Ballard County

Barlow, Kentucky — 4 schools

1,052
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$14,230
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Ballard County operates 4 public schools serving 1,052 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Kentucky. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,015 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Ballard County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,230 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 30.3% local, 54.4% state, and 15.3% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $60,417 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 36/100, ranked #126 of 171 in Kentucky against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (4 AP courses district-wide), a 307.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 27.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 85.1% White, 3.0% African American, 2.2% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Ballard County Elementary School accounts for 43.7% of all Ballard County student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Ballard County-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ballard County school enrollment varies 4.8× across entities

Ballard County school enrollment ranges from 93 students (lowest) to 444 students (highest), a spread of 351 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ballard County has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 56.6% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Ballard County student-counselor ratio is 307:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Ballard County is typically wider than the Ballard County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Ballard County chronic absenteeism rate is 27.6% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Ballard County is typically wider than the Ballard County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

15.3%
Federal
54.4%
State
30.3%
Local

Funding Equity

36
Equity Score
126 / 171
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Ballard County county, where this district is located.

$800
Studio/mo
$817
1 BR/mo
$1,072
2 BR/mo
$1,285
3 BR/mo
$1,640
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$60,417
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 4 schools in Ballard County.

White 85.1%
Hispanic or Latino 2.2%
African American 3.0%
Multiracial 9.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
4 AP courses total
307.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
27.6%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Ballard County

School Enrollment
Ballard County Elementary School
444
Ballard Memorial High School
276
Ballard County Middle School
202
Ballard Co. Preschool/Headstart Center
93

Nearby Districts in Kentucky

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Jefferson County
95,230 students · 168 schools · $19,590/pupil
Compare vs Ballard County →
Fayette County
41,422 students · 80 schools · $17,525/pupil
Compare vs Ballard County →
Boone County
20,200 students · 28 schools · $14,519/pupil
Compare vs Ballard County →
Warren County
17,799 students · 34 schools · $13,452/pupil
Compare vs Ballard County →
Hardin County
14,675 students · 26 schools · $13,705/pupil
Compare vs Ballard County →

Compare Ballard County

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Jefferson County →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Ballard County?

Ballard County has 4 schools, including 1 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 other. Total enrollment is 1,052 students.

How much does Ballard County spend per student?

Ballard County spends $14,230 per student. The district has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #126 in Kentucky.

What is the average teacher salary in Ballard County?

The average teacher salary in Ballard County is $60,417 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Ballard County?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Ballard County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Ballard County?

Ballard County students are 85.1% White, 3.0% African American, 2.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Ballard County?

Ballard County has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #126 out of 171 districts in Kentucky. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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