Public schools in Harlan, KY
6 open public schools with an address in Harlan, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
1,177
6 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.9:1
Kentucky median 15:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Harlan public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in Harlan, KY: 2 elementary, 1 high, 3 combined or other. The 6 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 1,177 students, an average of 196 per school. The largest campus is Harlan High School (455 students), and the largest elementary school is Harlan Elementary School (335).
Harlan County operates the most schools here (3), and 2 regular districts have at least one Harlan 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 15.9:1, higher 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.
About 63% 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 Harlan
Elementary schools in Harlan
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan Elementary School Harlan Independent | KG–04 | 335 | 14.8:1 | |
| James A. Cawood Elementary Harlan County | PK–08 | 277 | 10.9:1 |
High schools in Harlan
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan High School Harlan Independent | 05–12 | 455 | 17:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Harlan
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland Tech - Harlan Campus Harlan County · Career and Technical School | UG–UG | 0 | — | |
| Kentucky TECH - Harlan Regional Tech Ctr Harlan County · Career and Technical School | UG–UG | 0 | — | |
| Sunshine School Harlan Independent | PK–PK | 110 | 110:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White90.1%
- Hispanic1.4%
- Black2.6%
- Asian0.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial5.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 4 Harlan schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (1,177 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Harlan
How many public schools are in Harlan, KY?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in Harlan: 2 elementary, 1 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 1,177 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Harlan?
Schools with an address in Harlan belong to 2 education agencies, led by Harlan County (3 schools), Harlan Independent (3 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Harlan?
Harlan High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Harlan, with 455 students in 2024–25 (grades 05–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Harlan?
No school with an address in Harlan 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 Harlan schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Harlan public schools is 15.9:1, higher 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 Harlan 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