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

Jesse D Lay Elementary School

Q: Is Jesse D Lay Elementary School a good school?

Jesse D Lay Elementary School ranks 168 th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

168^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 75% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Jesse D Lay Elementary School is a public elementary school in Barbourville, Kentucky, serving 306 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Knox County School District, which is ranked 42 out of 157 districts in the state and rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Jesse D Lay Elementary consistently ranks among the top 20-25% of elementary schools in Kentucky, with a current ranking of 168 out of 685 schools. The school's performance on the Kentucky State Assessments is significantly higher than the Knox County and state averages, particularly in Mathematics and Reading. For example, in 2024-2025, 79% of 3rd-grade students at Jesse D Lay were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 56% in Knox County and 43% statewide. The school has also consistently ranked in the top 5-10% of Kentucky elementary schools for its performance with students with disabilities.

Despite having a relatively high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, Jesse D Lay Elementary School has been able to maintain strong academic performance, ranking in the top 10-15% of Kentucky elementary schools for this subgroup in recent years. When compared to nearby schools like Lynn Camp Elementary and Girdler Elementary, Jesse D Lay stands out as a high-performing institution, outpacing its peers in academic achievement, student support, and overall school quality.

325

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,247

Per pupil spending ?

56.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

220 N Allison Ave
Barbourville, KY 40906

(606) 645-2849

District: Knox County

Students who attend Jesse D Lay Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:

Knox County Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.5%

Hispanic:

2.8%

African American:

1.5%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Jesse D Lay Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 84th percentile in 2022 → 75th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (56% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 25% of Kentucky elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 84th-percentile peak (2022) to 75th (2025)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school56%

District avg51%

Kentucky avg44%

168^th of 685

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Top 25%▲ up 26 pts since 2015

From bottom 49% (2015) to top 25% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 7Elementary 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	70.5	168 of 685	75.5%	★★★★☆
2024	73.7	130 of 685	81.0%	★★★★☆
2023	74.4	122 of 687	82.2%	★★★★☆
2022	76.2	109 of 684	84.1%	★★★★☆
2021	65.0	130 of 517	74.9%	★★★★☆
2019	66.0	214 of 700	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.7	356 of 691	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	48.4	379 of 694	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	38.9	458 of 690	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	50.8	353 of 698	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	56.3	301 of 705	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.5	262 of 719	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	53.4	319 of 713	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	62.6	249 of 688	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	54.4	334 of 683	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	45.3	394 of 658	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	32.7	471 of 651	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	41.0	393 of 638	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	98.7	3 of 206	98.5%	★★★★★
2019	88.3	38 of 474	92.0%	★★★★★
2018	83.6	46 of 445	89.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	64.9	187 of 648	71.1%	★★★★☆
2024	72.6	124 of 644	80.7%	★★★★☆
2023	68.9	155 of 639	75.7%	★★★★☆
2022	80.8	66 of 641	89.7%	★★★★☆
2019	51.7	343 of 671	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.2	445 of 663	32.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	62.3	210 of 672	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.2	154 of 665	76.8%	★★★★☆
2023	80.4	63 of 670	90.6%	★★★★★
2022	82.5	43 of 667	93.6%	★★★★★
2019	68.3	146 of 664	78.0%	★★★★☆
2018	52.0	288 of 631	54.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	68.2	159 of 653	75.7%	★★★★☆
2024	67.2	168 of 652	74.2%	★★★★☆
2023	73.9	105 of 652	83.9%	★★★★☆
2022	74.6	103 of 657	84.3%	★★★★☆
2019	74.7	123 of 676	81.8%	★★★★☆
2018	63.5	212 of 665	68.1%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2024	85.5	30 of 279	89.2%	★★★★☆
2023	88.6	20 of 257	92.2%	★★★★★
2019	56.8	281 of 661	57.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	64.2	204 of 659	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.9	179 of 659	72.8%	★★★★☆
2023	70.7	138 of 658	79.0%	★★★★☆
2022	71.1	137 of 656	79.1%	★★★★☆
2019	70.4	137 of 592	76.9%	★★★★☆
2018	27.2	482 of 593	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2022)99th percentile+14 vs school

Special Education (2024)89th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2025)76th percentile~ school

Female (2025)71st percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)69th percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)69th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Writing65%+27 vs state

Social Studies63%+25 vs state

Reading61%+12 vs state

Editing and Mechanics54%+7 vs state

Mathematics53%+10 vs state

Science40%+3 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Jesse D Lay Elementary School and help other families decide.

Rate Jesse D Lay Elementary 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 Jesse D Lay Elementary 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 3rd Grade	KSA Mathematics 4th Grade	KSA Mathematics 5th Grade	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th 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
Jesse D Lay Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	220 N Allison Ave	Barbourville	40906	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 645-2849	325	26	12.6	56.9%	307 (94.5%)	5 (1.5%)	9 (2.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	70.5	168^th of 685 public elementary schools	75.5%		73.7	130^th of 685 public elementary schools	81.0%	38	79.0	35.0	46.0			71.0	48.0	63.0				40.0		65.0		63.0		54.0		$15,247	$2,587	$742	$3,330	$10,018	$1,899	$11,917
G R Hampton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	60 Ky 3441	Barbourville	40906	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 645-2840	244	18	13.8	70.1%	240 (98.4%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	96.7	4^th of 685 public elementary schools	99.4%		90.6	30^th of 685 public elementary schools	95.6%	26		80.0	73.0			78.0	80.0									77.0		73.0		$16,591	$2,797	$744	$3,541	$10,996	$2,055	$13,050
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1000 KY 3439d	Barbourville	40906	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 645-2832	313	25	12.3	86.3%	287 (91.7%)	2 (0.6%)	10 (3.2%)	6 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	84.5	76^th of 685 public elementary schools	88.9%		84.4	72^nd of 685 public elementary schools	89.5%	4	78.0	58.0	69.0			75.0	67.0	59.0				44.0		53.0		73.0		63.0		$15,846	$2,759	$716	$3,475	$10,267	$2,103	$12,370
Girdler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5452 N Ky 11	Girdler	40943	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 645-2838	267	21	12.9	86.9%	259 (97.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	44.3	388^th of 685 public elementary schools	43.4%		43.9	378^th of 685 public elementary schools	44.8%	10	45.0	43.0	23.0			49.0	63.0	35.0								35.0		48.0		$16,138	$2,829	$694	$3,522	$10,140	$2,476	$12,616
Flat Lick Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	110 Kentucky 3085	Flat Lick	40935	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 645-2836	163	16	9.9	89.6%	161 (98.8%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	71	163^rd of 685 public elementary schools	76.2%		74.2	128^th of 685 public elementary schools	81.3%	35	57.0	52.0	54.0			46.0	68.0	63.0				44.0		71.0		50.0		42.0		$16,870	$2,263	$854	$3,117	$11,217	$2,537	$13,753
Dewitt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	138 Ky 718	Flat Lick	40935	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 645-2834	120	13	9.5	88.3%	119 (99.2%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	91.5	31^st of 685 public elementary schools	95.5%		77.6	107^th of 685 public elementary schools	84.4%	76			80.0			75.0	76.0											60.0		$18,517	$3,331	$847	$4,178	$11,292	$3,046	$14,339
Lone Jack School Center	Public	PK, KG-8	101 Creech Hollow Road	Fourmile	40939	Bell County	Bell County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 337-9461	196	15	13.5	82.1%	193 (98.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	33.9	471^st of 685 public elementary schools	31.2%		26.2	529^th of 685 public elementary schools	22.8%	58	36.0	29.0	25.0	32.0	56.0	68.0	43.0	44.0	52.0	63.0	56.0	29.0	50.0	50.0	88.0	19.0	38.0	25.0	63.0	$33,320	$2,710	$62	$2,772	$22,563	$3,005	$25,564
Lynn Camp Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	366 North KY 830	Corbin	40701	Knox County	Knox County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(606) 645-2853	501	38	13.2	87.4%	473 (94.4%)	2 (0.4%)	13 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	8 (1.6%)	22.8	551^st of 685 public elementary schools	19.6%		32	481^st of 685 public elementary schools	29.8%	70	19.0	20.0	15.0			26.0	41.0	32.0				24.0		56.0		31.0		38.0		$13,072	$1,854	$780	$2,634	$8,559	$1,879	$10,438
Whitley County East Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	13781 Hwy 92E	Williamsburg	40769	Whitley County	Whitley County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 549-7097	268	20	13.4	84.3%	261 (97.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	92.3	22^nd of 685 public elementary schools	96.8%		92.3	19^th of 685 public elementary schools	97.2%	3	85.0	68.0		64.0		77.0	76.0		77.0					50.0		85.0		75.0		$19,231	$3,359	$1,303	$4,662	$11,158	$2,559	$13,717
Corbin Elementary School	Public	4-5	706 S. Kentucky Avenue	Corbin	40701	Whitley County	Corbin Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 528-4367	384	26	14.7	56.0%	347 (90.4%)	4 (1.0%)	19 (4.9%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)	94.8	14^th of 685 public elementary schools	98.0%		90.8	29^th of 685 public elementary schools	95.8%	15		78.0	77.0				72.0	76.0				62.0		67.0		62.0		80.0		$20,077	$1,741	$459	$2,200	$9,787	$1,564	$11,351

Frequently Asked Questions about Jesse D Lay Elementary School

Is Jesse D Lay Elementary School a good school?

Jesse D Lay Elementary School ranks 168^th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Jesse D Lay Elementary School?

Students at Jesse D Lay Elementary School are 94% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% African American.

What district is Jesse D Lay Elementary School in?

Knox County

How many students attend Jesse D Lay Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 325 students attended Jesse D Lay Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Jesse D Lay Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Jesse D Lay Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Knox County Middle School

Rate Jesse D Lay Elementary School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

KYKentucky Elementary School Rankings

KYKentucky District Rankings

Schools in Barbourville, KY

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Jesse D Lay Elementary 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.