Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 7th percentile in 2021 → 80th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (58% vs 45% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 20% of Kentucky elementary schools

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 80th (2026) from a 7th-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (34% vs 24% Kentucky)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg54%

Kentucky avg45%

139^th of 684

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Top 20%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 14% (2016) to top 20% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 5Elementary Schools in the Johnson County

41^st of 158Johnson 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	74.4	139 of 684	79.7%	★★★★☆
2025	70.2	172 of 685	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	59.7	259 of 685	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.8	417 of 687	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.9	403 of 684	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	14.8	482 of 517	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	63.2	239 of 700	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.5	375 of 691	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	58.1	276 of 694	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	77.4	99 of 690	85.7%	★★★★☆
2015	52.9	320 of 698	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	66.5	208 of 705	70.5%	★★★★☆
2013	58.6	281 of 719	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	55.9	293 of 713	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	95.3	9 of 688	98.7%	★★★★★
2010	91.6	17 of 683	97.5%	★★★★★
2009	95.6	7 of 658	98.9%	★★★★★
2008	97.6	2 of 651	99.7%	★★★★★
2007	93.9	14 of 638	97.8%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	51.5	78 of 206	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	92.7	29 of 474	93.9%	★★★★★
2018	67.1	95 of 445	78.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	60.6	218 of 657	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.3	230 of 648	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.4	361 of 644	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.1	405 of 639	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.2	346 of 641	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.7	242 of 671	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.4	331 of 663	50.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	80.9	76 of 674	88.7%	★★★★☆
2025	74.4	116 of 672	82.7%	★★★★☆
2024	68.3	151 of 665	77.3%	★★★★☆
2023	41.4	383 of 670	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.8	413 of 667	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.6	227 of 275	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	72.3	116 of 664	82.5%	★★★★☆
2018	58.1	237 of 631	62.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	77.1	106 of 651	83.7%	★★★★☆
2025	71.3	140 of 653	78.6%	★★★★☆
2024	65.1	184 of 652	71.8%	★★★★☆
2023	35.8	428 of 652	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.2	372 of 657	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	19.4	293 of 325	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	63.8	217 of 676	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.4	408 of 665	38.6%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	94.6	14 of 314	95.5%	★★★★★
2025	88.0	26 of 306	91.5%	★★★★★
2024	87.5	26 of 279	90.7%	★★★★★
2023	50.8	96 of 257	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.0	352 of 661	46.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	70.2	158 of 650	75.7%	★★★★☆
2025	64.7	197 of 659	70.1%	★★★★☆
2024	52.2	290 of 659	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	30.9	471 of 658	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.3	468 of 656	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)96th percentile+16 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)89th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2026)84th percentile+4 vs school

White (2026)76th percentile-4 vs school

Female (2026)67th percentile-13 vs school

Disabled (2022)62nd percentile+21 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Reading68%+17 vs state

Science63%+23 vs state

Editing and Mechanics54%+6 vs state

Social Studies51%+13 vs state

Mathematics49%+6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central Elementary 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 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	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1715 Euclid Ave	Paintsville	41240	Johnson County	Johnson County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 789-2541	341	29	11.8	77.1%	322 (94.4%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	12 (3.5%)	74.4	139^th of 684 public elementary schools	79.7%		70.2	172^nd of 685 public elementary schools	74.9%	33	46.0	47.0	51.0	53.0			71.0	72.0	54.0	75.0			63.0				51.0		54.0		$19,993	$5,137	$13,363
Paintsville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	325 2nd St	Paintsville	41240	Johnson County	Paintsville Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 789-2651	434	30	14.4	49.5%	400 (92.2%)	6 (1.4%)	15 (3.5%)	11 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	51.8	322^nd of 684 public elementary schools	52.9%		50.5	332^nd of 685 public elementary schools	51.5%	10	52.0	55.0	25.0	49.0			66.0	57.0	43.0	70.0			49.0		22.0		18.0		39.0		$21,736	$943	$13,782
Highland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	649 US 23 South	Staffordsville	41256	Johnson County	Johnson County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 297-3674	392	30	13.2	63.3%	380 (96.9%)	2 (0.5%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	59.4	249^th of 684 public elementary schools	63.6%		73.8	147^th of 685 public elementary schools	78.5%	102	51.0	51.0	40.0	48.0			60.0	47.0	50.0	68.0			47.0		36.0		40.0		54.0		$17,374	$3,051	$12,860
W R Castle Memorial Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3936 Us 23 N	Wittensville	41274	Johnson County	Johnson County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 297-3738	390	31	12.7	68.2%	372 (95.4%)	2 (0.5%)	11 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	67.3	189^th of 684 public elementary schools	72.4%		71	162^nd of 685 public elementary schools	76.4%	27	39.0	37.0	56.0	54.0			59.0	65.0	60.0	70.0			61.0		29.0		46.0		63.0		$16,285	$2,936	$11,851
Porter Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	7210 Us 321 S	Hagerhill	41222	Johnson County	Johnson County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 789-2545	431	29	15.0	54.3%	418 (97.0%)	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	81.5	96^th of 684 public elementary schools	86.0%		89.2	48^th of 685 public elementary schools	93.0%	48	69.0	63.0	69.0	57.0			66.0	58.0	62.0	71.0			42.0		51.0		52.0		80.0		$17,641	$2,872	$11,508
Home Instruction Elementary	Public	K-8	106 North Front Avenue	Prestonsburg	41653	Floyd County	Floyd County	No	No	No	No	(606) 886-2354	7	1	7.0	—	7 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Flat Gap Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1450 KY Rt 689	Flatgap	41219	Johnson County	Johnson County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 265-3110	241	18	13.7	78.4%	227 (94.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.9%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.5%)	48.3	353^rd of 684 public elementary schools	48.4%		51	328^th of 685 public elementary schools	52.1%	25	71.0	32.0	35.0				43.0		39.0	74.0							30.0		52.0		$17,092	$3,108	$12,443
Prestonsburg Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	140 S Clark Dr.	Prestonsburg	41653	Floyd County	Floyd County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 886-3891	574	38	15.1	77.9%	547 (95.3%)	3 (0.5%)	11 (1.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.9%)	21.2	564^th of 684 public elementary schools	17.5%		26.4	524^th of 685 public elementary schools	23.5%	40	28.0	25.0	24.0				40.0	43.0	44.0				26.0		20.0		18.0		40.0		$13,465	$2,429	$11,036
Eden Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	179 Eden Lane	Inez	41224	Martin County	Martin County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 298-3475	371	22	16.8	79.8%	366 (98.7%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	49.2	345^th of 684 public elementary schools	49.6%		53.2	310^th of 685 public elementary schools	54.7%	35	26.0	43.0	26.0	41.0			42.0	45.0	64.0	76.0			24.0		54.0		48.0		56.0		$16,260	$1,903	$13,879
Allen Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	112 Eagle Ln	Allen	41601	Floyd County	Floyd County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 874-2165	462	29	15.9	83.1%	448 (97.0%)	3 (0.6%)	6 (1.3%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	33.4	473^rd of 684 public elementary schools	30.8%		32.5	486^th of 685 public elementary schools	29.1%	13	36.0	37.0	27.0	34.0	20.0		41.0	53.0	45.0	42.0	36.0	13.0	33.0		51.0	40.0	24.0	13.0	37.0	15.0	$13,752	$2,000	$11,752

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary School

Is Central Elementary School a good school?

Central Elementary School ranks 139^th of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Central Elementary School in?

Johnson County

How many students attend Central Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 341 students attended Central Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Central Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Johnson County Middle School
High : Johnson Central High School

What is the racial makeup of Central Elementary School?

Students at Central Elementary School are 94% White, 4% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

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Latest Kentucky data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 15, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 15, 2026

2025–26 KSA test scoresOct 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.