Public schools in Manchester, KY
9 open public schools with an address in Manchester, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,682
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.8:1
Kentucky median 15:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Manchester public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Manchester, KY: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,682 students, an average of 298 per school. The largest campus is Clay County High School (762 students), and the largest elementary school is Manchester Elementary School (409).
Clay County operates the most schools here (8), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. 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 13.8:1, 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.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 75% 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 Manchester
Elementary schools in Manchester
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burning Springs Elementary Clay County | PK–06 | 297 | 14:1 | |
| Goose Rock Elementary Clay County | PK–06 | 231 | 11.5:1 | |
| Hacker Elementary School Clay County | PK–06 | 244 | 12:1 | |
| Manchester Elementary School Clay County | PK–06 | 409 | 14.1:1 | |
| Paces Creek Elementary Clay County | KG–06 | 273 | 13.5:1 |
Middle schools in Manchester
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County Middle School Clay County | 07–08 | 387 | 12.1:1 |
High schools in Manchester
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County Area Technology Center Kentucky Tech System · Career and Technical School | 08–12 | 0 | — | |
| Clay County High School Clay County | 09–12 | 762 | 16.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Manchester
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horse Creek Learning Center Clay County · Alternative School | 03–12 | 79 | 15.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White96.1%
- Hispanic1.4%
- Black1.1%
- Asian0.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial0.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 8 Manchester schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,682 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Manchester
How many public schools are in Manchester, KY?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Manchester: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,682 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Manchester?
Schools with an address in Manchester belong to 2 education agencies, led by Clay County (8 schools), Kentucky Tech System (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Manchester?
Clay County High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Manchester, with 762 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Manchester?
No school with an address in Manchester 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 Manchester schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Manchester public schools is 13.8:1, 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 Manchester 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