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Central Elementary School

Q: Is Central Elementary School a good school?

Central Elementary School ranks 112 th of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

112^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 684 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 84% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Central Elementary School serves pre-K through grade 5 and enrolls 480 students in Marshall County, Kentucky. Its clearest standout is fifth-grade writing: 70% of students were proficient in 2025–26, 35 points above the state and 26 points above the district.

Results are strong in several subjects, but not equally strong across grades. Fifth-grade writing was the highest reported score among nearby schools, and Central also led nearby schools in fifth-grade math at 59%; its fifth-grade reading and social studies results were among the top scores locally. Across grades 3–5, average math proficiency was 60%, compared with 43% statewide and 54% in Marshall County; average reading was 61%, versus 50% statewide and 56% districtwide. Fourth-grade science is a relative weakness: 43% proficiency matched the district and was 3 points above the state, but below the nearby-school average of 46%. Fourth-grade reading was also a local weak spot, at 52% compared with the district’s 53% and a nearby average of 55%.

Most subject averages improved from 2022–23 to 2025–26: writing and social studies each rose 15 points, and editing and mechanics rose 21. Science moved the other way, falling 2 points as its lead over the state narrowed from 10 points to 3. SchoolDigger ranked Central 112th of 684 schools, at the 84th percentile with four stars; nearby Symsonia Elementary School ranked higher at the 91st percentile. SchoolDigger’s Special Education Students ranking was notably lower than Central’s overall standing: 47th percentile in 2025–26 versus 84th overall, though up from 31st in 2024–25. For context, 51% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible in 2024–25, the lowest reported share among nearby schools, and the student-teacher ratio was 15.4 in 2024–25.

480

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

50.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

115 Jim Goheen Drive
Benton, KY 42025

(270) 527-0796

District: Marshall County

Students who attend Central Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	North Marshall Middle School
High:	Marshall County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.5%

Two or more races:

2.9%

Hispanic:

2.5%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Central Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 72nd percentile in 2016 → 84th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (59% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 16% of Kentucky elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg52%

Kentucky avg44%

112^th of 684

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Top 16%▲ up 11 pts since 2016

From top 28% (2016) to top 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 6Elementary Schools in the Marshall County

61^st of 158Marshall 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	79.1	112 of 684	83.6%	★★★★☆
2025	71.9	158 of 685	76.9%	★★★★☆
2024	75.6	118 of 685	82.8%	★★★★☆
2023	63.0	226 of 687	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.3	170 of 684	75.1%	★★★★☆
2021	54.9	196 of 517	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.2	431 of 700	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.1	392 of 691	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	45.3	408 of 694	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	67.5	191 of 690	72.3%	★★★★☆
2015	86.9	46 of 698	93.4%	★★★★★
2014	90.2	24 of 705	96.6%	★★★★★
2013	90.2	28 of 719	96.1%	★★★★★
2012	79.3	86 of 713	87.9%	★★★★☆
2011	82.0	87 of 688	87.4%	★★★★☆
2010	75.5	134 of 683	80.4%	★★★★☆
2009	84.0	70 of 658	89.4%	★★★★☆
2008	89.9	29 of 651	95.5%	★★★★★
2007	82.1	80 of 638	87.5%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	25.3	168 of 206	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	62.9	109 of 445	75.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	73.5	130 of 657	80.2%	★★★★☆
2025	74.3	131 of 648	79.8%	★★★★☆
2024	82.1	64 of 644	90.1%	★★★★★
2023	61.1	213 of 639	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.3	160 of 641	75.0%	★★★★☆
2021	50.7	152 of 312	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.4	479 of 671	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.1	417 of 663	37.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	71.0	133 of 674	80.3%	★★★★☆
2025	63.1	200 of 672	70.2%	★★★★☆
2024	62.0	198 of 665	70.2%	★★★★☆
2023	55.3	248 of 670	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.2	146 of 667	78.1%	★★★★☆
2021	64.3	82 of 275	70.2%	★★★★☆
2019	36.7	467 of 664	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.5	475 of 631	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	82.0	77 of 651	88.2%	★★★★☆
2025	64.1	192 of 653	70.6%	★★★★☆
2024	62.9	202 of 652	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.4	231 of 652	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.0	187 of 657	71.5%	★★★★☆
2021	62.8	90 of 325	72.3%	★★★★☆
2019	50.4	351 of 676	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.6	341 of 665	48.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	42.3	165 of 314	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.2	210 of 306	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.7	183 of 279	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.2	170 of 257	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.7	436 of 661	34.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	72.9	132 of 650	79.7%	★★★★☆
2025	64.6	198 of 659	70.0%	★★★★☆
2024	68.4	164 of 659	75.1%	★★★★☆
2023	55.7	265 of 658	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.0	224 of 656	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.2	217 of 337	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.5	423 of 592	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Male (2026)88th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)80th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2026)80th percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)80th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2026)47th percentile-36 vs school

Disabled (2022)18th percentile-57 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Writing70%+35 vs state

Editing and Mechanics64%+16 vs state

Reading61%+11 vs state

Mathematics60%+17 vs state

Social Studies55%+17 vs state

Science43%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central Elementary 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 3rd Grade	KSA Mathematics 4th Grade	KSA Mathematics 5th Grade	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Reading 3rd Grade	KSA Reading 4th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Science 4th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	115 Jim Goheen Drive	Benton	42025	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 527-0796	480	31	15.4	50.8%	449 (93.5%)	5 (1.0%)	12 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.9%)	79.1	112^th of 684 public elementary schools	83.6%		71.9	158^th of 685 public elementary schools	76.9%	46	56.0	64.0	59.0		63.0	52.0	68.0		43.0	70.0	55.0	64.0
Benton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	208 W 11th St	Benton	42025	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 527-3373	528	33	15.9	62.3%	478 (90.5%)	2 (0.4%)	26 (4.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.6%)	58.6	256^th of 684 public elementary schools	62.6%		61.5	241^st of 685 public elementary schools	64.8%	15	61.0	55.0	28.0		55.0	62.0	55.0		47.0	37.0	33.0	48.0
Calvert City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	563 E 5th Avenue	Calvert City	42029	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 395-4664	294	18	16.7	71.1%	278 (94.6%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (2.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.7%)	45.5	379^th of 684 public elementary schools	44.6%		43.3	398^th of 685 public elementary schools	41.9%	19	43.0	50.0	42.0		49.0	46.0	50.0		37.0		32.0	42.0
Sharpe Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8400 US Hwy 68 W	Benton	42025	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 898-2852	276	22	12.5	54.7%	250 (90.6%)	3 (1.1%)	11 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.0%)	69.7	176^th of 684 public elementary schools	74.3%		58.9	264^th of 685 public elementary schools	61.5%	88	76.0	55.0	46.0		63.0	63.0	54.0		45.0	39.0	46.0	54.0
Jonathan Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	9207 US Hwy 68 E	Benton	42025	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 354-6462	241	17	14.1	78.4%	209 (86.7%)	2 (0.8%)	18 (7.5%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.1%)	42.9	400^th of 684 public elementary schools	41.5%		34	470^th of 685 public elementary schools	31.4%	70	73.0	43.0	34.0		46.0	41.0	41.0			34.0	31.0	44.0
South Marshall Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	155 Sid Darnell Road	Benton	42025	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 527-1581	241	20	12.0	72.6%	229 (95.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.9%)	71.7	161^st of 684 public elementary schools	76.5%		44.4	385^th of 685 public elementary schools	43.8%	224	67.0	63.0	57.0		47.0	43.0	77.0		40.0	45.0	48.0	84.0
Symsonia Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	11730 State Route 131	Symsonia	42082	Graves County	Graves County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 674-4860	370	26	13.9	56.5%	317 (85.7%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.6%)	86	60^th of 684 public elementary schools	91.2%		86.4	62^nd of 685 public elementary schools	90.9%	2	49.0	79.0	55.0	60.0	66.0	83.0	55.0	83.0	66.0		63.0	75.0	$14,781	$932	$13,849
South Livingston Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	850 Cutoff Rd	Smithland	42081	Livingston County	Livingston County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 928-3500	367	20	18.6	57.5%	333 (90.7%)	1 (0.3%)	16 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.6%)	60.3	243^rd of 684 public elementary schools	64.5%		78	122^nd of 685 public elementary schools	82.2%	121	73.0	41.0	36.0	41.0	56.0	53.0	68.0	63.0	36.0	38.0	40.0	68.0	$19,440	$1,891	$17,549
Reidland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	5741 Benton Rd	Paducah	42003	McCracken County	McCracken County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 538-4180	548	38	14.4	71.0%	428 (78.1%)	24 (4.4%)	59 (10.8%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (5.8%)								(n/a)	50.0				52.0
Reidland Intermediate School	Public	4-5	5349 Benton Road	Paducah	42003	McCracken County	McCracken County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 538-4210	228	16	14.1	75.4%	183 (80.3%)	15 (6.6%)	18 (7.9%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.4%)	71.9	158^th of 684 public elementary schools	76.9%		47.6	355^th of 685 public elementary schools	48.2%	197		64.0	57.0			59.0	60.0		47.0	61.0	36.0	53.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary School

How many students attend Central Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 480 students attended Central Elementary School.

What district is Central Elementary School in?

Marshall County

What is the racial makeup of Central Elementary School?

Students at Central Elementary School are 94% White, 3% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 1% African American.

What schools do graduates of Central Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : North Marshall Middle School
High : Marshall County High School

Is Central Elementary School a good school?

Central Elementary School ranks 112^th of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Central Elementary 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.