Covington 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.

Covington, Kentucky - 10 schools

An equity score of 75/100 ranks Covington Independent #24 of 171 districts in Kentucky (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $16,918 per pupil, Covington Independent ranks #15 of 171 Kentucky districts by per-pupil spending (Kentucky districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,665
Total Enrollment
10
Schools
$16,918
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Covington Independent operates 10 public schools serving 3,665 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Kentucky. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 elementary, 2 high, 2 combined, 1 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Kenton County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,918 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 29.6% local, 47.0% state, and 23.4% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 75/100, ranked #24 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 10 schools offering Advanced Placement (3 AP courses district-wide), a 302.3:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 18.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 34.7% White, 30.4% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Ninth District Elementary, with a diversity index of 73.5/100.

Its largest campus is Holmes High School, enrolling 855 students (24% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Covington Adult High School, at 7 students, a 122x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Holmes High School accounts for 23.3% of all Covington Independent student enrollment

That concentration means Covington Independent-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. 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

Covington Independent school enrollment varies 122× across entities

Covington Independent school enrollment ranges from 7 students (lowest) to 855 students (highest), a spread of 848 students. That ratio is an extreme outlier spread — among the widest gaps observed anywhere in this dataset. 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

Covington Independent reports 82.2% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share is at least 75%, indicating a high concentration of measured economic need. 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

Covington Independent student-counselor ratio is 302:1 — 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 Covington Independent is typically wider than the Covington Independent-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Covington Independent chronic absenteeism rate is 18.8% — 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 Covington Independent is typically wider than the Covington Independent-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

23.4%
Federal
47.0%
State
29.6%
Local

Funding Equity

75
Equity Score
24 / 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 10 schools in Covington Independent.

White 34.7%
Hispanic or Latino 30.4%
African American 23.1%
Asian 0.7%
Multiracial 11.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 69.3/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Ninth District Elementary 73.5
  2. 2 Holmes High School 72.2
  3. 3 Glenn O Swing Elementary 72.2
  4. 4 Holmes Middle School 72.0
  5. 5 Biggs Early Childhood Education Ctr 71.9

Programs & Resources

1 / 10
Schools with AP
3 AP courses total
302.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Covington Independent

School Enrollment
Holmes High School
855
Holmes Middle School
631
Sixth District Elementary School
454
Glenn O Swing Elementary
392
John G Carlisle Elementary
333
Ninth District Elementary
324
Biggs Early Childhood Education Ctr
285
Latonia Elementary School
233
Transformational Learning Center
43
Covington Adult High School
7

How Covington Independent Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kentucky districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Perry County Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Anderson County Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Harlan County Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Grant County Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Logan County Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix

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

Covington Independent has 10 schools, including 2 high, 1 middle, 5 elementary, 2 combined. Total enrollment is 3,665 students.

How much does Covington Independent spend per student?

Covington Independent spends $16,918 per student. The district has an equity score of 75/100, ranking #24 in Kentucky.

What is the demographic composition of Covington Independent?

Covington Independent students are 34.7% White, 30.4% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% African American, 0.7% Asian, averaged across 10 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Covington Independent?

Covington Independent has an equity score of 75/100, ranking #24 out of 171 districts in Kentucky.