Best Public Schools in Zip Code 42724

ZIP code 42724 has four Hardin County public schools: two elementary schools serving grades 3–5, one middle school and one high school. Across 36 reported 2025–2026 grade-and-subject results, the schools averaged 6 points above the matching state results, though their performance varied considerably. The clearest overall academic standout is Central Hardin High School, which exceeded state proficiency in all six reported subjects.

Central Hardin averaged 12 points above the state across its tests, with subject advantages ranging from 9 to 19 points; its social studies result was 56% proficient versus 37% statewide. Cecilia Valley Elementary School also stood out, averaging 10 points above state results and beating Lakewood Elementary School in six of their ten same-grade comparisons. Cecilia led by 20 points in grade 3 math and 12 points in grade 3 and grade 4 reading. Lakewood’s average was 2 points above the state, while West Hardin Middle School was 1 point above; West was above state results in six of ten tests but had weaker results in math. SchoolDigger ranked Central 32nd of 262 schools (88th percentile, 4 stars) and Cecilia 184th of 684 (73rd percentile, 4 stars); Lakewood and West received 3 stars.

Recent changes favor the high school and elementary schools on average, while West’s scores moved downward. From 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, average test results rose 9 points at Central, 4 at Cecilia and 5 at Lakewood, but fell 3 points at West; West math declined in all three grades. There are notable exceptions: Lakewood surpassed Cecilia in grade 5 math and reading, while its grade 5 writing was 18% proficient, compared with Cecilia’s 49%. As context, in 2024–2025 Cecilia had 49% free/reduced lunch eligible and a 14.2 student-teacher ratio; Lakewood had 58% eligible and a 15.2 ratio. These figures describe differences, not causes. Central’s graduation rate was 98%, but its chronic absenteeism rate was 27%, above the 24% state rate; the other three schools had absenteeism below the state rate.