Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 42503

ZIP code 42503 has one middle school, Northern Middle School, serving grades 6–8 in Pulaski County, with 797 students. In 2025–2026, Northern scored above Kentucky in 9 of its 10 reported grade-and-subject results. Its reading average was 62%, compared with 48% statewide, and its math average was 51%, compared with 40% statewide. The most important takeaway is that Northern’s results were generally stronger than Kentucky’s, though performance varied by subject and grade.

Because Northern is the only school listed, there is no meaningful top-to-bottom comparison between schools in the ZIP code; within the school, grade 7 reading was the standout and grade 7 math was the lowest result. Northern posted 68% in grade 7 reading, 18 points above the state’s 50%, while its 45% in grade 7 math was 6 points above Kentucky’s 39%. Grade 7 science was its strongest result relative to the state: 47% proficient versus 28%, a 19-point advantage. Grade 8 writing was the sole result below the state, at 46% versus 48%, a 2-point shortfall.

Results changed unevenly from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026: grade 7 science rose 7 points, from 40% to 47%, while grade 8 writing fell 11 points, from 57% to 46%, shifting from 8 points above the state to 2 points below it. Grade 8 math improved 8 points, but grade 7 math fell 4 points and grade 8 editing and mechanics fell 7 points. Across all 10 entries, the school’s average was essentially unchanged at 53% in both years, while its advantage over the state grew from 10 to 11 points. SchoolDigger ranked Northern 56th of 326 schools, in the 83rd percentile, with four stars in 2025–2026; the prior year it ranked 69th of 320, in the 78th percentile, also with four stars. As context, 59% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible in 2024–2025, and the student-teacher ratio was 17.3.