📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (KSA 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Kentucky
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Fort Thomas Independent School District | Fort Thomas | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Boyle County School District | Danville | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #3 | Graves County School District | Boaz | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #4 | Laurel County School District | East Bernstadt | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #5 | Oldham County School District | Buckner | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #6 | Leslie County School District | Asher | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #7 | Lyon County School District | Eddyville | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #8 | Whitley County School District | Corbin | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #9 | McCracken County School District | Paducah | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #10 | Walton-Verona Independent School District | Verona | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #11 | Clay County School District | Big Creek | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #12 | Calloway County School District | Almo | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #13 | Pulaski County School District | Somerset | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #14 | Burgin Independent School District | Burgin | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #15 | Boone County School District | Burlington | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #16 | Pike County School District | Pikeville | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #17 | Campbell County School District | Alexandria | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #18 | Kenton County School District | Latonia | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #19 | Grayson County School District | Big Clifty | 9/10 Excellent | 83th |
| #20 | Johnson County School District | Boons Camp | 9/10 Excellent | 83th |
| #21 | Monroe County School District | Fountain Run | 9/10 Excellent | 82th |
| #22 | Perry County School District | Saul | 9/10 Excellent | 82th |
| #23 | Henderson County School District | Corydon | 9/10 Excellent | 81th |
| #24 | Carlisle County School District | Arlington | 9/10 Excellent | 80th |
| #25 | Madison County School District | Waco | 9/10 Excellent | 80th |
Best School Districts in Kentucky (2026)
This ranking covers 142 rated public school districts in Kentucky, scored using KSA 2024–25 state assessment data. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Kentucky School Districts at a Glance
- 167 of the 171 regular school districts operating in Kentucky have a published rating on this site.
- 50 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from KSA 2024–25, and every district is ranked against other districts in Kentucky only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Fort Thomas Independent School District in Fort Thomas, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in Kentucky is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Kentucky? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (KSA 2024–25), the top-rated district is Fort Thomas Independent School District in Fort Thomas, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (KSA 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Kentucky? ▼
Kentucky has 171 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 167 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Kentucky school district ratings based on? ▼
KSA 2024–25. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Kentucky and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Kentucky are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
50 of the 167 rated districts in Kentucky score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Kentucky, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in Kentucky? ▼
In Kentucky nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; Kentucky is not one of them.