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Southern Elementary School

Q: Is Southern Elementary School a good school?

Southern Elementary School ranks 451 st of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

451^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 684 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 34% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Located in Falmouth, Kentucky, Southern Elementary School serves 542 students in PK–5, the largest enrollment among 11 nearby schools. SchoolDigger ranks it 451st of 684 Kentucky schools for 2025–26, at the 34th percentile with two stars, a lower-middle standing among these schools. The clearest concern is fourth grade: just 25% of students were proficient in math and 39% in reading, compared with 40% and 50% in Pendleton County and 43% and 50% statewide, respectively.

Results vary sharply by grade and subject. Fifth-grade math is a bright spot: 49% proficiency was above the district’s 47% and the state’s 43%, and ranked fourth among nearby schools. By contrast, fourth-grade math was 25%, and only two nearby schools had lower fourth-grade reading results than Southern’s 39%. Across subjects, editing and mechanics compares best locally: Southern averaged 46%, versus a nearby-school average of 38%, though it was below the district and state at 48%. Science was its weakest local comparison: the fourth-grade result of 30% was 16 points below the nearby average. Southern was below the state in every listed subject.

Some results have improved while others have declined. From 2022–23 to 2025–26, grade-averaged math fell from 46% to 35% and fifth-grade writing from 45% to 30%, while reading rose from 42% to 46%. SchoolDigger’s overall percentile increased from 23 to 34 over the last year, but remains below its 44th percentile in 2022–23. The student-teacher ratio was 14.8 in 2024–25, the fourth-lowest among nearby schools; 64% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year, compared with a nearby average of 60%. Chronic absenteeism fell from 27% in 2021–22 to 18% in 2025–26, yet remained higher than at every nearby school. One subgroup had a notable ranking swing: SchoolDigger’s percentile for serving special education students moved from 4 in 2023–24 to 36 in 2024–25, then to 26 in 2025–26.

542

Students ?

14.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,523

Per pupil spending ?

63.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

320 Fairgrounds Rd
Falmouth, KY 41040

(859) 654-6981

District: Pendleton County

Students who attend Southern Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Phillip Sharp Middle School
High:	Pendleton County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.5%

Two or more races:

3.7%

Hispanic:

1.8%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Southern Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 30th percentile in 2016 → 34th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kentucky average (38% vs 44% meeting standards)

!Science scores 10 pts below the Kentucky average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg41%

Kentucky avg44%

451^st of 684

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Bottom 34%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 30% (2016) to bottom 34% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Elementary Schools in the Pendleton County

117^th of 158Pendleton 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	36.0	451 of 684	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	26.2	527 of 685	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.3	490 of 685	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.7	387 of 687	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.1	363 of 684	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.7	393 of 517	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.4	485 of 700	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.3	554 of 691	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	50.7	349 of 694	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	37.1	481 of 690	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	27.8	557 of 698	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	21.9	618 of 705	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	29.9	562 of 719	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	41.4	445 of 713	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	46.1	409 of 688	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	38.7	472 of 683	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	70.0	182 of 658	72.3%	★★★★☆
2008	57.3	280 of 651	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	32.3	465 of 638	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	36.7	272 of 474	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.4	381 of 445	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	35.9	441 of 657	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	25.5	515 of 648	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.9	452 of 644	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.4	397 of 639	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.2	387 of 641	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.4	413 of 671	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.7	538 of 663	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	36.1	441 of 674	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	25.3	535 of 672	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.7	500 of 665	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.2	420 of 670	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.6	399 of 667	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.6	234 of 275	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.5	451 of 664	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.8	521 of 631	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	34.0	444 of 651	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	28.3	490 of 653	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.0	501 of 652	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	47.0	342 of 652	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.1	347 of 657	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.4	266 of 325	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.1	516 of 676	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.7	520 of 665	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	31.3	231 of 314	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.6	197 of 306	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	14.8	268 of 279	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	29.2	207 of 257	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.4	449 of 661	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	30.3	477 of 650	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.9	565 of 659	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.6	519 of 659	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.9	425 of 658	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.2	426 of 656	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.6	444 of 592	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.3	442 of 593	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2019)43rd percentile+12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)35th percentile~ school

Female (2026)33rd percentile~ school

Male (2026)32nd percentile~ school

White (2026)27th percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2026)26th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Editing and Mechanics46%~ state avg

Reading46%-4 vs state

Mathematics35%-8 vs state

Social Studies34%-4 vs state

Science30%-10 vs state

Writing30%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Southern 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 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	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Southern Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	320 Fairgrounds Rd	Falmouth	41040	Pendleton County	Pendleton County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 654-6981	542	37	14.8	63.7%	507 (93.5%)	5 (0.9%)	10 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.7%)	36	451^st of 684 public elementary schools	34.1%		26.2	527^th of 685 public elementary schools	23.1%	76	31.0	25.0	49.0	51.0	39.0	47.0	30.0	30.0	34.0	46.0	$18,523	$1,242	$13,948
Northern Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	925 Hwy 177 E	Butler	41006	Pendleton County	Pendleton County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 472-7341	501	32	15.9	58.7%	476 (95.0%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.0%)	50.5	336^th of 684 public elementary schools	50.9%		63.7	225^th of 685 public elementary schools	67.2%	111	26.0	55.0	45.0	39.0	61.0	51.0	39.0	43.0	36.0	51.0	$18,019	$1,023	$13,640
Williamstown Elementary	Public	K-5	300 Helton Street	Williamstown	41097	Grant County	Williamstown Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 824-3760	397	28	14.1	56.9%	355 (89.4%)	2 (0.5%)	29 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.8%)	12.4	630^th of 684 public elementary schools	7.9%		23.6	543^rd of 685 public elementary schools	20.7%	87		30.0	18.0	22.0	35.0	16.0	37.0		11.0	18.0	$17,200	$1,260	$12,615
Dry Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	275 School Road	Dry Ridge	41035	Grant County	Grant County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 824-4484	400	28	14.2	63.5%	356 (89.0%)	4 (1.0%)	24 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	14 (3.5%)	55.7	284^th of 684 public elementary schools	58.5%		47.9	350^th of 685 public elementary schools	48.9%	66	42.0	61.0	44.0	40.0	60.0	51.0	54.0	36.0	39.0	44.0	$17,691	$1,689	$16,002
Grant's Lick Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	13290 Alexandria Pike	Butler	41006	Pendleton County	Campbell County	No	No	No	No	(859) 635-2129	326	19	16.9	44.5%	289 (88.7%)	7 (2.1%)	11 (3.4%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.0%)	79.1	113^th of 684 public elementary schools	83.5%		81.1	95^th of 685 public elementary schools	86.1%	18	71.0	66.0	67.0	73.0	72.0	60.0	53.0	40.0	48.0	46.0	$17,871	$1,001	$16,870
Mason-Corinth Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	225 Heekin Rd.	Williamstown	41097	Grant County	Grant County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 824-9510	299	17	17.5	73.9%	280 (93.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.3%)	24.4	543^rd of 684 public elementary schools	20.6%		15.5	602^nd of 685 public elementary schools	12.1%	59	32.0	53.0	25.0	30.0	47.0	33.0			19.0	25.0	$15,455	$1,231	$14,224
Taylor Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	140 Gibson Dr	Brooksville	41004	Bracken County	Bracken County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 735-2169	490	34	14.4	60.2%	474 (96.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	35.7	456^th of 684 public elementary schools	33.3%		32.7	483^rd of 685 public elementary schools	29.5%	27	26.0	53.0	34.0	26.0	59.0	40.0	43.0	35.0	26.0	29.0	$16,406	$1,591	$14,815
Sherman Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3987 DIxie Hwy	Dry Ridge	41035	Grant County	Grant County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 428-5500	415	26	15.9	81.9%	342 (82.4%)	3 (0.7%)	60 (14.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	7 (1.7%)	25.3	534^th of 684 public elementary schools	21.9%		32.2	488^th of 685 public elementary schools	28.8%	46	20.0	33.0	43.0	33.0	35.0	51.0	27.0	13.0	25.0	44.0	$16,704	$2,414	$14,291
Piner Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2845 Piner Ridge Rd	Morning View	41063	Kenton County	Kenton County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 356-2155	354	22	16.1	41.5%	325 (91.8%)	4 (1.1%)	13 (3.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.1%)	68.7	182^nd of 684 public elementary schools	73.4%		66.3	203^rd of 685 public elementary schools	70.4%	21	51.0	52.0	68.0	54.0	54.0	66.0	44.0	48.0	50.0	46.0
Crittenden-Mt. Zion Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	270 Crittenden-Mt. Zion Rd.	Dry Ridge	41035	Grant County	Grant County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 428-2171	387	19	20.3	70.5%	336 (86.8%)	5 (1.3%)	21 (5.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (5.7%)	6.2	662^nd of 684 public elementary schools	3.2%		22.6	555^th of 685 public elementary schools	19.0%	107	16.0	13.0	22.0	34.0	13.0	19.0		7.0	10.0	24.0	$14,244	$1,213	$13,034

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Elementary School

How many students attend Southern Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 542 students attended Southern Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Southern Elementary School?

Students at Southern Elementary School are 94% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

What district is Southern Elementary School in?

Pendleton County

What schools do graduates of Southern Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Phillip Sharp Middle School
High : Pendleton County High School

Is Southern Elementary School a good school?

Southern Elementary School ranks 451^st of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Southern Elementary School!

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Latest Kentucky data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 KSA test scoresNewOct 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.