Monroe 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.

Tompkinsville, Kentucky - 5 schools

An equity score of 71/100 ranks Monroe County #33 of 171 districts in Kentucky (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,868 per pupil, Monroe County ranks #22 of 171 Kentucky districts by per-pupil spending (Kentucky districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,788
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$14,868
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Monroe County operates 5 public schools serving 1,788 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Kentucky. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 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 Monroe County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,868 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 171 Kentucky districts by per-pupil spending. See how Kentucky compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 21.3% local, 50.6% state, and 28.1% 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 71/100, ranked #33 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 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 326:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 25.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 85.7% White, 9.3% Hispanic or Latino, 2.3% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Tompkinsville Elem, with a diversity index of 36.0/100.

Its largest campus is Monroe Co High, enrolling 506 students (27% of the district's total enrollment).

Monroe Co High accounts for 27.3% of all Monroe County student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Monroe 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

Monroe 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

Monroe County student-counselor ratio is 326:1 — 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 Monroe County is typically wider than the Monroe County-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Monroe County chronic absenteeism rate is 25.9% — 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 Monroe County is typically wider than the Monroe 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?

28.1%
Federal
50.6%
State
21.3%
Local

Funding Equity

71
Equity Score
33 / 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 5 schools in Monroe County.

White 85.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.3%
African American 2.3%
Multiracial 2.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 25.3/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Tompkinsville Elem 36.0
  2. 2 Monroe Co Middle 27.4
  3. 3 Gamaliel Elementary 24.5
  4. 4 Monroe Co High 23.4
  5. 5 Joe Harrison Carter 15.3

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
326:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
25.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Monroe County

School Enrollment
Monroe Co High
506
Tompkinsville Elem
437
Monroe Co Middle
399
Joe Harrison Carter
260
Gamaliel Elementary
254

How Monroe County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kentucky districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Washington County Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Martin County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Danville Independent Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Owen County Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Murray Independent Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Monroe 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 Monroe County?

Monroe County has 5 schools, including 1 high, 3 combined, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,788 students.

How much does Monroe County spend per student?

Monroe County spends $14,868 per student. The district has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #33 in Kentucky.

What is the demographic composition of Monroe County?

Monroe County students are 85.7% White, 9.3% Hispanic or Latino, 2.3% African American, 0.4% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Monroe County?

Monroe County has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #33 out of 171 districts in Kentucky.