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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 75 th of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

75^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 262 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 71% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Letcher County Central High School serves 692 students in grades 9–12 in Whitesburg, Kentucky; the only nearby high-school comparison provided is 17.2 miles away. Graduation rose to 99% in 2025–26, above the state’s 94% and Knott County Central High School’s 94%. But chronic absenteeism was 46%, nearly twice the state’s 24%, even though it was lower than Knott County Central’s 54%. The clearest headline is a very high graduation rate alongside a serious attendance concern.

Writing is the school’s clearest strength, while Science is its weakest subject against the nearby school. In 2025–26, 60% of Letcher students were proficient in 11th-grade Writing, compared with 47% statewide and 33% at Knott County Central. In Science, 23% were proficient—matching the state but below Knott’s 29%; Reading was also below Knott’s, at 59% versus 63%. Letcher was above the state in four of six KSA subjects and tied in two, and its reported results matched the Letcher County district in every subject. Overall, the comparison is mixed rather than a consistent lead across subjects.

Results over time are uneven: from 2022–23 to 2025–26, Reading’s advantage over the state widened from 7 to 10 points, while Mathematics fell from a 15-point advantage to a tie; Social Studies improved from 2 points below the state to 7 points above. SchoolDigger rates Letcher 75th of 262 statewide, in the 71st percentile with 4 stars, versus Knott County Central’s 102nd rank, 61st percentile and 3 stars. Letcher’s percentile rose from 47 in 2020–21 but fell from 78 last year. Its 2024–25 student–teacher ratio was 15.2, compared with 12.6 nearby. That year, 62% of Letcher students were free/reduced lunch eligible, compared with 63% at Knott County Central. SchoolDigger’s standing for Special Education Students also declined notably, from the 86th percentile in 2023–24 to the 67th in 2025–26, below the school’s overall 71st-percentile standing.

692

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,275

Per pupil spending ?

62.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

435 Cougar Dr
Whitesburg, KY 41858

(606) 633-2339

District: Letcher County

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 — 40th percentile in 2016 → 71st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (45% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓99% graduate in 4 years — above the Kentucky average (94%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 31 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (46% vs 24% Kentucky)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg45%

Kentucky avg39%

75^th of 262

Kentucky public high schools ?

Top 29%▲ up 31 pts since 2016

From bottom 40% (2016) to top 29% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	65.1	75 of 262	71.4%	★★★★☆
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
2026	70.9	51 of 244	79.1%	★★★★☆
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
2026	62.5	66 of 245	73.1%	★★★★☆
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
2026	55.9	92 of 243	62.1%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	50.9	28 of 84	66.7%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	54.8	104 of 253	58.9%	★★★☆☆
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)

Disabled (2022)82nd percentile+21 vs school

Female (2026)79th percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)73rd percentile~ school

Homeless (2025)71st percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2026)67th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2026)62nd percentile-9 vs school

White (2026)59th percentile-12 vs school

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

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Writing60%+13 vs state

Reading59%+10 vs state

Editing and Mechanics45%+5 vs state

Social Studies44%+7 vs state

Mathematics40%~ state avg

Science23%~ state avg

5.0

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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 (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 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	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/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%)	65.1	75^th of 262 public high schools	71.4%		68.4	55^th of 254 public high schools	78.3%	20	40.0	59.0	23.0	60.0	44.0	45.0	$19,275	$2,583	$16,522
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%)	56	102^nd of 262 public high schools	61.1%		51.8	115^th of 254 public high schools	54.7%	13	37.0	63.0	29.0	33.0	43.0	41.0	$18,018	$3,396	$14,622

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 : 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 75^th of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Letcher County Central High 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.