Public schools in Barbourville, KY
11 open public schools with an address in Barbourville, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
11
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,976
11 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.2:1
Kentucky median 15:1
Charter schools
0
2 virtual
An overview of Barbourville public schools
The federal directory lists 11 public schools in Barbourville, KY: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 5 high, 2 combined or other. The 11 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,976 students, an average of 271 per school. The largest campus is Barbourville City School (755 students), and the largest elementary school is Jesse D Lay Elementary School (325).
Knox County operates the most schools here (9), and 2 regular districts have at least one Barbourville campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.2:1, lower than the statewide school median of 15:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 virtual schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 73% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Barbourville
Elementary schools in Barbourville
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Elementary School Knox County | PK–05 | 313 | 12.4:1 | |
| G R Hampton Elementary School Knox County | PK–05 | 244 | 13.9:1 | |
| Jesse D Lay Elementary School Knox County | PK–05 | 325 | 12.7:1 |
Middle schools in Barbourville
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County Middle School Knox County | 06–08 | 522 | 12.2:1 |
High schools in Barbourville
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbourville Learning Center Barbourville Independent · Virtual · Alternative School | 07–12 | 2 | 2:1 | |
| Knox Appalachian School Knox County · Alternative School | 05–12 | 32 | 10.7:1 | |
| Knox Central High School Knox County | 09–12 | 720 | 13.8:1 | |
| Knox County Career and Technical Center Knox County · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Knox County Learning Academy Knox County · Alternative School | 06–12 | 52 | 6.5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Barbourville
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbourville City School Barbourville Independent | PK–12 | 755 | 17.2:1 | |
| Knox Inspire Academy Knox County · Virtual · Alternative School | KG–12 | 11 | 11:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White95.1%
- Hispanic1.5%
- Black1.5%
- Asian0.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial1.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 10 Barbourville schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,976 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Barbourville
How many public schools are in Barbourville, KY?
The current NCES directory lists 11 open public schools with a location address in Barbourville: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 5 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 2,976 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Barbourville?
Schools with an address in Barbourville belong to 2 education agencies, led by Knox County (9 schools), Barbourville Independent (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Barbourville?
Knox Central High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Barbourville, with 720 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Barbourville?
No school with an address in Barbourville is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Kentucky.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Barbourville schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Barbourville public schools is 12.2:1, lower than the Kentucky school median of 15:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Barbourville guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Kentucky cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Kentucky cities