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Knox County Middle School

Q: Is Knox County Middle School a good school?

Knox County Middle School ranks 46 th of 320 Kentucky middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

46^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 320 Kentucky Middle Schools

Better than 86% of Kentucky middle schools

Summary

Knox County Middle School is a public middle school in Barbourville, Kentucky, serving 530 students in grades 6-8 and part of the Knox County School District, which is ranked 42 out of 157 districts in the state.

Knox County Middle School consistently ranks among the top middle schools in Kentucky, with a statewide ranking ranging from 46 to 79 out of 320-335 schools over the past 5 years. The school's performance on state assessments is generally higher than the county and state averages across various subjects and grade levels, particularly for special education and low socioeconomic status student groups. However, the school faces challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25% to 47.2% in recent years.

Compared to nearby schools, Knox County Middle School generally outperforms Middlesboro Middle School on academic measures, but has a higher percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The nearby Corbin Middle School, part of the Corbin Independent School District, is a high-performing school that consistently ranks among the top 10 middle schools in Kentucky, outperforming Knox County Middle School on many academic metrics.

522

Students ?

12.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,657

Per pupil spending ?

76.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

311 N Main St
Barbourville, KY 40906

(606) 545-5267

District: Knox County

Feeder schools for Knox County Middle School:

Elementary:	Central Elementary School
	Dewitt Elementary School
	Flat Lick Elementary School
	G R Hampton Elementary School
	More...
	Girdler Elementary School
	Jesse D Lay Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.0%

African American:

1.7%

Hispanic:

1.3%

See top rated Kentucky middle schools

Compare Knox County Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 52nd percentile in 2015 → 86th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (57% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Kentucky middle schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 34 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (46% vs 25% Kentucky)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school57%

District avg48%

Kentucky avg43%

46^th of 320

Kentucky public middle schools ?

Top 14%▲ up 33 pts since 2015

From top 48% (2015) to top 14% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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	78.0	46 of 320	85.6%	★★★★☆
2024	72.9	64 of 324	80.2%	★★★★☆
2023	67.1	79 of 327	75.8%	★★★★☆
2022	52.3	135 of 320	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	34.6	179 of 282	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	77.4	47 of 335	86.0%	★★★★☆
2018	68.4	77 of 322	76.1%	★★★★☆
2017	61.9	104 of 330	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	65.9	90 of 331	72.8%	★★★★☆
2015	50.5	161 of 337	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	47.0	184 of 335	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	35.8	243 of 335	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	32.3	241 of 319	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	24.3	253 of 304	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	38.3	203 of 299	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	28.8	223 of 289	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	14.0	263 of 287	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	12.3	265 of 284	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	76.1	10 of 111	91.0%	★★★★★
2019	99.1	2 of 226	99.1%	★★★★★
2018	96.6	8 of 219	96.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	73.7	54 of 298	81.9%	★★★★☆
2024	65.1	77 of 300	74.3%	★★★★☆
2023	54.3	119 of 295	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.1	136 of 299	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.9	134 of 233	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	68.2	73 of 299	75.6%	★★★★☆
2018	55.3	118 of 290	59.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	84.2	24 of 314	92.4%	★★★★★
2024	81.8	26 of 311	91.6%	★★★★★
2023	74.1	54 of 309	82.5%	★★★★☆
2022	67.0	72 of 310	76.8%	★★★★☆
2021	57.7	67 of 224	70.1%	★★★★☆
2019	87.3	13 of 303	95.7%	★★★★★
2018	79.4	25 of 285	91.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	77.1	46 of 303	84.8%	★★★★☆
2024	77.0	47 of 304	84.5%	★★★★☆
2023	74.1	56 of 307	81.8%	★★★★☆
2022	54.2	111 of 304	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	82.5	23 of 303	92.4%	★★★★★
2018	76.8	36 of 293	87.7%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	98.1	2 of 126	98.4%	★★★★★
2024	84.2	14 of 130	89.2%	★★★★☆
2023	77.8	15 of 124	87.9%	★★★★☆
2019	66.9	75 of 294	74.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	72.5	60 of 314	80.9%	★★★★☆
2024	65.8	86 of 316	72.8%	★★★★☆
2023	60.6	106 of 320	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.2	160 of 314	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	68.4	59 of 266	77.8%	★★★★☆
2018	60.2	86 of 253	66.0%	★★★☆☆

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)98th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)92nd percentile+7 vs school

Disabled (2022)91st percentile+33 vs school

Male (2025)85th percentile~ school

Female (2025)82nd percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)81st percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Writing79%+30 vs state

Reading61%+14 vs state

Editing and Mechanics60%+11 vs state

Social Studies52%+13 vs state

Mathematics51%+9 vs state

Science43%+14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Knox County Middle 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 Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th 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
Knox County Middle School	Public	6-8	311 N Main St	Barbourville	40906	Knox County	Knox County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 545-5267	522	43	12.1	76.8%	501 (96.0%)	9 (1.7%)	7 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	78	46^th of 320 public middle schools	85.6%		72.9	64^th of 324 public middle schools	80.2%	18		51.0	60.0	41.0		62.0	70.0	52.0	43.0		79.0		52.0		60.0	$16,657	$2,498	$1,112	$3,610	$10,804	$2,244	$13,047
Corbin Middle School	Public	6-8	50 Ed McNeel Drive	Corbin	40701	Knox County	Corbin Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 523-3619	675	38	17.5	55.4%	614 (91.0%)	7 (1.0%)	34 (5.0%)	6 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.9%)	92.3	10^th of 320 public middle schools	96.9%		92.3	11^th of 324 public middle schools	96.6%	1		63.0	67.0	58.0		73.0	70.0	72.0	49.0		74.0		71.0		66.0	$19,006	$935	$379	$1,314	$9,014	$2,198	$11,212
Whitley County Middle School	Public	7-8	351 Blvd of Champions	Williamsburg	40769	Whitley County	Whitley County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 549-7050	547	39	14.0	76.2%	521 (95.2%)	2 (0.4%)	11 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (2.0%)	85.9	29^th of 320 public middle schools	90.9%		78.4	48^th of 324 public middle schools	85.2%	19			57.0	54.0			64.0	55.0	47.0		71.0		59.0		66.0	$18,395	$2,685	$1,041	$3,726	$9,516	$2,440	$11,955
South Laurel Middle School	Public	6-8	223 S Laurel Rd	London	40744	Laurel County	Laurel County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 862-4745	837	52	16.0	70.1%	768 (91.8%)	11 (1.3%)	34 (4.1%)	9 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	14 (1.7%)	79.2	40^th of 320 public middle schools	87.5%		74.6	55^th of 324 public middle schools	83.0%	15		48.0	64.0	55.0		66.0	62.0	58.0	37.0				52.0			$22,253	$1,547	$911	$2,457	$16,485	$3,206	$19,796
Middlesboro Middle School	Public	5-8	4400 Cumberland Ave	Middlesboro	40965	Bell County	Middlesboro Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 242-8880	284	26	11.0	79.9%	231 (81.3%)	15 (5.3%)	9 (3.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.9%)	41.5	190^th of 320 public middle schools	40.6%		42.9	175^th of 324 public middle schools	46.0%	15	13.0	42.0	35.0	33.0	28.0	45.0	53.0	41.0	28.0	14.0	43.0	25.0	38.0	24.0	54.0	$21,704	$4,841	$1,928	$6,773	$9,057	$2,604	$11,707

Frequently Asked Questions about Knox County Middle School

Is Knox County Middle School a good school?

Knox County Middle School ranks 46^th of 320 Kentucky middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Knox County Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 522 students attended Knox County Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Knox County Middle School?

Students at Knox County Middle School are 96% White, 2% African American, 1% Hispanic.

What district is Knox County Middle School in?

Knox County

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Schools in Barbourville, 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.