Graves County

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, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Mayfield, Kentucky - 10 schools

An equity score of 25/100 ranks Graves County #153 of 171 districts in Kentucky (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,663 per pupil, Graves County ranks #150 of 171 Kentucky districts by per-pupil spending (Kentucky districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,977
Total Enrollment
10
Schools
$11,663
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Graves County operates 10 public schools serving 3,977 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Kentucky. The school portfolio breaks down into 8 combined, 1 high, 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 Graves County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,663 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 171 Kentucky districts by per-pupil spending. See how Kentucky compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 23.8% local, 52.8% 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 25/100, ranked #153 of 171 in Kentucky against a state average of 50, notably less 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 (8 AP courses district-wide), a 316.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 14.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 82.1% White, 8.7% Hispanic or Latino, 3.2% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Gateway Academy High School, with a diversity index of 45.8/100.

Its largest campus is Graves County High School, enrolling 1,145 students (29% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Mayfield Youth Development Center, at 6 students, a 191x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Graves County High School accounts for 28.8% of all Graves County student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Graves County-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. 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

Graves County school enrollment varies 191× across entities

Graves County school enrollment ranges from 6 students (lowest) to 1,145 students (highest), a spread of 1,139 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 NCES Common Core of Data

Graves County has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 62.4% 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

Graves County student-counselor ratio is 316:1 — 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 Graves County is typically wider than the Graves County-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Graves County chronic absenteeism rate is 14.1% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Where does the funding come from?

23.4%
Federal
52.8%
State
23.8%
Local

Funding Equity

25
Equity Score
153 / 171
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 10 schools in Graves County.

White 82.1%
Hispanic or Latino 8.7%
African American 3.2%
Multiracial 5.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 30.7/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Gateway Academy High School 45.8
  2. 2 Graves County Central Elementary 39.8
  3. 3 Graves County High School 33.6
  4. 4 Sedalia Elementary School 30.5
  5. 5 Graves County Middle School 29.1

Programs & Resources

1 / 10
Schools with AP
8 AP courses total
316.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
14.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Graves County

School Enrollment
Graves County High School
1,145
Graves County Middle School
556
Graves County Central Elementary
480
Sedalia Elementary School
376
Symsonia Elementary School
370
Wingo Elementary School
366
Farmington Elementary School
288
Fancy Farm Elementary School
271
Gateway Academy High School
48
Mayfield Youth Development Center
6

How Graves County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kentucky districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Woodford County Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Knox County Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Grayson County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Ohio County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Carter County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Graves County'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 · $17,376/pupil
Compare vs Graves County →
Fayette County
41,422 students · 80 schools · $15,849/pupil
Compare vs Graves County →
Boone County
20,200 students · 28 schools · $12,899/pupil
Compare vs Graves County →
Warren County
17,799 students · 34 schools · $11,423/pupil
Compare vs Graves County →
Hardin County
14,675 students · 26 schools · $11,904/pupil
Compare vs Graves County →

Compare Graves 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 Graves County?

Graves County has 10 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 8 combined. Total enrollment is 3,977 students.

How much does Graves County spend per student?

Graves County spends $11,663 per student. The district has an equity score of 25/100, ranking #153 in Kentucky.

What is the demographic composition of Graves County?

Graves County students are 82.1% White, 8.7% Hispanic or Latino, 3.2% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 10 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Graves County?

Graves County has an equity score of 25/100, ranking #153 out of 171 districts in Kentucky.