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West Whitesburg Elementary School

Q: Is West Whitesburg Elementary School a good school?

West Whitesburg Elementary School ranks 499 th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

499^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 27% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

West Whitesburg Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 433 students in grades PK-5 in Whitesburg, Kentucky, which is part of the Letcher County school district. The school has seen a decline in its statewide ranking over the past several years, dropping from a high of 227 out of 700 Kentucky elementary schools in 2018-2019 to 499 out of 685 in the most recent 2024-2025 school year. Its SchoolDigger rating has also decreased from 3 stars to 1 star during this time period.

West Whitesburg Elementary consistently underperforms compared to the Letcher County district and the state of Kentucky in academic assessments, with proficiency rates in mathematics, reading, science, writing, and social studies all below the district and state averages across multiple grade levels. The school also struggles to support certain student subgroups, ranking in the bottom quartile of Kentucky elementary schools for male students, white students, and homeless students in recent years. Additionally, West Whitesburg Elementary has extremely high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 43.5% to 60% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages.

When compared to other nearby elementary schools in the Letcher County district, such as Martha Jane Potter Elementary and Letcher Elementary & Middle School, West Whitesburg Elementary generally performs worse on academic measures. Despite spending significantly more per student than the district and state averages, the school is not seeing commensurate improvements in academic outcomes, raising questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of the school's resource allocation.

462

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,677

Per pupil spending ?

68.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

330 Park St
Whitesburg, KY 41858

(606) 633-9538

District: Letcher County

Students who attend West Whitesburg Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Whitesburg Middle School
High:	Letcher County Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

97.0%

Hispanic:

0.9%

Two or more races:

0.9%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare West Whitesburg Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 47th percentile in 2015 → 27th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kentucky average (34% vs 44% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (44% vs 25% Kentucky)

!Ranking has slipped — down 20 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school34%

District avg33%

Kentucky avg44%

499^th of 685

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Bottom 27%▼ down 20 pts since 2015

From bottom 47% (2015) to bottom 27% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Letcher County

95^th of 157Letcher 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	30.7	499 of 685	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.1	478 of 685	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.1	452 of 687	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.9	460 of 684	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.1	432 of 517	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	64.3	227 of 700	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.6	256 of 691	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.4	322 of 694	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	48.2	371 of 690	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	49.5	367 of 698	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	41.5	443 of 705	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	32.8	543 of 719	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	20.7	628 of 713	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	38.5	474 of 688	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	30.5	540 of 683	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	19.4	569 of 658	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	31.7	481 of 651	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	34.6	447 of 638	29.9%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	19.4	191 of 206	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	71.0	93 of 474	80.4%	★★★★☆
2018	73.4	72 of 445	83.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	61.1	220 of 648	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.3	335 of 644	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.8	334 of 639	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.7	453 of 641	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	60.9	250 of 671	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.4	340 of 663	48.7%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	20.1	18 of 19	5.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.2	14 of 18	22.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.8	11 of 18	38.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	35.6	453 of 672	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.0	448 of 665	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.1	438 of 670	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.1	434 of 667	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	77.1	82 of 664	87.7%	★★★★☆
2018	67.1	152 of 631	75.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	19.5	556 of 653	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.2	500 of 652	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.5	494 of 652	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.5	479 of 657	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	64.2	213 of 676	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.9	198 of 665	70.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	42.0	162 of 306	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.9	221 of 661	66.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	25.2	519 of 659	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.7	517 of 659	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.8	497 of 658	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.8	500 of 656	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	52.1	286 of 593	51.8%	★★★☆☆

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)

Female (2025)66th percentile+39 vs school

Special Education (2025)47th percentile+20 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)33rd percentile+5 vs school

White (2025)21st percentile-6 vs school

Male (2025)15th percentile-12 vs school

Disabled (2022)7th percentile-25 vs school

Homeless (2025)5th percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Reading44%-5 vs state

Social Studies40%~ state avg

Writing33%-5 vs state

Editing and Mechanics33%-14 vs state

Science30%-7 vs state

Mathematics26%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near West Whitesburg 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 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	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
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%)	30.7	499^th of 685 public elementary schools	27.2%		32.1	478^th of 685 public elementary schools	30.2%	21	39.0	19.0	20.0				51.0	36.0	44.0				30.0		33.0		40.0		33.0		$23,677	$1,925	$3,119	$5,044	$11,899	$3,968	$15,834
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%)	31.1	494^th of 685 public elementary schools	27.9%		14.8	605^th of 685 public elementary schools	11.7%	111			30.0	33.0	50.0	37.0	28.0	50.0	24.0	50.0	68.0	43.0	41.0				39.0	47.0	30.0	63.0	$22,174	$1,714	$3,129	$4,843	$10,994	$4,583	$14,822
Arlie Boggs Elementary School	Public	K-8	1099 Hwy 806	Eolia	40826	Letcher County	Letcher County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 633-4654	110	8	13.2	79.1%	106 (96.4%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.7%)								(n/a)	37.0						37.0											24.0		47.0	$25,608	$1,735	$3,261	$4,996	$12,951	$4,847	$17,765
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%)	28.8	511^th of 685 public elementary schools	25.4%		42.8	394^th of 685 public elementary schools	42.5%	117	30.0	27.0	32.0				30.0	27.0	57.0				27.0		19.0		28.0		64.0		$22,029	$1,989	$3,109	$5,098	$10,337	$3,903	$14,207
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%)	34.9	462^nd of 685 public elementary schools	32.6%		21.3	565^th of 685 public elementary schools	17.5%	103	41.0	33.0	33.0	32.0	22.0	43.0	53.0	23.0	39.0	52.0	48.0	38.0	25.0		30.0	40.0	33.0	38.0	64.0	45.0	$22,186	$1,974	$3,163	$5,138	$10,401	$3,958	$14,361
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%)	71.5	159^th of 685 public elementary schools	76.8%		55.8	285^th of 685 public elementary schools	58.4%	126	80.0	88.0	38.0	35.0	31.0	36.0	76.0	85.0	60.0	55.0	42.0	36.0	58.0		47.0	42.0	53.0	42.0	40.0	50.0	$16,672	$1,135	$1,037	$2,172	$11,879	$2,621	$14,500
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%)	37.9	448^th of 685 public elementary schools	34.6%		47.4	348^th of 685 public elementary schools	49.2%	100	27.0	36.0	33.0	45.0	57.0	46.0	45.0	39.0	45.0	62.0	81.0	48.0	42.0	52.0	23.0	37.0	30.0	48.0	43.0	74.0	$18,775	$3,149	$2,082	$5,231	$8,849	$3,022	$11,871
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%)	21.7	563^rd of 685 public elementary schools	17.8%		22.4	557^th of 685 public elementary schools	18.7%	6	23.0		17.0	31.0	25.0	35.0	47.0	42.0	19.0	58.0	28.0	47.0				56.0	14.0	50.0	19.0	47.0	$21,622	$2,344	$1,346	$3,690	$12,370	$3,162	$15,532
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%)	24.6	537^th of 685 public elementary schools	21.6%					(n/a)	39.0	35.0		32.0	32.0	25.0	22.0	24.0		47.0	24.0	19.0	35.0					31.0			$16,635	$1,701	$1,394	$3,095	$10,749	$2,791	$13,540
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%)	67.5	194^th of 685 public elementary schools	71.7%		61.8	236^th of 685 public elementary schools	65.5%	42	52.0	40.0	48.0	64.0	50.0	28.0	81.0	80.0		64.0	65.0	52.0	29.0		41.0		41.0	55.0	63.0		$22,936	$2,137	$1,561	$3,698	$12,948	$3,868	$16,816

Frequently Asked Questions about West Whitesburg Elementary School

What district is West Whitesburg Elementary School in?

Letcher County

What is the racial makeup of West Whitesburg Elementary School?

Students at West Whitesburg Elementary School are 97% White.

What schools do graduates of West Whitesburg Elementary School attend?

Students who attend West Whitesburg Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Whitesburg Middle School
High : Letcher County Central High School

How many students attend West Whitesburg Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 462 students attended West Whitesburg Elementary School.

Is West Whitesburg Elementary School a good school?

West Whitesburg Elementary School ranks 499^th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Rate West Whitesburg Elementary School!

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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.