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Paducah Tilghman High School

Q: Is Paducah Tilghman High School a good school?

Paducah Tilghman High School ranks 99 th of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

99^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 262 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 62% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Paducah Tilghman High School is a public high school in Paducah, Kentucky, serving grades 9–12 in the Paducah Independent district, with 860 students. Its 2025–2026 graduation rate was 94.8%, just above the district’s 94.7% and the state’s 94.1%. The clearest concern is chronic absenteeism: 36.7% of students were chronically absent, 13 percentage points above both the district and state rates (24.1% and 23.5%, respectively).

Test results show real strengths, but they vary by subject. In 2025–2026, science proficiency was 29%, above the state’s 23% and the district’s 28%; reading was 53%, 4 points above the state, and social studies was 42%, 5 points above. Writing was a weaker spot at 43%, 4 points below the state, though 2 points above the district. Against nearby schools, Tilghman’s 53% in grade 10 reading was second among the reported results, behind McCracken County High School at 68%. In grade 11 editing and mechanics, however, Tilghman’s 40% was below Marshall County High School (45%), Livingston Central High School (42%) and McCracken (54%).

Scores have improved in several subjects: from 2023–2024 to 2025–2026, math rose from 23% to 40%, reading from 40% to 53%, and writing from 28% to 43%. SchoolDigger ranked Tilghman 99th of 262 Kentucky schools in 2025–2026, at the 62nd percentile with 3 stars; its percentile rose from 31 in 2023–2024. That placed it behind McCracken’s 90th percentile but ahead of Livingston (55), Marshall (50) and MC Academy (21). Its 2024–2025 student-teacher ratio was 15.2, lower than three of those four nearby schools. In that same year, 58% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, the highest rate among nearby schools reporting that measure. SchoolDigger’s statewide measure of how well it serves Hispanic students rose to the 94th percentile in 2025–2026, compared with Tilghman’s overall 62nd percentile; its measure for Low Socio Economic Status Students was 16th percentile.

860

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,778

Per pupil spending ?

57.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

2400 Washington St
Paducah, KY 42003

(270) 444-5650

District: Paducah Independent

Feeder schools for Paducah Tilghman High School:

Elementary:	Clark Elementary School
	McNabb Elementary School
	Morgan Elementary School
Middle:	Paducah Middle School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

41.2%

White:

39.4%

Two or more races:

11.3%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Paducah Tilghman High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 62nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Kentucky median (62nd percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (37% vs 24% Kentucky)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg40%

Kentucky avg39%

99^th of 262

Kentucky public high schools ?

Top 38%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From top 47% (2016) to top 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

76^th of 158Paducah Independent 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	56.4	99 of 262	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.1	152 of 254	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.7	199 of 290	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.3	146 of 276	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.6	80 of 271	70.5%	★★★★☆
2021	51.0	104 of 267	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.1	165 of 285	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.2	116 of 271	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	62.3	107 of 287	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	53.8	135 of 288	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.4	138 of 295	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	62.0	98 of 290	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	56.4	118 of 291	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	53.7	92 of 229	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	36.3	149 of 226	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	36.8	155 of 223	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	49.9	100 of 217	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	62.4	56 of 217	74.2%	★★★★☆
2007	56.6	74 of 217	65.9%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	26.8	58 of 75	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.4	58 of 75	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.2	76 of 93	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.4	55 of 83	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.1	57 of 89	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	62.6	17 of 78	78.2%	★★★★☆
2019	38.6	51 of 89	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.7	47 of 94	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	53.0	50 of 153	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.3	87 of 166	47.6%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	47.9	122 of 244	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	38.5	164 of 239	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.3	186 of 261	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.6	195 of 253	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	60.5	81 of 252	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.5	65 of 236	72.5%	★★★★☆
2019	40.2	166 of 249	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	58.0	96 of 234	59.0%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	43.4	71 of 102	30.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	86.0	7 of 115	93.9%	★★★★★
2025	51.1	52 of 115	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	35.3	84 of 124	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	18.8	102 of 116	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	73.5	21 of 114	81.6%	★★★★☆
2019	81.2	12 of 88	86.4%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2024	64.1	11 of 30	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.8	9 of 32	71.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	22.1	205 of 245	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.1	177 of 242	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.1	242 of 274	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.3	180 of 272	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.6	115 of 266	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.6	71 of 234	69.7%	★★★★☆
2019	30.2	191 of 254	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	46.4	131 of 232	43.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	58.3	79 of 243	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.9	101 of 239	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	28.9	190 of 262	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	58.6	84 of 259	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.3	67 of 257	73.9%	★★★★☆
2021	39.2	129 of 238	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.5	153 of 251	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.3	138 of 237	41.8%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	60.7	27 of 87	69.0%	★★★★☆
2025	43.4	52 of 89	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	19.1	77 of 87	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	62.3	23 of 76	69.7%	★★★★☆
2022	75.1	10 of 77	87.0%	★★★★☆
2021	56.3	21 of 49	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.6	31 of 42	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2023	46.1	70 of 162	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.5	149 of 226	34.1%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	91.2	13 of 253	94.9%	★★★★★
2025	85.3	25 of 251	90.0%	★★★★★
2024	75.6	42 of 273	84.6%	★★★★☆
2023	77.7	35 of 264	86.7%	★★★★☆
2022	87.1	21 of 260	91.9%	★★★★★
2021	71.5	34 of 203	83.3%	★★★★☆
2019	74.9	39 of 219	82.2%	★★★★☆
2018	81.2	28 of 198	85.9%	★★★★☆

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)

White (2026)95th percentile+33 vs school

Hispanic (2026)94th percentile+32 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)69th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)67th percentile+5 vs school

Disabled (2022)67th percentile-3 vs school

Homeless (2024)63rd percentile+32 vs school

Special Education (2023)57th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2026)50th percentile-12 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2019)30th percentile-12 vs school

African American (2026)23rd percentile-40 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)16th percentile-46 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Reading53%+4 vs state

Writing43%-4 vs state

Social Studies42%+5 vs state

Mathematics40%~ state avg

Editing and Mechanics40%~ state avg

Science29%+6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Paducah Tilghman 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 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Science 11th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Paducah Tilghman High School	Public	9-12	2400 Washington St	Paducah	42003	McCracken County	Paducah Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 444-5650	860	57	15.2	57.6%	339 (39.4%)	354 (41.2%)	64 (7.4%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	97 (11.3%)	56.4	99^th of 262 public high schools	62.2%		44.1	152^nd of 254 public high schools	40.2%	53			40.0			53.0		29.0		43.0		42.0		40.0	$19,778	$2,094	$17,684
Paducah Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	500 South 25th Street	Paducah	42003	McCracken County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(270) 443-6592	0	0		—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
McCracken County High School	Public	9-12	6530 New Us Hwy 60 W	Paducah	42001	McCracken County	McCracken County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 538-4300	1,882	103	18.3	45.9%	1,551 (82.4%)	97 (5.2%)	113 (6.0%)	40 (2.1%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	77 (4.1%)	81.7	26^th of 262 public high schools	90.1%		88.2	14^th of 254 public high schools	94.5%	12			52.0			68.0		36.0		57.0		45.0		54.0
Livingston Central High School	Public	9-12	750 Us 60 W	Smithland	42081	Livingston County	Livingston County	No	No	No	Yes	(270) 928-2065	339	23	15.0	51.9%	300 (88.5%)	3 (0.9%)	17 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.0%)	51.1	117^th of 262 public high schools	55.3%		72.1	49^th of 254 public high schools	80.7%	68			39.0			47.0		19.0		59.0		34.0		42.0	$22,620	$1,888	$20,732
Marshall County High School	Public	9-12	416 High School Rd	Benton	42025	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	No	(270) 527-1453	1,201	64	18.8	48.2%	1,115 (92.8%)	3 (0.2%)	38 (3.2%)	9 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (2.9%)	48.6	130^th of 262 public high schools	50.4%		49.1	129^th of 254 public high schools	49.2%	1			40.0			48.0		21.0		43.0		35.0		45.0
MC Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	397 High School Road	Benton	42025	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	Yes	No	(270) 527-8628	100	3	33.3	51.0%	96 (96.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.0%)	23.1	206^th of 262 public high schools	21.4%		12.4	228^th of 254 public high schools	10.2%	22						23.0						33.0
Marshall County Technical Center	Public	9-12	341 High School Rd	Benton	42025	Marshall County	Marshall County	No	No	No	No	(270) 527-8648	0	12	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Paducah Tilghman High School

How many students attend Paducah Tilghman High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 860 students attended Paducah Tilghman High School.

What is the racial makeup of Paducah Tilghman High School?

Students at Paducah Tilghman High School are 41% African American, 39% White, 11% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic.

Is Paducah Tilghman High School a good school?

Paducah Tilghman High School ranks 99^th of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Paducah Tilghman High School?

Paducah Tilghman High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Clark Elementary School
Elementary : McNabb Elementary School
Elementary : Morgan Elementary School
Middle : Paducah Middle School

What district is Paducah Tilghman High School in?

Paducah Independent

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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.