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Clay City Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

587^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 14% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Clay City Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 452 students in grades PK-5 in the small town of Clay City, Kentucky, which is part of the Powell County School District. Unfortunately, the school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Kentucky elementary schools over the past several years, maintaining a 1-star or 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Clay City Elementary School's academic performance is a significant concern, with proficiency rates well below state averages across all grade levels and subject areas, particularly in science and social studies. The school also struggles with very high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25% to 50.8% in recent years, and a high-poverty student population, with 68.33% to 80.97% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite the relatively high spending per student at the school, ranging from $11,274 to $17,613 in recent years, the academic outcomes remain very poor, suggesting that simply increasing funding may not be enough to improve performance without addressing other underlying issues.

Interestingly, the nearby schools in the higher-performing Montgomery County and Madison County districts, such as Northview Elementary, Mount Sterling Elementary, Mapleton Elementary, and Waco Elementary, significantly outperform Clay City Elementary School on academic measures, despite serving similar high-poverty student populations. This suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as district-level leadership, teacher quality, and school culture, may be critical in driving student success.

425

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,417

Per pupil spending ?

76.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4901 Main St
Clay City, KY 40312

(606) 663-3315

District: Powell County

Students who attend Clay City Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Powell County Middle School
High:	Powell County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.1%

Hispanic:

2.6%

Two or more races:

1.6%

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Compare Clay City Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 1st percentile in 2021 → 14th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 14th (2025) from a 1st-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kentucky average (28% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (14th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (34% vs 25% Kentucky)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school28%

District avg33%

Kentucky avg44%

587^th of 685

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Bottom 14%▼ down 22 pts since 2015

From bottom 37% (2015) to bottom 14% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Elementary Schools in the Powell County

145^th of 157Powell 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	17.4	587 of 685	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.8	554 of 685	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	9.3	652 of 687	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.0	632 of 684	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	7.3	513 of 517	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	30.3	555 of 700	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.8	498 of 691	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	33.9	506 of 694	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	37.2	479 of 690	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	41.7	443 of 698	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	50.1	365 of 705	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	42.1	453 of 719	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	46.4	392 of 713	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	59.9	280 of 688	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	59.0	290 of 683	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	51.2	351 of 658	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	35.2	456 of 651	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	54.1	296 of 638	53.6%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	33.3	306 of 474	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.6	380 of 445	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	16.8	563 of 648	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.2	490 of 644	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	5.6	624 of 639	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.5	632 of 641	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	30.1	542 of 671	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.0	493 of 663	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	15.7	606 of 672	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	30.6	487 of 665	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.8	636 of 670	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.7	630 of 667	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	39.4	434 of 664	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.0	414 of 631	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	18.8	559 of 653	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.5	551 of 652	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.0	581 of 652	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.8	519 of 657	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.6	522 of 676	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.2	438 of 665	34.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2019	31.5	513 of 661	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	12.5	616 of 659	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.6	568 of 659	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	5.8	649 of 658	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.1	634 of 656	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	30.9	456 of 593	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)35th percentile+15 vs school

Special Education (2019)22nd percentile~ school

Male (2025)14th percentile~ school

Female (2025)13th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)10th percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)7th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Editing and Mechanics34%-13 vs state

Mathematics32%-11 vs state

Reading30%-18 vs state

Social Studies21%-17 vs state

Science14%-23 vs state

★

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Schools Near Clay City 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
Clay City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4901 Main St	Clay City	40312	Powell County	Powell County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 663-3315	425	30	14.1	76.5%	400 (94.1%)	5 (1.2%)	11 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	17.4	587^th of 685 public elementary schools	14.3%		22.8	554^th of 685 public elementary schools	19.1%	33	31.0		33.0	38.0		22.0	14.0		21.0	34.0	$14,417	$447	$376	$2,251	$10,299	$2,253	$11,124
Stanton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	651 Breckinridge St	Stanton	40380	Powell County	Powell County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 663-3311	322	22	14.6	67.1%	304 (94.4%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.4%)	35.2	461^st of 685 public elementary schools	32.7%		29.7	502^nd of 685 public elementary schools	26.7%	41	42.0	53.0	20.0	40.0	31.0	42.0	42.0	27.0	32.0	39.0	$28,828	$387	$319	$2,081	$10,514	$2,216	$11,355
Bowen Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5099 Campton Rd	Stanton	40380	Powell County	Powell County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 663-3313	231	17	13.5	69.7%	221 (95.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.6%)	31.6	492^nd of 685 public elementary schools	28.2%		23.2	550^th of 685 public elementary schools	19.7%	58		30.0	47.0	44.0	27.0	47.0	21.0	16.0	45.0	37.0	$16,960	$338	$406	$2,260	$12,453	$2,531	$13,468
Camargo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4307 Camargo Rd	Mount Sterling	40353	Montgomery County	Montgomery County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 497-8776	597	40	15.1	72.9%	541 (90.6%)	6 (1.0%)	36 (6.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.0%)	40.3	426^th of 685 public elementary schools	37.8%		31.8	483^rd of 685 public elementary schools	29.5%	57	32.0	45.0	25.0	41.0	52.0	48.0	40.0	42.0	35.0	37.0	$25,355	$1,620	$883	$2,503	$8,866	$2,190	$11,080
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
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
Mount Sterling Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6601 Indian Mound Dr	Mount Sterling	40353	Montgomery County	Montgomery County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 497-8730	464	31	15.2	64.9%	367 (79.1%)	13 (2.8%)	64 (13.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (4.1%)	51.1	326^th of 685 public elementary schools	52.4%		58.8	264^th of 685 public elementary schools	61.5%	62	36.0	40.0	32.0	47.0	50.0	67.0	39.0	45.0	40.0	54.0	$17,494	$1,812	$949	$2,762	$8,966	$2,624	$11,651
Mapleton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	809 Indian Mound Dr	Mount Sterling	40353	Montgomery County	Montgomery County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 497-8752	524	35	15.1	62.4%	472 (90.1%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (7.6%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.3%)	65.1	217^th of 685 public elementary schools	68.3%		65.9	208^th of 685 public elementary schools	69.6%	9	46.0	53.0	42.0	49.0	64.0	59.0	48.0	59.0	42.0	49.0	$16,457	$1,907	$902	$2,809	$9,712	$2,781	$12,497
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
Northview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1040 Maysville Road	Mount Sterling	40353	Montgomery County	Montgomery County	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 497-8703	503	32	15.9	60.6%	444 (88.3%)	8 (1.6%)	24 (4.8%)	8 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.8%)	68.9	183^rd of 685 public elementary schools	73.3%		67.4	193^rd of 685 public elementary schools	71.8%	10	37.0	52.0	51.0	56.0	63.0	67.0	55.0	41.0	50.0	56.0	$15,695	$1,877	$996	$2,874	$9,104	$2,350	$11,517

Frequently Asked Questions about Clay City Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Clay City Elementary School?

Students at Clay City Elementary School are 94% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American.

How many students attend Clay City Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 425 students attended Clay City Elementary School.

What district is Clay City Elementary School in?

Powell County

Is Clay City Elementary School a good school?

Clay City Elementary School ranks in the bottom 14.3% of Kentucky elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Clay City Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Clay City Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Powell County Middle School
High : Powell County High 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.