Pulaski 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.

Somerset, Kentucky - 14 schools

An equity score of 28/100 ranks Pulaski County #144 of 171 districts in Kentucky (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,722 per pupil, Pulaski County ranks #147 of 171 Kentucky districts by per-pupil spending (Kentucky districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

8,115
Total Enrollment
14
Schools
$11,722
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, 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 combined, 3 elementary, 2 high, 2 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 Pulaski County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,722 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 26.0% local, 56.3% state, and 17.7% 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 28/100, ranked #144 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 2 of 14 schools offering Advanced Placement (18 AP courses district-wide), a 456.2:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, 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. Its most demographically mixed campus is Eagle Academy, with a diversity index of 41.7/100.

Its largest campus is Southwestern High School, enrolling 1,213 students (16% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Eagle Academy, at 38 students, a 32x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

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). Eligibility here is approaching the 75% concentration-grant threshold; it does not yet unlock the extra funding tier but sits meaningfully above the baseline 50% majority mark. 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

28
Equity Score
144 / 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 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.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 24.1/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Eagle Academy 41.7
  2. 2 Southern Elementary School 32.2
  3. 3 Pulaski Elementary School 31.8
  4. 4 Memorial Education Center 27.8
  5. 5 Northern Elementary School 27.0

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

How Pulaski County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kentucky districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Christian County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Jessamine County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Pike County Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Laurel County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Mccracken County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Pulaski 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 Pulaski County →
Fayette County
41,422 students · 80 schools · $15,849/pupil
Compare vs Pulaski County →
Boone County
20,200 students · 28 schools · $12,899/pupil
Compare vs Pulaski County →
Warren County
17,799 students · 34 schools · $11,423/pupil
Compare vs Pulaski County →
Hardin County
14,675 students · 26 schools · $11,904/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 combined. Total enrollment is 8,115 students.

How much does Pulaski County spend per student?

Pulaski County spends $11,722 per student. The district has an equity score of 28/100, ranking #144 in Kentucky.

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 28/100, ranking #144 out of 171 districts in Kentucky.