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Southern Elementary School

Q: Is Southern Elementary School a good school?

Southern Elementary School ranks 194 th of 684 Kentucky elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

194^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 684 Kentucky Elementary Schools

Better than 72% of Kentucky elementary schools

Summary

Southern Elementary School is a K–5 school in Somerset, Kentucky, serving 611 students in Pulaski County. Its results are above Kentucky’s state proficiency rates in every reported subject, but that overall strength hides a clear concern: fifth-grade results, especially in math, writing and social studies, are substantially weaker than district and nearby-school results.

Math is a relative strength in grades 3 and 4: Southern’s 61% in third grade was above the nearby average of 53%, and its 59% in fourth grade matched nearby schools. Fifth-grade math, however, was 44%, compared with 62% in the district and 63% among nearby schools with reported results. Fifth-grade reading was 52%, versus 64% in the district and 62% nearby; writing and social studies were each 11 percentage points below the district. Southern was above the state in all six reported subjects, and editing and mechanics was a local bright spot: 57%, compared with a nearby average of 54%. Nearby averages use only comparable reported scores.

Results have slipped in several subjects since 2022–2023: social studies fell from 65% to 44%, science from 46% to 42%, and reading from 60% to 57%; math rose modestly from 53% to 55%. SchoolDigger ranks Southern 194th of 684 Kentucky schools, at the 72nd percentile with four stars for 2025–2026, down from the 82nd percentile in 2022–2023. Its student-teacher ratio was 13.2 in 2024–2025, among the lowest in the local comparison, while 71% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year. SchoolDigger’s special-education ranking stands at the 54th percentile, down from 83 in 2023–2024, indicating a notable decline in how well the school serves this group; its male-student ranking has also dropped, from the 79th to the 60th percentile over that period.

611

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,387

Per pupil spending ?

71.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

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: Declining — 79th percentile in 2016 → 72nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (52% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Above the Kentucky median (72nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2016

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

!Near the bottom of Pulaski County's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg57%

Kentucky avg44%

194^th of 684

Kentucky public elementary schools ?

Top 28%▼ down 8 pts since 2016

From top 21% (2016) to top 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 8Elementary 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	66.6	194 of 684	71.6%	★★★★☆
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
2026	71.6	142 of 657	78.4%	★★★★☆
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
2026	73.8	29 of 168	82.7%	★★★★☆
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
2026	68.6	150 of 674	77.7%	★★★★☆
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
2026	55.7	261 of 651	59.9%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	44.6	145 of 314	53.8%	★★★☆☆
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
2026	62.1	221 of 650	66.0%	★★★☆☆
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 (2026)83rd percentile+11 vs school

Female (2026)78th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)78th percentile+6 vs school

Disabled (2022)68th percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)66th percentile-6 vs school

Male (2026)60th percentile-12 vs school

Special Education (2026)54th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Editing and Mechanics57%+9 vs state

Reading57%+7 vs state

Mathematics55%+12 vs state

Social Studies44%+6 vs state

Science42%~ state avg

Writing42%+7 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

4★0

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

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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 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	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/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%)	66.6	194^th of 684 public elementary schools	71.6%		73.6	148^th of 685 public elementary schools	78.4%	46	61.0	59.0	44.0				59.0	59.0	52.0				42.0		42.0		44.0		57.0		$14,387	$2,097	$12,290
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%)	91.3	34^th of 684 public elementary schools	95.0%		93	17^th of 685 public elementary schools	97.5%	17	54.0	79.0	75.0				65.0	74.0	71.0				67.0		64.0		61.0		77.0		$13,295	$1,704	$11,591
Burnside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	145 Rock Hill Drive	Somerset	42501	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%)	73.4	145^th of 684 public elementary schools	78.8%		89.6	45^th of 685 public elementary schools	93.4%	100	46.0	51.0	64.0				48.0	56.0	67.0				40.0		67.0		64.0		70.0		$15,393	$1,833	$13,560
Memorial Education Center	Public	PK-K	222 Langdon St	Somerset	42503	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%)	89.2	45^th of 684 public elementary schools	93.4%		91.6	29^th of 685 public elementary schools	95.8%	16	66.0	71.0					63.0	68.0					59.0								$13,209	$2,920	$10,289
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%)	72.1	157^th of 684 public elementary schools	77.0%		81	96^th of 685 public elementary schools	86.0%	61	51.0	55.0	61.0				51.0	54.0	67.0				38.0		61.0		59.0		58.0		$14,082	$1,460	$12,622
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%)	76.3	127^th of 684 public elementary schools	81.4%		83.7	85^th of 685 public elementary schools	87.6%	42	43.0	56.0	73.0				55.0	67.0	69.0				41.0		49.0		75.0		63.0		$14,993	$1,516	$13,476
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%)	66	202^nd of 684 public elementary schools	70.5%		68.2	191^st of 685 public elementary schools	72.1%	11	57.0	53.0	60.0	68.0	80.0	50.0	63.0	60.0	31.0	77.0	82.0	55.0	53.0	56.0		53.0	24.0	56.0	43.0	59.0	$24,603	$876	$12,077
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%)	93.7	16^th of 684 public elementary schools	97.7%		91	38^th of 685 public elementary schools	94.5%	22	72.0	64.0					72.0	69.0	85.0								70.0				$15,328	$1,338	$13,990
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%)	61.2	236^th of 684 public elementary schools	65.5%		67.2	196^th of 685 public elementary schools	71.4%	40	48.0		67.0				69.0	42.0	61.0				39.0		39.0		46.0		42.0		$12,231	$1,502	$11,729

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Elementary School

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.

Is Southern Elementary School a good school?

Southern Elementary School ranks 194^th of 684 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

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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.