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Southern Elementary School

Q: Is Southern Elementary School a good school?

Southern Elementary School ranks 148 th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

148^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 685 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 78% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Southern Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Somerset, Kentucky, serving 646 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Pulaski County School District, which is ranked 12th out of 157 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Southern Elementary School has consistently ranked in the top 25% of Kentucky elementary schools, with strong academic performance, particularly in reading and editing/mechanics. In the 2024-2025 school year, 62% of 5th-grade students were proficient or better in reading, compared to the state average of 50%. The school also performs well among its Hispanic and special education student subgroups, ranking 23rd and 71st, respectively, out of Kentucky elementary schools. However, the school faces challenges with higher chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 23.8% to 28.0% over the past few years, which is higher than the state average.

When compared to nearby schools, Southern Elementary generally outperforms Eubank Elementary and Shopville Elementary on academic measures, but lags behind the higher-performing Northern Elementary and Oak Hill Elementary schools. The school's higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students, ranging from 74.2% to 78.34%, may contribute to its slightly lower academic performance compared to some of the top-performing nearby schools.

611

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,547

Per pupil spending ?

71%

Free/discounted lunch ?

198 Enterprise Dr
Somerset, KY 42501

(606) 678-5229

District: Pulaski County

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.7%

Hispanic:

8.5%

Two or more races:

4.6%

See top rated Kentucky elementary schools

Compare Southern Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 81st percentile in 2015 → 78th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (56% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 22% of Kentucky elementary schools

Worth a look

!Near the bottom of Pulaski County's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school56%

District avg61%

Kentucky avg44%

148^th of 685

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Top 22%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 8Elementary Schools in the Pulaski County

12^th of 157Pulaski 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	73.6	148 of 685	78.4%	★★★★☆
2024	71.6	147 of 685	78.5%	★★★★☆
2023	74.2	125 of 687	81.8%	★★★★☆
2022	73.3	127 of 684	81.4%	★★★★☆
2021	64.9	132 of 517	74.5%	★★★★☆
2019	86.2	48 of 700	93.1%	★★★★★
2018	83.4	69 of 691	90.0%	★★★★★
2017	84.1	64 of 694	90.8%	★★★★★
2016	73.2	142 of 690	79.4%	★★★★☆
2015	74.1	134 of 698	80.8%	★★★★☆
2014	69.7	176 of 705	75.0%	★★★★☆
2013	70.4	166 of 719	76.9%	★★★★☆
2012	79.2	88 of 713	87.7%	★★★★☆
2011	59.8	282 of 688	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	75.2	136 of 683	80.1%	★★★★☆
2009	69.2	190 of 658	71.1%	★★★★☆
2008	52.4	327 of 651	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	56.9	272 of 638	57.4%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	58.6	65 of 206	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	80.9	62 of 474	86.9%	★★★★☆
2018	75.7	64 of 445	85.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	76.1	119 of 648	81.6%	★★★★☆
2024	66.9	174 of 644	73.0%	★★★★☆
2023	68.3	159 of 639	75.1%	★★★★☆
2022	63.9	178 of 641	72.2%	★★★★☆
2021	70.3	67 of 312	78.5%	★★★★☆
2019	85.5	35 of 671	94.8%	★★★★★
2018	80.2	76 of 663	88.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	78.5	23 of 168	86.3%	★★★★☆
2022	71.3	19 of 114	83.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	75.3	104 of 672	84.5%	★★★★☆
2024	75.4	102 of 665	84.7%	★★★★☆
2023	76.6	80 of 670	88.1%	★★★★☆
2022	77.1	67 of 667	90.0%	★★★★★
2021	58.9	108 of 275	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	90.9	16 of 664	97.6%	★★★★★
2018	87.9	27 of 631	95.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	66.9	172 of 653	73.7%	★★★★☆
2024	71.5	134 of 652	79.4%	★★★★☆
2023	74.5	101 of 652	84.5%	★★★★☆
2022	74.7	102 of 657	84.5%	★★★★☆
2021	54.3	142 of 325	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	82.8	54 of 676	92.0%	★★★★★
2018	83.2	57 of 665	91.4%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	65.6	71 of 306	76.8%	★★★★☆
2024	74.6	47 of 279	83.2%	★★★★☆
2023	76.4	41 of 257	84.0%	★★★★☆
2019	85.2	49 of 661	92.6%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2025	69.0	165 of 659	75.0%	★★★★☆
2024	63.4	211 of 659	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.9	185 of 658	71.9%	★★★★☆
2022	64.4	181 of 656	72.4%	★★★★☆
2021	53.3	141 of 337	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	82.1	67 of 592	88.7%	★★★★☆
2018	79.4	91 of 593	84.7%	★★★★☆

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)

Hispanic (2025)86th percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)85th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)82nd percentile+3 vs school

Special Education (2025)77th percentile~ school

White (2025)75th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)74th percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2022)68th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2024-2025) ?

Editing and Mechanics71%+24 vs state

Writing62%+24 vs state

Reading57%+8 vs state

Social Studies53%+15 vs state

Mathematics52%+9 vs state

Science43%+6 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

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3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, May 11, 2009

Southern has a staff that really cares about the students. The staff are reasonable and are willing to work with you about the educational needs of your child. Close Quote

Schools Near Southern 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 Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Reading 3rd Grade	KSA Reading 4th Grade	KSA Reading 5th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Science 4th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Writing 5th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 5th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 5th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th 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
Southern Elementary School	Public	K-5	198 Enterprise Dr	Somerset	42501	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 678-5229	611	46	13.2	71.0%	499 (81.7%)	10 (1.6%)	52 (8.5%)	22 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.6%)	73.6	148^th of 685 public elementary schools	78.4%		71.6	147^th of 685 public elementary schools	78.5%	1	52.0	52.0	53.0				54.0	54.0	62.0				43.0		62.0		53.0		71.0		$14,547	$1,827	$661	$2,488	$9,299	$2,759	$12,058
Oak Hill Elementary School	Public	K-5	1755 WTLO Road	Somerset	42503	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 679-2014	551	34	16.2	54.8%	479 (86.9%)	4 (0.7%)	22 (4.0%)	15 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	30 (5.4%)	93	17^th of 685 public elementary schools	97.5%		92.7	18^th of 685 public elementary schools	97.4%	1	72.0	88.0	64.0				78.0	81.0	71.0				62.0		57.0		64.0		70.0		$13,408	$1,388	$494	$1,882	$9,237	$2,289	$11,526
Burnside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	435 East Lakeshore Drive	Burnside	42519	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 561-4250	414	32	12.8	81.2%	380 (91.8%)	4 (1.0%)	16 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.4%)	89.6	45^th of 685 public elementary schools	93.4%		72.9	136^th of 685 public elementary schools	80.1%	91	63.0	63.0	65.0				56.0	65.0	76.0				56.0		73.0		73.0		82.0		$14,219	$1,327	$448	$1,774	$10,160	$2,279	$12,444
Memorial Education Center	Public	PK-K	222 Langdon St	Somerset	42501	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	No	(606) 678-4100	231	1	231.0	54.5%	195 (84.4%)	4 (1.7%)	20 (8.7%)	3 (1.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.5%)								(n/a)
Hopkins Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	210 May St	Somerset	42501	Pulaski County	Somerset Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 678-8707	750	45	16.6	69.5%	616 (82.1%)	11 (1.5%)	72 (9.6%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.1%)	91.6	29^th of 685 public elementary schools	95.8%		86.4	53^rd of 685 public elementary schools	92.3%	24	77.0	79.0					64.0	64.0					59.0								$12,373	$1,627	$1,277	$3,151	$7,163	$2,054	$9,220
Pulaski Elementary School	Public	K-5	107 W University Dr	Somerset	42503	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 678-4713	535	36	15.0	61.9%	437 (81.7%)	4 (0.7%)	59 (11.0%)	8 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (4.7%)	81	96^th of 685 public elementary schools	86.0%		82.6	82^nd of 685 public elementary schools	88.0%	14	57.0	58.0	57.0				65.0	61.0	66.0				48.0		62.0		56.0		60.0		$13,920	$1,395	$613	$2,009	$9,874	$2,038	$11,912
Nancy Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	240 Hwy 196	Nancy	42544	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 636-6338	299	21	14.3	68.2%	282 (94.3%)	8 (2.7%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	83.7	85^th of 685 public elementary schools	87.6%		68.4	181^st of 685 public elementary schools	73.6%	96	59.0	67.0	59.0				67.0	69.0	72.0						49.0		67.0		54.0		$13,830	$1,129	$442	$1,571	$9,821	$2,438	$12,259
Science Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	6007 N Hwy 27	Science Hill	42553	Pulaski County	Science Hill Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 423-3341	498	31	16.0	68.3%	469 (94.2%)	2 (0.4%)	19 (3.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.4%)	68.2	191^st of 685 public elementary schools	72.1%		64.9	217^th of 685 public elementary schools	68.3%	26	77.0	54.0	58.0	76.0	55.0	54.0	63.0	46.0	55.0	78.0	61.0	49.0	33.0	45.0	34.0	62.0	36.0	51.0	58.0	62.0	$14,565	$552	$485	$1,037	$9,489	$2,129	$11,619
Northern Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6155 Hwy 39	Somerset	42503	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 423-1040	352	26	13.4	65.9%	298 (84.7%)	2 (0.6%)	37 (10.5%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.1%)	91	38^th of 685 public elementary schools	94.5%		91.8	22^nd of 685 public elementary schools	96.8%	16	67.0	76.0	82.0				65.0	65.0	68.0						65.0		56.0		84.0		$15,659	$1,292	$466	$1,758	$11,587	$2,314	$13,901
Shopville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	10 Shopville Rd.	Somerset	42503	Pulaski County	Pulaski County	No	No	No	Yes	(606) 274-4411	385	26	14.5	67.0%	359 (93.2%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.1%)	67.2	196^th of 685 public elementary schools	71.4%		74.8	122^nd of 685 public elementary schools	82.2%	74	45.0	33.0	69.0				48.0	60.0	56.0				48.0		63.0		48.0		58.0		$12,827	$1,010	$501	$1,511	$9,046	$2,269	$11,316

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Elementary School

Is Southern Elementary School a good school?

Southern Elementary School ranks 148^th of 685 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Southern Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 611 students attended Southern Elementary School.

What district is Southern Elementary School in?

Pulaski County

What is the racial makeup of Southern Elementary School?

Students at Southern Elementary School are 82% White, 9% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% Asian, 2% African American.

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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.