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Waco Elementary School

Q: Is Waco Elementary School a good school?

Waco Elementary School ranks 409 th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

409^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Waco Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 422 students in grades PK-5 in Waco, Kentucky, which is part of the Madison County School District. While the district is ranked 27th out of 157 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating, Waco Elementary faces significant challenges that set it apart from its peers.

Waco Elementary has struggled with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 20.9% to 30.3% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the state average and the rates of nearby schools like Kirksville Elementary, White Hall Elementary, and Glenn R Marshall Elementary. Additionally, the school's test scores lag behind the Madison County and state averages across multiple subjects and grade levels, with particular achievement gaps for female students, White students, and special education students.

Despite maintaining relatively small class sizes and higher per-student spending than the state average, Waco Elementary's performance has steadily declined over time, dropping from the 338th best elementary school in Kentucky in 2014-2015 to the 409th best in 2024-2025. This suggests the school may face unique challenges that have not been adequately addressed, likely exacerbated by its high poverty rate, with 54.52% to 58.77% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in recent years. Targeted interventions and support may be needed to help Waco Elementary improve and better serve its high-needs student population.

422

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,433

Per pupil spending ?

54.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

359 Waco Loop
Waco, KY 40385

(859) 387-3600

District: Madison County

Students who attend Waco Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Clark Moores Middle School
High:	Madison Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.7%

Hispanic:

5.5%

Two or more races:

5.0%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Waco Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 52nd percentile in 2015 → 40th in 2025

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 12 percentile points since 2015

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

!Near the bottom of Madison County's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

District avg49%

Kentucky avg44%

409^th of 685

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▼ down 11 pts since 2015

From top 48% (2015) to bottom 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 10Elementary Schools in the Madison County

27^th of 157Madison 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	42.2	409 of 685	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.8	277 of 685	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.1	296 of 687	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.8	273 of 684	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	21.0	450 of 517	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.2	430 of 700	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.8	363 of 691	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	44.2	420 of 694	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	41.8	430 of 690	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	51.6	338 of 698	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	64.6	219 of 705	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.8	223 of 719	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	70.9	162 of 713	77.3%	★★★★☆
2011	65.0	220 of 688	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	79.3	95 of 683	86.1%	★★★★☆
2009	80.8	86 of 658	86.9%	★★★★☆
2008	78.5	102 of 651	84.3%	★★★★☆
2007	74.1	138 of 638	78.4%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	40.8	122 of 206	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.5	300 of 474	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.8	161 of 445	63.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	47.5	340 of 648	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.7	262 of 644	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.4	220 of 639	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.4	315 of 641	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.1	244 of 312	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.3	449 of 671	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.4	406 of 663	38.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	38.3	430 of 672	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.5	338 of 665	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.0	264 of 670	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.9	262 of 667	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.2	396 of 664	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.0	299 of 631	52.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	36.8	428 of 653	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.1	208 of 652	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.4	418 of 652	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	64.4	174 of 657	73.5%	★★★★☆
2021	13.4	310 of 325	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	48.3	372 of 676	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.6	310 of 665	53.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2024	38.7	168 of 279	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.5	147 of 257	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.9	325 of 661	50.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	31.0	468 of 659	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	49.7	305 of 659	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.7	364 of 658	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.7	280 of 656	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.0	374 of 592	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.4	347 of 593	41.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)48th percentile+7 vs school

Disabled (2022)41st percentile-19 vs school

Special Education (2024)40th percentile-20 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)36th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2025)34th percentile-6 vs school

White (2025)29th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Editing and Mechanics49%~ state avg

Reading43%-6 vs state

Mathematics42%~ state avg

Science40%+3 vs state

Social Studies33%-5 vs state

Writing31%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Waco 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 Reading 3rd Grade	KSA Reading 4th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Science 4th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th 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
Waco Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	359 Waco Loop	Waco	40385	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 387-3600	422	29	14.3	54.3%	366 (86.7%)	8 (1.9%)	23 (5.5%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (5.0%)	42.2	409^th of 685 public elementary schools	40.3%		56.8	277^th of 685 public elementary schools	59.6%	132	40.0	41.0	44.0	30.0	47.0	52.0	40.0	31.0	33.0	49.0	$19,433	$1,350	$126	$1,476	$10,184	$2,193	$12,377
Madison Kindergarten Academy	Public	PK-K	300 Bond St.	Richmond	40475	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 625-6050	403	26	15.5	64.8%	277 (68.7%)	30 (7.4%)	41 (10.2%)	6 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (1.0%)	44 (10.9%)								(n/a)											$17,792	$1,147	$274	$1,421	$9,086	$1,741	$10,827
West Irvine Elementary	Public	K-5	155 Riverview Rd	Irvine	40336	Estill County	Estill County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 723-4800	479	29	16.5	68.7%	460 (96.0%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.5%)	19.5	574^th of 685 public elementary schools	16.2%		21.7	560^th of 685 public elementary schools	18.2%	14	29.0	39.0	38.0	23.0	33.0	35.0	23.0	24.0	26.0	24.0	$7,393	$1,914	$63	$2,025	$7,093	$8,323	$10,801
Kingston Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2845 Battlefield Memorial HWY	Berea	40403	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 625-6091	608	37	16.2	54.8%	539 (88.7%)	15 (2.5%)	28 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (4.1%)	57.6	278^th of 685 public elementary schools	59.4%		69.2	174^th of 685 public elementary schools	74.6%	104	33.0	39.0	56.0	36.0	51.0	70.0	27.0	67.0	57.0	57.0	$17,345	$1,151	$245	$1,396	$8,622	$1,796	$10,418
Daniel Boone Elementary School	Public	1-5	710 N 2nd St	Richmond	40475	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 625-6070	469	34	13.6	65.7%	323 (68.9%)	44 (9.4%)	46 (9.8%)	11 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	42 (9.0%)	41.8	414^th of 685 public elementary schools	39.6%		39.4	424^th of 685 public elementary schools	38.1%	10	39.0	41.0	41.0	40.0	51.0	45.0	32.0	18.0	49.0	48.0	$17,310	$1,014	$214	$1,228	$8,533	$1,928	$10,461
Glenn R Marshall Elementary School	Public	1-5	1442 Robert R. Martin Bypass	Richmond	40475	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 625-6076	480	32	14.8	67.7%	365 (76.0%)	36 (7.5%)	37 (7.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (8.3%)	59.8	256^th of 685 public elementary schools	62.6%		58.6	266^th of 685 public elementary schools	61.2%	10	58.0	43.0	49.0	55.0	53.0	68.0	36.0	41.0	39.0	46.0	$17,674	$1,008	$245	$1,253	$9,084	$1,902	$10,986
Estill Springs Elementary	Public	K-5	314 Main St	Irvine	40336	Estill County	Estill County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 723-7703	475	31	15.3	69.9%	456 (96.0%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.7%)	42.3	406^th of 685 public elementary schools	40.7%		40.9	407^th of 685 public elementary schools	40.6%	1	33.0	43.0	32.0	43.0	43.0	45.0	37.0	42.0	38.0	55.0	$8,201	$1,851	$59	$1,958	$7,901	$9,060	$10,448
Kit Carson Elementary School	Public	1-5	450 Tates Creek Rd	Richmond	40475	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 625-6103	445	29	15.1	53.9%	348 (78.2%)	28 (6.3%)	26 (5.8%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	34 (7.6%)	47.3	361^st of 685 public elementary schools	47.3%		54.8	296^th of 685 public elementary schools	56.8%	65	25.0	45.0	34.0	43.0	43.0	64.0	38.0	45.0	47.0	46.0	$17,115	$1,195	$181	$1,376	$8,405	$1,902	$10,307
White Hall Elementary School	Public	1-5	2166 Lexington Rd	Richmond	40475	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 625-6134	364	27	13.2	55.2%	288 (79.1%)	18 (4.9%)	30 (8.2%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.9%)	58.9	265^th of 685 public elementary schools	61.3%		62.7	230^th of 685 public elementary schools	66.4%	35	40.0	41.0	58.0	58.0	63.0	59.0	43.0	29.0	42.0	47.0	$19,149	$1,512	$298	$1,810	$9,680	$1,993	$11,673
Kirksville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2399 Lancaster Rd	Richmond	40475	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 624-4582	662	42	15.6	63.7%	498 (75.2%)	39 (5.9%)	64 (9.7%)	9 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	48 (7.3%)	76.4	129^th of 685 public elementary schools	81.2%		64.9	215^th of 685 public elementary schools	68.6%	86	55.0	55.0	62.0	46.0	49.0	73.0	47.0	74.0	54.0	68.0	$16,898	$1,051	$353	$1,404	$8,204	$1,767	$9,971

Frequently Asked Questions about Waco Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Waco Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Clark Moores Middle School
High : Madison Central High School

What district is Waco Elementary School in?

Madison County

What is the racial makeup of Waco Elementary School?

Students at Waco Elementary School are 87% White, 5% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% African American.

How many students attend Waco Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 422 students attended Waco Elementary School.

Is Waco Elementary School a good school?

Waco Elementary School ranks 409^th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Waco 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.