Pulaski County

Somerset, Kentucky — 14 schools

8,115
Total Enrollment
14
Schools
$12,769
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Pulaski County operates 14 public schools serving 8,115 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Kentucky. The school portfolio breaks down into 7 other, 3 elementary, 2 high, 2 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 7,729 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Pulaski County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,769 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 26.0% local, 56.3% state, and 17.7% 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 $59,761 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 18/100, ranked #165 of 171 in Kentucky against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 14 schools offering Advanced Placement (18 AP courses district-wide), a 456.2:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 23.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 86.4% White, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 2.2% African American across the district's schools.

Southwestern High School accounts for 15.7% of all Pulaski County student enrollment

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

Pulaski County school enrollment varies 32× across entities

Pulaski County school enrollment ranges from 38 students (lowest) to 1,213 students (highest), a spread of 1,175 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

Pulaski County has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 66.7% 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

Pulaski County student-counselor ratio is 456:1 — 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

Pulaski County chronic absenteeism rate is 23.8% — 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 Pulaski County is typically wider than the Pulaski 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?

17.7%
Federal
56.3%
State
26.0%
Local

Funding Equity

18
Equity Score
165 / 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 Pulaski County county, where this district is located.

$662
Studio/mo
$706
1 BR/mo
$926
2 BR/mo
$1,110
3 BR/mo
$1,355
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$59,761
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 14 schools in Pulaski County.

White 86.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.1%
African American 2.2%
Asian 1.1%
Multiracial 3.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

2 / 14
Schools with AP
18 AP courses total
456.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Pulaski County

School Enrollment
Southwestern High School
1,213
Pulaski County High School
1,113
Southern Middle School
871
Northern Middle School
797
Southern Elementary School
611
Oak Hill Elementary School
551
Pulaski Elementary School
535
Burnside Elementary School
414
Shopville Elementary School
385
Northern Elementary School
352
Eubank Elementary School
319
Nancy Elementary School
299
Memorial Education Center
231
Eagle Academy
38

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
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Fayette County
41,422 students · 80 schools · $17,525/pupil
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Boone County
20,200 students · 28 schools · $14,519/pupil
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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 Pulaski County →

Compare Pulaski 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 Pulaski County?

Pulaski County has 14 schools, including 2 high, 2 middle, 3 elementary, 7 other. Total enrollment is 8,115 students.

How much does Pulaski County spend per student?

Pulaski County spends $12,769 per student. The district has an equity score of 18/100, ranking #165 in Kentucky.

What is the average teacher salary in Pulaski County?

The average teacher salary in Pulaski County is $59,761 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Pulaski County?

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

What is the demographic composition of Pulaski County?

Pulaski County students are 86.4% White, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 2.2% African American, 1.1% Asian, averaged across 14 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Pulaski County?

Pulaski County has an equity score of 18/100, ranking #165 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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