Public schools in Benton, KY
10 open public schools with an address in Benton, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,521
10 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.8:1
Kentucky median 15:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Benton public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in Benton, KY: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. The 10 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,521 students, an average of 352 per school. The largest campus is Marshall County High School (1,201 students), and the largest elementary school is Benton Elementary School (528).
Every listed school belongs to Marshall County. 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 14.8:1, similar to 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 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 56% 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 Benton
Elementary schools in Benton
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Elementary School Marshall County | PK–05 | 528 | 16:1 | |
| Central Elementary School Marshall County | PK–05 | 480 | 15.5:1 | |
| Jonathan Elementary School Marshall County | PK–05 | 241 | 14.1:1 | |
| Sharpe Elementary School Marshall County | PK–05 | 276 | 12.5:1 | |
| South Marshall Elementary School Marshall County | PK–05 | 241 | 12:1 |
Middle schools in Benton
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Marshall Middle Marshall County | 06–08 | 432 | 15.8:1 |
High schools in Benton
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County High School Marshall County | 09–12 | 1,201 | 18.8:1 | |
| Marshall County Technical Center Marshall County · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| MC Academy Marshall County · Virtual · Alternative School | 06–12 | 100 | 33.3:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Benton
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Youth Village Marshall County · Alternative School | 01–12 | 22 | 7.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White92%
- Hispanic4%
- Black0.5%
- Asian0.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial3%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Benton schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,521 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Benton
How many public schools are in Benton, KY?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in Benton: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 3,521 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Benton?
All listed public schools with an address in Benton belong to Marshall County. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Benton?
Marshall County High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Benton, with 1,201 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Benton?
No school with an address in Benton 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 Benton schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Benton public schools is 14.8:1, similar to 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 Benton 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