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Herald Whitaker Middle School

Public Grades 7-8

281^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 320 Kentucky Middle Schools

Better than 12% of Kentucky middle schools

Summary

Herald Whitaker Middle School is a public middle school in Salyersville, Kentucky, serving 249 students in grades 7-8. The school is part of the Magoffin County School District, which is ranked 123 out of 157 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Herald Whitaker Middle School consistently performs below the state average in proficiency rates across various subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's 7th-grade mathematics proficiency rate was 20%, compared to the state average of 43%, and the 8th-grade reading proficiency rate was 35%, compared to the state average of 42%. Compared to nearby schools like Morgan County Middle School and Johnson County Middle School, Herald Whitaker Middle School generally lags behind in academic performance.

The school also faces challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25% to 56.8% in recent years, and relatively high dropout rates, ranging from 0% to 1.3%. While Herald Whitaker Middle School's per-student spending is higher than some nearby schools, it is still lower than others, which may impact the school's ability to provide the necessary resources and support for its students. Addressing these issues will be crucial for the school and Magoffin County School District to improve educational outcomes for the students.

260

Students ?

11.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,589

Per pupil spending ?

68.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

221 Hornet Dr
Salyersville, KY 41465

(606) 349-5190

District: Magoffin County

Students who attend Herald Whitaker Middle School usually attend:

High:

Magoffin County High School

Feeder schools for Herald Whitaker Middle School:

Elementary:	North Magoffin Elementary
	Salyersville Grade School
	South Magoffin Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.5%

Two or more races:

2.3%

African American:

0.8%

See top rated Kentucky middle schools

Compare Herald Whitaker Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 48th percentile in 2014 → 12th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kentucky average (30% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (12th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (47% vs 25% Kentucky)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school30%

District avg30%

Kentucky avg44%

281^st of 320

Kentucky public middle schools ?

Bottom 12%▼ down 5 pts since 2015

From bottom 18% (2015) to bottom 12% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

123^rd of 157Magoffin 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	17.3	281 of 320	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.7	264 of 324	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	9.0	309 of 327	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	22.8	256 of 320	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.7	280 of 335	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.9	251 of 322	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	32.9	242 of 330	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	25.5	274 of 331	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	25.2	278 of 337	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	48.7	174 of 335	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	37.0	237 of 335	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	14.4	295 of 319	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	22.4	258 of 304	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	41.6	188 of 299	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	41.8	182 of 289	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	67.4	85 of 287	70.4%	★★★★☆
2007	44.1	155 of 284	45.4%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	14.2	110 of 111	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	79.2	22 of 226	90.3%	★★★★★
2018	84.3	20 of 219	90.9%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	18.0	261 of 298	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.9	215 of 300	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	6.5	287 of 295	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.8	278 of 299	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	28.9	241 of 299	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.3	227 of 290	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2024	30.2	21 of 28	25.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	28.7	236 of 314	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.8	227 of 311	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.1	280 of 309	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	32.1	222 of 310	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.9	254 of 303	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.3	182 of 285	36.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	18.2	262 of 303	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.2	253 of 304	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.2	280 of 307	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	36.9	191 of 304	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	15.5	280 of 303	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	28.5	237 of 293	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	58.4	28 of 126	77.8%	★★★★☆
2024	74.6	16 of 130	87.7%	★★★★☆
2019	15.9	271 of 294	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	13.9	284 of 314	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.7	274 of 316	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	6.7	310 of 320	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.4	270 of 314	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2025)78th percentile+66 vs school

Homeless (2024)25th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)25th percentile+13 vs school

Male (2025)14th percentile~ school

Female (2025)12th percentile~ school

White (2025)10th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2022)1st percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Writing39%-10 vs state

Editing and Mechanics36%-13 vs state

Social Studies33%-6 vs state

Reading32%-14 vs state

Mathematics18%-23 vs state

★

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Schools Near Herald Whitaker Middle 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 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th 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
Herald Whitaker Middle School	Public	7-8	221 Hornet Dr	Salyersville	41465	Magoffin County	Magoffin County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 349-5190	260	23	11.3	68.1%	251 (96.5%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.3%)	17.3	281^st of 320 public middle schools	12.2%		21.7	264^th of 324 public middle schools	18.5%	17		20.0	17.0		28.0	35.0		39.0	33.0	36.0	$18,589	$2,815	$1,244	$4,059	$9,059	$2,808	$11,867
Johnson County Middle School	Public	7-8	251 N Mayo Tr	Paintsville	41240	Johnson County	Johnson County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 789-4133	449	40	11.3	58.8%	426 (94.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.8%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (2.0%)	64.2	103^rd of 320 public middle schools	67.8%		62.1	102^nd of 324 public middle schools	68.5%	1		62.0	48.0		54.0	47.0	29.0	61.0	47.0	48.0	$18,299	$2,255	$1,154	$3,409	$10,703	$2,424	$13,127
Morgan County Middle School	Public	6-8	380 Road to Success	West Liberty	41472	Morgan County	Morgan County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 743-8102	361	26	14.1	66.2%	353 (97.8%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36.4	209^th of 320 public middle schools	34.7%		39	195^th of 324 public middle schools	39.8%	14	40.0	29.0	26.0	59.0	34.0	38.0		50.0	40.0	46.0	$16,553	$2,080	$210	$2,290	$8,275	$1,399	$9,674
James D. Adams Middle School	Public	6-8	2520 S Lake Dr	Prestonsburg	41653	Floyd County	Floyd County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 886-2671	311	20	15.5	69.8%	294 (94.5%)	2 (0.6%)	8 (2.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.9%)	19.9	266^th of 320 public middle schools	16.9%		12.9	295^th of 324 public middle schools	9.0%	29	19.0	24.0	34.0	44.0	40.0	29.0	24.0	44.0	24.0	32.0	$13,671	$1,375	$873	$2,248	$8,772	$2,651	$11,423

Frequently Asked Questions about Herald Whitaker Middle School

How many students attend Herald Whitaker Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 260 students attended Herald Whitaker Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Herald Whitaker Middle School?

Students at Herald Whitaker Middle School are 97% White, 2% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Herald Whitaker Middle School attend?

Students who attend Herald Whitaker Middle School usually go on to attend Magoffin County High School

Is Herald Whitaker Middle School a good school?

Herald Whitaker Middle School ranks in the bottom 12.2% of Kentucky middle schools.

What district is Herald Whitaker Middle School in?

Magoffin County

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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.