Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Knox Central High School

Q: Is Knox Central High School a good school?

Knox Central High School ranks 157 th of 254 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

157^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 254 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 38% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Knox Central High School is a public high school located in Barbourville, Kentucky, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 751 students. The school is part of the Knox County School District, which is ranked 42 out of 157 districts in Kentucky and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

One of the standout features of Knox Central High School is its consistently strong performance with special education students. For the 2024-2025 school year, the school ranked 6th out of 86 Kentucky high schools for special education, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Additionally, the school has maintained a solid four-year graduation rate, ranging from 89.5% to 93.5% over the past few years, which is above the state average. However, the school struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25.0% to 53.4% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average.

When compared to other nearby schools in the Knox County district, such as Lynn Camp Middle High School, Knox Central High School generally performs at a similar or slightly lower level in terms of test scores and other metrics. However, the school's strong support for special education students sets it apart. The school's challenges, such as low test scores in mathematics and science and high chronic absenteeism, are likely influenced by the high percentage of low-income students it serves, with 75.23% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2023-2024 school year. Despite these obstacles, Knox Central High School has shown signs of improvement in recent years, and continued focus on addressing these areas could help the school make further progress.

720

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,281

Per pupil spending ?

74.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

100 Panther Way
Barbourville, KY 40906

(606) 645-2843

District: Knox County

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.0%

Hispanic:

1.3%

Two or more races:

1.1%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Knox Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 37th percentile in 2015 → 38th in 2025

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (53% vs 25% Kentucky)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school37%

District avg34%

Kentucky avg39%

157^th of 254

Kentucky public high schools ?

Bottom 38%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2High Schools in the Knox County

42^nd of 157Knox 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	43.0	157 of 254	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.3	185 of 290	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.7	133 of 276	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	26.1	211 of 271	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.0	208 of 267	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.2	178 of 285	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.5	180 of 271	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	59.6	118 of 287	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	47.0	183 of 288	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	43.4	185 of 295	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	32.0	213 of 290	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	36.9	207 of 291	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	38.5	145 of 229	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	11.9	219 of 226	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	22.2	192 of 223	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	16.1	202 of 217	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	4.9	216 of 217	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	14.1	205 of 217	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	19.2	143 of 153	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	24.5	122 of 154	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	69.5	34 of 166	79.5%	★★★★☆
2018	68.7	27 of 166	83.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	41.7	157 of 239	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.8	173 of 261	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.4	170 of 253	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	20.0	212 of 252	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.5	198 of 236	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.5	146 of 249	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.9	166 of 234	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Foster Care

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	49.1	4 of 9	55.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	50.0	110 of 242	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.3	166 of 274	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	59.1	83 of 272	69.5%	★★★★☆
2022	26.6	211 of 266	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.9	172 of 234	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	54.8	114 of 254	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.6	158 of 232	31.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	44.3	129 of 239	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.9	179 of 262	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.9	103 of 259	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	27.3	196 of 257	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.4	171 of 238	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.8	168 of 251	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.2	171 of 237	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	82.0	6 of 86	93.0%	★★★★★
2024	48.7	60 of 168	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	76.9	15 of 162	90.7%	★★★★★
2019	39.2	151 of 226	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	35.9	162 of 251	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.6	195 of 273	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.3	161 of 264	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	18.1	226 of 260	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.0	153 of 219	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	26.0	162 of 198	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2025)93rd percentile+55 vs school

Foster Care (2019)56th percentile+18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)55th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2025)46th percentile+8 vs school

White (2025)35th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2025)34th percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2022)7th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics46%+5 vs state

Reading45%~ state avg

Writing40%-5 vs state

Social Studies37%~ state avg

Editing and Mechanics37%-4 vs state

Science15%-7 vs state

3.0

1 rating

5★0

4★0

3★1

2★0

1★0

Rate Knox Central High School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Knox Central 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 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Science 11th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th 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
Knox Central High School	Public	9-12	100 Panther Way	Barbourville	40906	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 645-2843	720	52	13.7	74.6%	691 (96.0%)	7 (1.0%)	9 (1.3%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.1%)	43	157^th of 254 public high schools	38.2%		37.3	185^th of 290 public high schools	36.2%	28				46.0				45.0	15.0		40.0		37.0		37.0	$16,281	$2,596	$1,064	$3,660	$9,288	$3,333	$12,621
Knox Appalachian School	Public	5-12	1909 Ky Hwy 3439	Barbourville	40906	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(606) 645-2842	32	3	10.6	90.6%	27 (84.4%)	1 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (12.5%)								(n/a)
Knox County Learning Academy	Public	6-12	135 Wall St	Barbourville	40906	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	No	(606) 645-2848	52	8	6.4	88.5%	47 (90.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)								(n/a)
Knox County Career and Technical Center	Public	9-12	210 Wall Street	Barbourville	40906	Knox County	Knox County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(606) 645-2856	0	8	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Barbourville Learning Center	Public, Virtual	7-12	140 School Street	Barbourville	40906	Knox County	Barbourville Independent	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(606) 546-3120	2	1	2.0		2 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Lynn Camp Middle High School	Public	6-12	100 N Ky 830	Corbin	40701	Knox County	Knox County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(606) 645-2851	447	38	11.8	81.4%	431 (96.4%)	3 (0.7%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	46.9	137^th of 254 public high schools	46.1%		55.9	119^th of 290 public high schools	59.0%	18	26.0	32.0	28.0	45.0	39.0	34.0	33.0	55.0	20.0	26.0	46.0	31.0	30.0	49.0	32.0	$19,336	$4,040	$964	$5,004	$10,460	$3,871	$14,331
Bell County High School	Public	9-12	9824 US Highway 25 E	Pineville	40977	Bell County	Bell County	No	No	No	No	(606) 337-7061	622	39	15.9	72.8%	614 (98.7%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	81.6	29^th of 254 public high schools	88.6%		81.1	27^th of 290 public high schools	90.7%	2				46.0				58.0	33.0		71.0		52.0		50.0	$32,706	$2,692	$33	$2,729	$20,928	$3,837	$24,765
Bell County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	9828 US Hwy. 25-E	Pineville	40977	Bell County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(606) 337-3094	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Corbin Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	1909 South Snyder Ave	Corbin	40701	Whitley County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(606) 528-5338	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Corbin High School	Public	9-12	1901 Snyder Street	Corbin	40701	Whitley County	Corbin Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 528-3902	820	48	17.0	51.2%	761 (92.8%)	5 (0.6%)	31 (3.8%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.2%)	94.3	5^th of 254 public high schools	98.0%		93.8	9^th of 290 public high schools	96.9%	4				59.0				66.0	39.0		73.0		64.0		62.0	$21,696	$803	$488	$1,291	$10,596	$3,165	$13,761

Frequently Asked Questions about Knox Central High School

Is Knox Central High School a good school?

Knox Central High School ranks 157^th of 254 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Knox Central High School?

Students at Knox Central High School are 96% White, 1% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

How many students attend Knox Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 720 students attended Knox Central High School.

What district is Knox Central High School in?

Knox County

Rate Knox Central High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

KYKentucky High School Rankings

KYKentucky District Rankings

Schools in Barbourville, KY

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Knox Central High School!

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.