- Enrollment
- 692
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Whitesburg, KY
Cowan Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cowan Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 210336000900
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cowan Elementary School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Whitesburg · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.7:1
- students per teacher
- 64.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Cowan Elementary School has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cowan Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 schools in Whitesburg, KY.
School address
District: Letcher County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210336000900 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Cowan Elementary School held near 244 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 18.6 → 16.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 210336000900 · Whitesburg, KY Other · SMALL · TRAD
246 enr · 13.7:1 · 64.2% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Letcher County Central High School (692 students)
Cowan Elementary School held near 244 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 18.6 → 16.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kentucky schools → · Find another →
Cowan Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Letcher County
Letcher County Central High School
692 students
- West Whitesbur
West Whitesburg Elementary School
462 students
- Letcher Elemen
Letcher Elementary & Middle School
322 students
- Martha Jane Po 273
Martha Jane Potter Elementary School
273 students
- This school 246
Cowan Elementary School
246 students
- Whitesburg Mid 191
Whitesburg Middle School
191 students
What this shows Cowan Elementary School reports 246 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cowan Elementary School compares
Cowan Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▼ 10% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.2% | ▲ 8% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 246 | top 76% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
246
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
64.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 8% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 32% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
56.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$20,652
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $14,362
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.7 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 96.7%
Two or More 2.4%
African American 0.8%
Largest group: White at 96.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 6.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 6.4, Cowan Elementary School is less mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Letcher County reports $20,652 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cowan Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letcher County Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Whitesburg Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Letcher Elementary & Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Martha Jane Potter Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Whitesburg Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cowan Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 462
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 322
- Students per teacher
- 10.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 273
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 191
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Whitesburg
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~246 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cowan Elementary School
How many students attend Cowan Elementary School?
Cowan Elementary School has 246 students enrolled. It is a public school in Whitesburg, KY. CCD year-over-year: 254 (2022-23) → 244 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cowan Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cowan Elementary School is 13.7:1, which is 10% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cowan Elementary School?
64.2% of students at Cowan Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cowan Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cowan Elementary School is White at 96.7% of enrollment, in Whitesburg, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cowan Elementary School?
Cowan Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cowan Elementary School rank among schools in Whitesburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Cowan Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 schools in Whitesburg, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Whitesburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Letcher County?
Besides Cowan Elementary School, Letcher County also operates Letcher County Central High School (692 students), West Whitesburg Elementary School (462 students), and Letcher Elementary & Middle School (322 students). See the Letcher County district page for the complete list.