Muhlenberg 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, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Powderly, Kentucky - 9 schools

An equity score of 34/100 ranks Muhlenberg County #127 of 171 districts in Kentucky (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,648 per pupil, Muhlenberg County ranks #101 of 171 Kentucky districts by per-pupil spending (Kentucky districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

4,486
Total Enrollment
9
Schools
$13,648
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Muhlenberg County operates 9 public schools serving 4,486 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Kentucky. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 combined, 2 middle, 1 high 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 Muhlenberg County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,648 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 31.4% local, 48.4% state, and 20.2% 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 34/100, ranked #127 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 9 schools offering Advanced Placement (6 AP courses district-wide), a 453.1:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 27.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 89.4% White, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Central City Elementary, with a diversity index of 31.1/100.

Its largest campus is Muhlenberg County High School, enrolling 1,123 students (23% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is The Renaissance Center, at 90 students, a 12x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Muhlenberg County High School accounts for 23.3% of all Muhlenberg County student enrollment

That concentration means Muhlenberg County-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

Muhlenberg County school enrollment varies 12× across entities

Muhlenberg County school enrollment ranges from 90 students (lowest) to 1,123 students (highest), a spread of 1,033 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. 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

Muhlenberg County reports 59.0% 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

Muhlenberg County student-counselor ratio is 453:1 — 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

Muhlenberg County chronic absenteeism rate is 27.4% — 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 Muhlenberg County is typically wider than the Muhlenberg County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

20.2%
Federal
48.4%
State
31.4%
Local

Funding Equity

34
Equity Score
127 / 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 9 schools in Muhlenberg County.

White 89.4%
Hispanic or Latino 3.6%
African American 1.9%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 4.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 19.5/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Central City Elementary 31.1
  2. 2 Greenville Elementary School 22.7
  3. 3 The Renaissance Center 22.1
  4. 4 Muhlenberg North Middle 20.0
  5. 5 Muhlenberg County High School 19.1

Programs & Resources

1 / 9
Schools with AP
6 AP courses total
453.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
27.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Muhlenberg County

School Enrollment
Muhlenberg County High School
1,123
Muhlenberg North Middle
871
Greenville Elementary School
620
Muhlenberg South Elementary
527
Muhlenberg South Middle School
420
Central City Elementary
406
Longest Elementary
404
Bremen Elementary School
369
The Renaissance Center
90

How Muhlenberg County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kentucky districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Marshall County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Montgomery County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Nelson County Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Bowling Green Independent Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Whitley County Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

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

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 Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg County?

Muhlenberg County has 9 schools, including 1 high, 2 middle, 6 combined. Total enrollment is 4,486 students.

How much does Muhlenberg County spend per student?

Muhlenberg County spends $13,648 per student. The district has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #127 in Kentucky.

What is the demographic composition of Muhlenberg County?

Muhlenberg County students are 89.4% White, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% African American, 0.6% Asian, averaged across 9 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Muhlenberg County?

Muhlenberg County has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #127 out of 171 districts in Kentucky.