Berea Independent

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Berea, Kentucky - 3 schools

An equity score of 84/100 ranks Berea Independent #11 of 171 districts in Kentucky (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $17,169 per pupil, Berea Independent ranks #13 of 171 Kentucky districts by per-pupil spending (Kentucky districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,086
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$17,169
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Berea Independent operates 3 public schools serving 1,086 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Kentucky. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Madison County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,169 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the top 18 of 171 Kentucky districts by per-pupil spending. See how Kentucky compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 19.8% local, 56.7% state, and 23.4% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 84/100, ranked #11 of 171 in Kentucky against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (7 AP courses district-wide), a 323.7:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 41.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 81.4% White, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.2% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Berea Community Elementary School, with a diversity index of 34.7/100.

Its largest campus is Berea Community Elementary School, enrolling 448 students (46% of the district's total enrollment).

Berea Community Elementary School accounts for 41.3% of all Berea Independent student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Berea Independent-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Berea Independent school enrollment varies 2.1× across entities

Berea Independent school enrollment ranges from 214 students (lowest) to 448 students (highest), a spread of 234 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

Berea Independent reports 58.7% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Berea Independent student-counselor ratio is 324:1 — 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 Berea Independent is typically wider than the Berea Independent-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Berea Independent chronic absenteeism rate is 41.2% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

23.4%
Federal
56.7%
State
19.8%
Local

Funding Equity

84
Equity Score
11 / 171
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Berea Independent.

White 81.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.9%
African American 3.2%
Asian 0.7%
Multiracial 7.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 32.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Berea Independent's schools, below the Kentucky average of 34.5.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Berea Community Elementary School 34.7
  2. 2 Berea Community Middle School 31.5
  3. 3 Berea Community High School 31.2

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
7 AP courses total
323.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
41.2%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Berea Independent

School Enrollment
Berea Community Elementary School
448
Berea Community High School
309
Berea Community Middle School
214

How Berea Independent Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kentucky districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Livingston County Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Nicholas County Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Ballard County Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Middlesboro Independent Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Raceland-Worthington Independent Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Berea Independent's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

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 · $18,189/pupil
Compare vs Berea Independent →
Fayette County
41,422 students · 80 schools · $18,318/pupil
Compare vs Berea Independent →
Boone County
20,200 students · 28 schools · $13,925/pupil
Compare vs Berea Independent →
Warren County
17,799 students · 34 schools · $12,051/pupil
Compare vs Berea Independent →
Hardin County
14,675 students · 26 schools · $13,734/pupil
Compare vs Berea Independent →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Berea Independent

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 Berea Independent?

Berea Independent has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,086 students.

How much does Berea Independent spend per student?

Berea Independent spends $17,169 per student. The district has an equity score of 84/100, ranking #11 in Kentucky.

What is the demographic composition of Berea Independent?

Berea Independent students are 81.4% White, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.2% African American, 0.7% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Berea Independent?

Berea Independent has an equity score of 84/100, ranking #11 out of 171 districts in Kentucky.