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Cowan Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-8

584^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 684 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 15% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Cowan Elementary School in Whitesburg, Letcher County, serves pre-K through 8th grade and enrolls 246 students. SchoolDigger gives it 1 star and places it at the 15th percentile statewide for 2025–26. Results vary by grade and subject, but the sharpest concern is grade 5: just 12% were proficient in social studies, 27% in reading, and 23% in editing and mechanics.

There are meaningful bright spots alongside those weak results. Cowan’s grade 8 math proficiency was 46%, above the state’s 39% and equal to the district’s 46%; it exceeded six of eight nearby schools with reported scores. Across the grades with results, science averaged 34%, matching the state and exceeding the district’s 28%. Social studies was weakest overall: Cowan averaged 24%, compared with 39% statewide and 29% in the district. Grade 6 math also lagged, at 23% versus 42% statewide and 34% in the district.

Reading has improved on a grade-matched comparison: Cowan’s average rose from 32% in 2023–24 to 39% in 2025–26, while math for grades 6–8 stayed at 33%. Even with some stronger individual results, SchoolDigger’s overall percentile fell from 28 to 15. Its 2024–25 student-teacher ratio was 14.7, compared with a 13.7 average among the ten nearby schools, and 78% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year; these are context, not explanations for scores. SchoolDigger’s statewide measure for how well the school serves male students rose from the 9th percentile in 2023–24 to the 40th in 2025–26, well above the school’s overall 15th percentile. For female students, the measure fell from the 41st percentile in 2024–25 to the 12th in 2025–26. Chronic absenteeism also declined, from 64% in 2022–23 to 43% in 2025–26, though the latest rate remained above the state’s 24%.

246

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,538

Per pupil spending ?

78.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

3125 Hwy 931 S
Whitesburg, KY 41858

(606) 633-7195

District: Letcher County

Students who attend Cowan Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Letcher County Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.7%

Two or more races:

2.4%

African American:

0.8%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Cowan Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 27th percentile in 2015 → 15th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kentucky average (34% vs 43% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (43% vs 24% Kentucky)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg37%

Kentucky avg43%

Elementary school

584^th of 684

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Bottom 15%▼ down 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 29% (2016) to bottom 15% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

196^th of 326

Kentucky public middle schools ?

Bottom 40%▼ down 24 pts since 2016

From top 36% (2016) to bottom 40% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Letcher County

110^th of 158Letcher 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	19.1	584 of 684	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.1	494 of 685	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.8	605 of 685	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.5	458 of 687	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.2	342 of 684	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	27.3	573 of 700	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.3	493 of 691	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	33.7	508 of 694	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	36.5	488 of 690	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	33.9	513 of 698	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	41.3	444 of 705	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	45.4	415 of 719	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	32.5	527 of 713	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	19.8	600 of 688	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	47.9	393 of 683	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	45.5	390 of 658	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	30.3	493 of 651	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	23.0	528 of 638	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	35.7	281 of 474	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.1	194 of 445	56.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	16.7	581 of 657	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	43.2	385 of 648	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	13.7	587 of 644	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	36.3	422 of 639	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.0	359 of 641	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.0	559 of 671	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.7	377 of 663	43.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	26.0	535 of 674	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.5	471 of 672	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	21.5	555 of 665	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.9	440 of 670	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.4	409 of 667	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.1	566 of 664	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.3	387 of 631	38.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	40.7	393 of 651	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.2	471 of 653	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.8	593 of 652	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	29.5	473 of 652	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	45.6	352 of 657	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.0	533 of 676	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.0	517 of 665	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	28.7	525 of 661	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	14.8	598 of 650	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	24.3	527 of 659	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.8	626 of 659	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	28.0	496 of 658	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	39.6	390 of 656	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	11.6	568 of 593	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	40.3	196 of 326	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	58.1	124 of 320	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	35.4	213 of 324	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.7	120 of 327	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.8	131 of 320	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.3	90 of 282	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.1	192 of 335	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.7	226 of 322	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	45.0	189 of 330	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	60.9	120 of 331	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	62.4	107 of 337	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	66.0	87 of 335	74.0%	★★★★☆
2013	45.1	202 of 335	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	42.9	190 of 319	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	34.3	221 of 304	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	50.7	158 of 299	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	47.3	161 of 289	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	39.7	180 of 287	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	43.8	157 of 284	44.7%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	36.3	136 of 226	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.6	137 of 219	37.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	50.4	132 of 299	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	66.0	84 of 298	71.8%	★★★★☆
2024	24.0	241 of 300	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.4	169 of 295	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.3	112 of 299	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.2	176 of 290	39.3%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	68.4	4 of 19	78.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	52.0	129 of 313	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.9	119 of 314	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.6	172 of 311	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	61.9	93 of 309	69.9%	★★★★☆
2022	68.8	63 of 310	79.7%	★★★★☆
2018	35.6	198 of 285	30.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	27.5	224 of 299	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	48.4	141 of 303	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.1	107 of 304	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.6	81 of 307	73.6%	★★★★☆
2022	70.3	63 of 304	79.3%	★★★★☆
2019	29.1	236 of 303	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.9	235 of 293	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	60.7	98 of 294	66.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	32.9	206 of 316	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.2	147 of 314	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	25.7	244 of 316	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	50.8	147 of 320	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.7	171 of 314	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.7	180 of 266	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.1	202 of 253	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Disabled (2019)41st percentile+23 vs school

Male (2026)40th percentile+25 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)21st percentile+6 vs school

Special Education (2019)21st percentile~ school

Female (2026)12th percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)8th percentile-7 vs school

Middle school

Homeless (2026)79th percentile+39 vs school

Special Education (2019)67th percentile+24 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)59th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2026)56th percentile+16 vs school

Disabled (2019)40th percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)35th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2026)25th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Reading39%-10 vs state

Writing38%-4 vs state

Editing and Mechanics34%-10 vs state

Science34%~ state avg

Mathematics32%-10 vs state

Social Studies24%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Cowan 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
Cowan Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	3125 Hwy 931 S	Whitesburg	41858	Letcher County	Letcher County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 633-7195	246	17	14.7	78.0%	238 (96.7%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.4%)	19.1	584^th of 684 public elementary schools	14.6%		31.1	494^th of 685 public elementary schools	27.9%	90	29.0			23.0	30.0	46.0	32.0	37.0	27.0	45.0	56.0	35.0	46.0	22.0	23.0	52.0	12.0	35.0	23.0	46.0	$19,538	$3,271	$16,037
West Whitesburg Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	330 Park St	Whitesburg	41858	Letcher County	Letcher County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 633-9538	462	34	13.7	68.2%	448 (97.0%)	3 (0.6%)	4 (0.9%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	13.4	624^th of 684 public elementary schools	8.8%		30.7	499^th of 685 public elementary schools	27.2%	125	25.0	24.0	21.0				32.0	43.0	31.0				26.0				18.0		17.0		$18,948	$3,617	$15,187
Letcher Elementary & Middle School	Public	K-8	160 LHS Drive	Blackey	41804	Letcher County	Letcher County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 633-2524	322	21	15.3	76.1%	322 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35.4	460^th of 684 public elementary schools	32.7%		34.9	462^nd of 685 public elementary schools	32.6%	2	33.0	59.0	28.0	31.0		28.0	37.0	45.0	33.0	56.0	53.0	32.0			25.0		22.0	32.0	64.0	28.0	$19,520	$3,172	$16,114
Martha Jane Potter Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	55 Kona Dr	Whitesburg	41858	Letcher County	Letcher County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 855-7544	273	20	13.9	67.4%	264 (96.7%)	2 (0.7%)	6 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	29.3	505^th of 684 public elementary schools	26.2%		28.8	511^th of 685 public elementary schools	25.4%	6	28.0	48.0	33.0				38.0	44.0	36.0				33.0		18.0		22.0		49.0		$18,585	$3,162	$15,174
Cumberland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	322 Golf Course Rd	Cumberland	40823	Harlan County	Harlan County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 589-2511	428	32	13.2	83.4%	381 (89.0%)	22 (5.1%)	8 (1.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.5%)	45.4	381^st of 684 public elementary schools	44.3%		37.9	448^th of 685 public elementary schools	34.6%	67	47.0	36.0		44.0	52.0	57.0	60.0	53.0	41.0	61.0	66.0	64.0	42.0	45.0	9.0	41.0	32.0	64.0	44.0	66.0	$17,665	$2,538	$14,853
Carr Creek Elementary School	Public	K-8	8596 S Hwy 160	Littcarr	41834	Knott County	Knott County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 642-3833	369	27	13.6	73.7%	356 (96.5%)	7 (1.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	53.9	298^th of 684 public elementary schools	56.4%		71.5	159^th of 685 public elementary schools	76.8%	139		86.0	28.0	45.0	32.0	20.0	68.0	86.0	36.0	72.0	44.0	38.0	68.0	30.0	22.0	25.0	14.0	40.0	22.0	23.0	$16,155	$1,935	$14,219
Robert W Combs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	9165 Hwy 15 S	Happy	41746	Perry County	Perry County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 476-2518	325	25	13.2	83.7%	319 (98.2%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	14.9	611^th of 684 public elementary schools	10.7%		21.7	563^rd of 685 public elementary schools	17.8%	48			20.0		32.0	34.0	40.0		30.0	43.0	48.0	28.0				38.0	20.0	38.0	25.0	25.0	$15,865	$2,262	$12,038
Viper Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	20 Eddington Ln	Viper	41774	Perry County	Perry County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 439-3837	282	19	15.1	80.5%	277 (98.2%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	80.1	104^th of 684 public elementary schools	84.8%		67.5	194^th of 685 public elementary schools	71.7%	90		68.0	53.0	68.0	47.0	40.0	75.0	79.0	78.0		61.0	43.0	57.0		34.0	57.0	34.0	26.0	66.0	40.0	$16,153	$1,948	$12,653
Beaver Creek Elementary School	Public	K-8	8000 Hwy 7 S	Topmost	41862	Knott County	Knott County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 447-2833	183	16	11.4	83.1%	181 (98.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	37.2	438^th of 684 public elementary schools	36.0%		24.6	537^th of 685 public elementary schools	21.6%	99	52.0	40.0	33.0		39.0	27.0	64.0	55.0	33.0	38.0	50.0	36.0	30.0	28.0	22.0	41.0		32.0	33.0	59.0	$19,023	$3,361	$15,662
Hindman Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	875 W Main St	Hindman	41822	Knott County	Knott County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 785-5872	434	32	13.5	71.2%	426 (98.2%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	46.5	371^st of 684 public elementary schools	45.8%		49.7	339^th of 685 public elementary schools	50.5%	32	39.0	30.0	38.0	36.0	56.0	45.0	65.0	59.0	56.0	62.0	69.0	45.0	27.0		20.0	45.0	36.0	33.0	56.0	40.0	$16,767	$2,474	$14,294

Frequently Asked Questions about Cowan Elementary School

What district is Cowan Elementary School in?

Letcher County

How many students attend Cowan Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 246 students attended Cowan Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Cowan Elementary School?

Students at Cowan Elementary School are 97% White, 2% Two or more races.

Is Cowan Elementary School a good school?

Cowan Elementary School ranks in the bottom 14.6% of Kentucky elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Cowan Elementary School attend?

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

High : Letcher County Central High School

Rate Cowan Elementary School!

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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.