McCracken County

Paducah, Kentucky — 13 schools

6,968
Total Enrollment
13
Schools
$14,612
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

McCracken County operates 13 public schools serving 6,968 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Kentucky. The school portfolio breaks down into 7 other, 3 middle, 2 elementary, 1 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 6,780 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in McCracken County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,612 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 35.3% local, 45.7% state, and 19.0% 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 $70,182 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 27/100, ranked #146 of 171 in Kentucky against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 13 schools offering Advanced Placement (24 AP courses district-wide), a 404.7:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 16.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 77.5% White, 7.3% African American, 7.2% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Mccracken County High School accounts for 27.8% of all McCracken County student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means McCracken 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

McCracken County school enrollment varies 61× across entities

McCracken County school enrollment ranges from 31 students (lowest) to 1,882 students (highest), a spread of 1,851 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. 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

McCracken County has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 50.7% 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

McCracken County student-counselor ratio is 405:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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

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

McCracken County chronic absenteeism rate is 16.4% — 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 McCracken County is typically wider than the McCracken 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?

19.0%
Federal
45.7%
State
35.3%
Local

Funding Equity

27
Equity Score
146 / 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 McCracken County county, where this district is located.

$729
Studio/mo
$851
1 BR/mo
$1,058
2 BR/mo
$1,269
3 BR/mo
$1,775
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$70,182
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 13 schools in McCracken County.

White 77.5%
Hispanic or Latino 7.2%
African American 7.3%
Asian 1.2%
Multiracial 6.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

2 / 13
Schools with AP
24 AP courses total
404.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
16.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in McCracken County

School Enrollment
Mccracken County High School
1,882
Lone Oak Middle School
702
Concord Elementary School
606
Reidland Elementary School
548
Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School
498
Heath Elementary School
498
Lone Oak Elementary School
495
Lone Oak Intermediate School
437
Heath Middle School
433
Reidland Middle School
350
Reidland Intermediate School
228
Mccracken Open Campus School
72
Mccracken Regional School
31

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

Compare McCracken 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 McCracken County?

McCracken County has 13 schools, including 1 high, 3 middle, 7 other, 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 6,968 students.

How much does McCracken County spend per student?

McCracken County spends $14,612 per student. The district has an equity score of 27/100, ranking #146 in Kentucky.

What is the average teacher salary in McCracken County?

The average teacher salary in McCracken County is $70,182 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near McCracken County?

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

What is the demographic composition of McCracken County?

McCracken County students are 77.5% White, 7.3% African American, 7.2% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% Asian, averaged across 13 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for McCracken County?

McCracken County has an equity score of 27/100, ranking #146 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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