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Letcher County Central High School

Q: Is Letcher County Central High School a good school?

Letcher County Central High School ranks 55 th of 254 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

55^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 254 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 78% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Letcher County Central High School is a public high school in Whitesburg, Kentucky, serving 706 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Letcher County school district, which is ranked 95 out of 157 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Letcher County Central High School has shown fluctuations in its statewide ranking, ranging from 55th to 142nd out of Kentucky high schools, and its SchoolDigger rating has varied from 2 to 4 stars. The school has performed particularly well in certain student subgroups, such as female students, special education students, and low socioeconomic status students, ranking in the top 50 in Kentucky for these groups. However, the school's performance for male students, white students, and gifted and talented students has been relatively lower, ranking in the 50s to 100s. Letcher County Central High School has maintained a strong four-year graduation rate, ranging from 92.2% to 95.6%, and a relatively low dropout rate, ranging from 0.1% to 1.3%, comparable to the nearby Knott County Central High School.

Academically, Letcher County Central High School has shown mixed performance, with some subject areas performing above the state average and others below. The school's per-student spending has increased significantly, from $11,245 in 2020-2021 to $23,076 in 2023-2024, which may have contributed to the school's improved performance in certain areas. However, the school has also experienced high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 25% to 60% in recent years, which is a significant concern that may be impacting academic achievement. Overall, Letcher County Central High School has both strengths and areas for improvement, and the school's performance may be influenced by various factors that require further investigation.

692

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,076

Per pupil spending ?

62.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

435 Cougar Dr
Whitesburg, KY 41858

(606) 633-2339

District: Letcher County

Feeder schools for Letcher County Central High School:

Elementary:	Arlie Boggs Elementary School
	Cowan Elementary School
	Martha Jane Potter Elementary School
	West Whitesburg Elementary School
Middle:	Fleming Neon Middle School
	Whitesburg Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

97.0%

Two or more races:

1.4%

African American:

0.6%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Letcher County Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 43rd percentile in 2015 → 78th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (46% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 22% of Kentucky high schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 35 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

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

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg46%

Kentucky avg39%

55^th of 254

Kentucky public high schools ?

Top 22%▲ up 35 pts since 2015

From bottom 43% (2015) to top 22% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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	68.4	55 of 254	78.3%	★★★★☆
2024	69.2	72 of 290	75.2%	★★★★☆
2023	59.9	90 of 276	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.6	106 of 271	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.6	142 of 267	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	60.3	98 of 285	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.0	127 of 271	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	66.2	86 of 287	70.0%	★★★★☆
2016	48.5	172 of 288	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	50.6	167 of 295	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	56.6	125 of 290	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	51.5	141 of 291	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	28.9	180 of 229	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	28.7	184 of 226	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	40.3	144 of 223	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	43.1	123 of 217	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	33.4	157 of 217	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	25.4	174 of 217	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	60.8	27 of 153	82.4%	★★★★☆
2021	43.5	78 of 154	49.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	93.5	5 of 166	97.0%	★★★★★
2018	80.5	19 of 166	88.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	70.7	48 of 239	79.9%	★★★★☆
2024	71.5	55 of 261	78.9%	★★★★☆
2023	68.4	54 of 253	78.7%	★★★★☆
2022	56.5	98 of 252	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	29.8	176 of 236	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	68.0	59 of 249	76.3%	★★★★☆
2018	59.5	87 of 234	62.8%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	41.8	76 of 102	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	53.4	62 of 115	46.1%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	67.1	6 of 21	71.4%	★★★★☆
2024	50.8	15 of 30	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	89.7	1 of 37	97.3%	★★★★★
2022	54.0	11 of 32	65.6%	★★★★☆
2021	40.2	18 of 26	30.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	75.9	36 of 242	85.1%	★★★★☆
2024	73.5	47 of 274	82.8%	★★★★☆
2023	71.6	39 of 272	85.7%	★★★★☆
2022	64.7	62 of 266	76.7%	★★★★☆
2021	43.4	127 of 234	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	81.9	25 of 254	90.2%	★★★★★
2018	58.6	87 of 232	62.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	67.1	56 of 239	76.6%	★★★★☆
2024	57.3	100 of 262	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.9	93 of 259	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.3	107 of 257	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.1	122 of 238	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	71.5	49 of 251	80.5%	★★★★☆
2018	46.3	134 of 237	43.5%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	59.5	22 of 86	74.4%	★★★★☆
2024	67.5	24 of 168	85.7%	★★★★☆
2023	55.3	43 of 162	73.5%	★★★★☆
2019	69.5	44 of 226	80.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	58.8	88 of 251	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.2	99 of 273	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.2	109 of 264	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.4	125 of 260	51.9%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)85th percentile+7 vs school

Disabled (2022)82nd percentile+21 vs school

Female (2025)80th percentile~ school

Male (2025)77th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)74th percentile-4 vs school

Homeless (2025)71st percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)65th percentile-13 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2019)25th percentile-40 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Writing61%+16 vs state

Reading54%+7 vs state

Editing and Mechanics47%+6 vs state

Mathematics45%+4 vs state

Social Studies45%+7 vs state

Science23%~ state avg

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Schools Near Letcher County Central High 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 (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 10th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Science 11th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th 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
Letcher County Central High School	Public	9-12	435 Cougar Dr	Whitesburg	41858	Letcher County	Letcher County	No	No	No	No	(606) 633-2339	692	45	15.2	62.3%	671 (97.0%)	4 (0.6%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.4%)	68.4	55^th of 254 public high schools	78.3%		69.2	72^nd of 290 public high schools	75.2%	17	45.0	54.0	23.0	61.0	45.0	47.0	$23,076	$1,387	$3,194	$4,582	$11,112	$4,764	$15,875
Letcher County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	515 Cougar Dr	Whitesburg	41858	Letcher County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(606) 633-5053	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Letcher County Alternative Education Center	Public	8-12	185 Circle Dr	Whitesburg	41858	Letcher County	Letcher County	No	No	No	No	(606) 633-5559	2	3	.6		2 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Knott County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	1996 Highway 160 South	Hindman	41822	Knott County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(606) 785-5350	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Knott County Central High School	Public	9-12	76 Patriot Lane	Hindman	41822	Knott County	Knott County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 785-3166	520	41	12.6	62.7%	514 (98.8%)	2 (0.4%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	51.8	115^th of 254 public high schools	54.7%		51.2	133^rd of 290 public high schools	54.1%	18	48.0	55.0	18.0	36.0	39.0	42.0	$17,545	$2,201	$2,828	$5,029	$9,206	$3,310	$12,516

Frequently Asked Questions about Letcher County Central High School

What is the racial makeup of Letcher County Central High School?

Students at Letcher County Central High School are 97% White, 1% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Letcher County Central High School?

Letcher County Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Arlie Boggs Elementary School
Elementary : Cowan Elementary School
Elementary : Martha Jane Potter Elementary School
Elementary : West Whitesburg Elementary School
Middle : Fleming Neon Middle School
Middle : Whitesburg Middle School

What district is Letcher County Central High School in?

Letcher County

How many students attend Letcher County Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 692 students attended Letcher County Central High School.

Is Letcher County Central High School a good school?

Letcher County Central High School ranks 55^th of 254 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Letcher County Central High 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.