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Southwestern High School

Q: Is Southwestern High School a good school?

Southwestern High School ranks 108 th of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

108^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 262 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 59% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Southwestern High School serves grades 9–12 and enrolls 1,213 students in Somerset, in the four-star Pulaski County district, which ranks 19th among Kentucky’s 158 districts in the supplied data. The school’s graduation rate is a clear strength: 98% in 2025–2026, compared with 94% statewide and 98% in the district. But chronic absenteeism is the most important concern: 34% of students were chronically absent, versus 24% statewide and 25% in the district.

Southwestern is strongest in math and reading compared with the state, but its writing-related results are its clearest weakness among nearby schools. In 2025–2026, math proficiency was 47% and reading was 54%, above state results of 40% and 49%, but below Pulaski County High School at 49% and 56%. Writing was 44%, below the state’s 47% and Pulaski County’s 53%; editing and mechanics was 36%, below the state’s 40% and Somerset High School at 54%. Among the four nearby conventional high schools, Southwestern ranked last in writing and editing and mechanics. Its 26% in science was above the state’s 23%, while social studies matched the state at 37%.

Results have shifted over time: KSA math proficiency fell from 57% in 2022–2023 to 47% in 2025–2026, while writing rose from 36% to 44% in the latest year, though it remains below the state. SchoolDigger ranks Southwestern at the 59th percentile with three stars, down from the 78th percentile and four stars in 2023–2024. The school’s 2024–2025 student-teacher ratio was 16.6, and 61% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible—close to the 61% average among nearby conventional high schools. SchoolDigger’s measure of how well the school serves Hispanic students was at the 30th percentile in 2025–2026, down from the 84th in 2023–2024; its measure for multi-racial students rose from the 20th percentile in 2024–2025 to the 54th.

1,213

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,779

Per pupil spending ?

61.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

1765 WTLO Rd
Somerset, KY 42503

(606) 678-9000

District: Pulaski County

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.6%

Hispanic:

7.1%

Two or more races:

4.0%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Southwestern High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 79th percentile in 2016 → 59th in 2026

Strengths

✓98% graduate in 4 years — above the Kentucky average (94%)

✓Above the Kentucky median (59th percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (34% vs 24% Kentucky)

!Ranking has slipped — down 20 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg45%

Kentucky avg39%

108^th of 262

Kentucky public high schools ?

Top 41%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From top 21% (2016) to top 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2High Schools in the Pulaski County

19^th of 158Pulaski 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	54.4	108 of 262	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.1	95 of 254	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.6	63 of 290	78.3%	★★★★☆
2023	71.5	51 of 276	81.5%	★★★★☆
2022	63.1	77 of 271	71.6%	★★★★☆
2021	61.3	65 of 267	75.7%	★★★★☆
2019	65.5	76 of 285	73.3%	★★★★☆
2018	77.6	44 of 271	83.8%	★★★★☆
2017	81.3	28 of 287	90.2%	★★★★★
2016	71.4	61 of 288	78.8%	★★★★☆
2015	74.4	57 of 295	80.7%	★★★★☆
2014	68.0	69 of 290	76.2%	★★★★☆
2013	77.5	36 of 291	87.6%	★★★★☆
2012	76.4	31 of 229	86.5%	★★★★☆
2011	62.5	65 of 226	71.2%	★★★★☆
2010	74.4	40 of 223	82.1%	★★★★☆
2009	80.8	19 of 217	91.2%	★★★★★
2008	70.5	38 of 217	82.5%	★★★★☆
2007	38.0	136 of 217	37.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	44.0	73 of 153	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	18.0	136 of 154	11.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	56.6	59 of 166	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	23.4	146 of 166	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	53.2	102 of 244	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.2	149 of 239	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	68.6	64 of 261	75.5%	★★★★☆
2023	69.4	50 of 253	80.2%	★★★★☆
2022	65.3	65 of 252	74.2%	★★★★☆
2021	61.8	64 of 236	72.9%	★★★★☆
2019	69.0	55 of 249	77.9%	★★★★☆
2018	83.1	25 of 234	89.3%	★★★★☆

Foster Care

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2023	38.1	2 of 3	33.3%	★★★★☆
2019	39.6	6 of 9	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	70.2	4 of 18	77.8%	★★★★☆
2022	77.4	8 of 38	78.9%	★★★★☆
2019	58.4	42 of 102	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.3	47 of 115	59.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	34.1	80 of 115	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	62.3	36 of 115	68.7%	★★★★☆
2024	73.2	20 of 124	83.9%	★★★★☆
2023	92.3	4 of 116	96.6%	★★★★★
2022	66.5	30 of 114	73.7%	★★★★☆
2021	64.9	21 of 92	77.2%	★★★★☆
2019	87.9	9 of 88	89.8%	★★★★★
2018	37.8	50 of 80	37.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	43.7	137 of 245	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.7	133 of 242	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	75.3	38 of 274	86.1%	★★★★☆
2023	77.1	26 of 272	90.4%	★★★★★
2022	63.1	67 of 266	74.8%	★★★★☆
2021	66.7	39 of 234	83.3%	★★★★☆
2019	74.8	41 of 254	83.9%	★★★★☆
2018	82.9	22 of 232	90.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	48.0	124 of 243	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	62.3	69 of 239	71.1%	★★★★☆
2024	67.5	65 of 262	75.2%	★★★★☆
2023	70.2	45 of 259	82.6%	★★★★☆
2022	50.3	108 of 257	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.1	83 of 238	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.1	79 of 251	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.7	55 of 237	76.8%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	54.0	40 of 87	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	27.5	71 of 89	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.8	56 of 87	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	72.3	11 of 77	85.7%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	40.7	47 of 84	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.8	135 of 168	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	52.0	53 of 162	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.1	76 of 226	66.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	52.0	109 of 253	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.7	119 of 251	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.9	84 of 273	69.2%	★★★★☆
2023	61.4	79 of 264	70.1%	★★★★☆
2022	52.0	112 of 260	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.4	91 of 203	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.5	87 of 219	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.3	46 of 198	76.8%	★★★★☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2026)78th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2026)58th percentile~ school

White (2026)57th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)54th percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2022)52nd percentile-19 vs school

Male (2026)49th percentile-10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)44th percentile-15 vs school

Special Education (2026)44th percentile-15 vs school

Foster Care (2023)33rd percentile-48 vs school

Hispanic (2026)30th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Reading54%+5 vs state

Mathematics47%+7 vs state

Writing44%-3 vs state

Social Studies37%~ state avg

Editing and Mechanics36%-4 vs state

Science26%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Southwestern 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 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 6th 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
Southwestern High School	Public	9-12	1765 WTLO Rd	Somerset	42503	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 678-9000	1,213	73	16.6	61.2%	1,038 (85.6%)	18 (1.5%)	86 (7.1%)	21 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (4.0%)	54.4	108^th of 262 public high schools	58.8%		56.1	95^th of 254 public high schools	62.6%	13				47.0				54.0		26.0		44.0		37.0		36.0	$13,779	$1,286	$12,494
Pulaski County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	3865 S Hwy 27	Somerset	42501	Pulaski County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(606) 678-2998	0	0		—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Eagle Academy	Public	6-12	300 Chandler St	Somerset	42503	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	No	(606) 679-1303	38	1	38.0	78.9%	28 (73.7%)	7 (18.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (7.9%)								(n/a)																	$8,943	$582	$8,361
Somerset High School	Public	9-12	301 College St	Somerset	42501	Pulaski County	Somerset Independent	No	No	No	No	(606) 678-4721	526	42	12.5	55.9%	428 (81.4%)	14 (2.7%)	58 (11.0%)	6 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.6%)	71.4	53^rd of 262 public high schools	79.8%		75.1	43^rd of 254 public high schools	83.1%	10				51.0				50.0		31.0		47.0		51.0		54.0	$17,908	$2,641	$15,264
Pulaski County High School	Public	9-12	511 University Dr	Somerset	42503	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 679-1574	1,113	73	15.2	54.0%	993 (89.2%)	5 (0.4%)	74 (6.6%)	3 (0.3%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (3.1%)	81.7	27^th of 262 public high schools	89.7%		85.3	20^th of 254 public high schools	92.1%	7				54.0				61.0		34.0		63.0		51.0		48.0	$14,977	$1,280	$13,697
Wayne County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	38 Academic Ave	Monticello	42633	Wayne County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(606) 348-8424	0	0		—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Wayne County High School	Public	9-12	2 Kenny Davis Blvd	Monticello	42633	Wayne County	Wayne County	No	No	No	No	(606) 348-5575	895	46	19.3	72.6%	742 (82.9%)	12 (1.3%)	120 (13.4%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	16 (1.8%)	33.4	179^th of 262 public high schools	31.7%		18.7	212^th of 254 public high schools	16.5%	33				32.0				46.0		16.0		46.0		28.0		32.0	$14,391	$1,264	$11,878
Wayne County Learning Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	1025 South Main Street	Monticello	42633	Wayne County	Wayne County	No	No	Yes	No	(606) 348-8484	26	3	8.6	84.6%	20 (76.9%)	1 (3.8%)	3 (11.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (7.7%)								(n/a)																	$17,724	$579	$16,009

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwestern High School

What is the racial makeup of Southwestern High School?

Students at Southwestern High School are 86% White, 7% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% African American.

What district is Southwestern High School in?

Pulaski County

Is Southwestern High School a good school?

Southwestern High School ranks 108^th of 262 Kentucky high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Southwestern High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,213 students attended Southwestern High School.

Rate Southwestern High 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.