What share of students in Kentucky are proficient in math?

In 2024, 24% of eighth graders in Kentucky public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (20th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 29% in reading, compared with 29% and 33% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Kentucky, United States: official figures

90.1% of public high school students in Kentucky graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); joint 4th highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

90.1%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

218

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

271

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$14,596

FY2024

Public school enrollment

657,520

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

27.9%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Kentucky rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Kentucky was 90.1% in 2021-22, compared with 90.6% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Kentucky?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Kentucky was 88.4% for economically disadvantaged students, 79.7% for students with disabilities and 77.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Kentucky?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Kentucky was 84.9% for Black, 83.3% for Hispanic and 91.4% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Kentucky score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Kentucky averaged 218 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 10th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 221 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 33% scored at or above Proficient and 38% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Kentucky score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Kentucky averaged 258 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 21st highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 263 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 29% scored at or above Proficient and 33% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Kentucky score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Kentucky averaged 238 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 20th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 239 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 38% scored at or above Proficient and 22% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Kentucky score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Kentucky averaged 271 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 278 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 24% scored at or above Proficient and 42% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Kentucky spend per student?

Public school systems in Kentucky spent $14,596 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 17th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Kentucky going up?

Current spending per pupil in Kentucky rose from $11,291 in fiscal 2019 to $14,596 in fiscal 2024, up 29.3% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was down 0.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Kentucky spend school money on?

Of the $14,596 spent per pupil in Kentucky in fiscal 2024, $8,355 went on instruction and $5,343 on support services; salaries and wages came to $7,811 per pupil and employee benefits $4,058.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Kentucky come from?

Public school systems in Kentucky received $11.2 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 17.1% from the federal government, 45.9% from the state and 37.0% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Kentucky spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Kentucky was $11.6 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $9.7 billion was current spending and $1.7 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $5.9 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Kentucky?

657,520 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Kentucky in fall 2023, down 5.0% on fall 2019 (691,996) and down 2.9% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Kentucky?

Public schools in Kentucky had 43,023 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 15.3 pupils per teacher, joint 20th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Kentucky in fall 2019: 16.4).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Kentucky have a college degree?

27.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Kentucky, about 879,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 5th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 0.9 percentage points on 2021 (27.0%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Kentucky have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 11.8% of adults 25 and over in Kentucky had a graduate or professional degree and 9.3% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Kentucky did not finish high school?

89.0% of adults 25 and over in Kentucky had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 11.0% without one; that share is 8th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Kentucky compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Kentucky ranks 5 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
2	Tennessee	90.4%
3	Wisconsin	90.3%
4	Massachusetts	90.1%
5	Kentucky	90.1%
6	Iowa	89.9%
7	Missouri	89.8%
8	Texas	89.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Kentucky ranks 2 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
1	Mississippi	90.3%
2	Kentucky	88.4%
3	Texas	86.4%
4	Arkansas	85.4%
5	West Virginia	85.3%
6	Indiana	85.2%
7	California	84.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Kentucky ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
8	Utah	219
9	Mississippi	219
10	Florida	218
11	Kentucky	218
12	Montana	217
13	Pennsylvania	216
14	Ohio	216

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Kentucky ranks 22 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
19	Washington	259
20	Tennessee	259
21	Maryland	258
22	Kentucky	258
23	Rhode Island	258
24	New York	257
25	Louisiana	257

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Kentucky ranks 24 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
21	Virginia	238
22	Washington	238
23	South Carolina	238
24	Kentucky	238
25	Idaho	238
26	Nebraska	238
27	Montana	238

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Kentucky ranks 28 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
25	Kansas	274
26	Maine	273
27	New York	271
28	Kentucky	271
29	Michigan	270
30	Arizona	270
31	Missouri	270

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Kentucky ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
29	California	25.3%
30	Maryland	24.7%
31	Maine	24.5%
32	Kentucky	24.3%
33	Michigan	23.9%
34	Texas	23.7%
35	Georgia	23.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Kentucky ranks 41 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
38	Ohio	38.2%
39	Pennsylvania	37.8%
40	Montana	37.8%
41	Kentucky	37.7%
42	Florida	37.6%
43	Connecticut	36.8%
44	Utah	35.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Kentucky ranks 35 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
32	Kansas	$15,558
33	South Carolina	$15,060
34	Nevada	$14,812
35	Kentucky	$14,596
36	Iowa	$14,369
37	Missouri	$14,241
38	Arkansas	$13,873

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Kentucky ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
34	Oklahoma	+30.5%
35	Kansas	+30.5%
36	West Virginia	+30.2%
37	Kentucky	+29.3%
38	Minnesota	+27.7%
39	Ohio	+27.5%
40	Missouri	+27.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Kentucky ranks 31 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
28	Wyoming	39.1%
29	North Dakota	38.4%
30	Oregon	37.7%
31	Kentucky	37.0%
32	Wisconsin	36.0%
33	West Virginia	35.6%
34	California	35.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Kentucky ranks 20 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
17	Minnesota	15.5
18	North Carolina	15.4
19	Tennessee	15.3
20	Kentucky	15.3
21	Texas	14.8
22	New Mexico	14.6
23	Georgia	14.4

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Kentucky ranks 40 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
37	Massachusetts	-4.6%
38	Wisconsin	-4.8%
39	Illinois	-5.0%
40	Kentucky	-5.0%
41	Vermont	-5.0%
42	California	-5.2%
43	Colorado	-5.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Kentucky ranks 47 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
44	Alabama	29.9%
45	Oklahoma	29.3%
46	Nevada	28.5%
47	Kentucky	27.9%
48	Louisiana	27.8%
49	Arkansas	27.1%
50	Mississippi	27.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Kentucky ranks 8 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
5	New York	12.0%
6	Mississippi	12.0%
7	Louisiana	11.8%
8	Kentucky	11.0%
9	Arkansas	10.7%
10	Alabama	10.4%
11	Arizona	10.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Kentucky: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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