Enrollment
325
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Barbourville, KY
Jesse D Lay Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Jesse D Lay Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 210315000848
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jesse D Lay Elementary School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 75% of Kentucky schools.
- #8 of 8
- schools in Barbourville · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13:1
- small classes for Kentucky
- 60.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Jesse D Lay Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 75% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jesse D Lay Elementary School ranks #8 of 8 schools in Barbourville, KY.
School address
District: Knox County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210315000848 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
60.2%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+2% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Jesse D Lay Elementary School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Jesse D Lay Elementary School
Jesse D Lay Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Barbourville, Kentucky, enrolling 325 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13:1 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 60.2% lands close to the Kentucky typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 325 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Among 338 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #308, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (95% of enrollment) (diversity index 11/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 542 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 34.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 25.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Barbourville's public schools, it stands alongside Barbourville City School (755 students): Jesse D Lay Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13:1 vs 20.4:1).
Knox County also operates Knox Central High School (720 students) and Knox County Middle School (522 students) alongside Jesse D Lay Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Jesse D Lay Elementary School compares
Jesse D Lay Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13:1 | ▼ 14% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.2% | ▲ 2% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 325 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
325
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
60.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% 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
13:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 25% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 75% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
34.8%
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
$15,050
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $13,211
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.6 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 94.5%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%
African American 1.5%
Two or More 0.9%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 94.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 10.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 10.6, Jesse D Lay Elementary School is less mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Knox County, which includes Jesse D Lay Elementary School.
$15,050
Per student
+14%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-9%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 11.7%
State 62.4%
Federal 25.9%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Jesse D Lay Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox Central High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Knox County Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lynn Camp Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lynn Camp Middle High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Jesse D Lay Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 720
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 522
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 501
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 447
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 313
- Students per teacher
- 10.1:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Similar other schools in Barbourville
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Barbourville City School
Standard public school
755 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Central Elementary School
Standard public school
313 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
G R Hampton Elementary School
Standard public school
244 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Knox County Learning Academy
Alternative education program
52 students 8.7:1 students per teacher
Knox Appalachian School
Alternative education program
32 students 6.4:1 students per teacher
Knox County Day Treatment
Alternative education program
16 students 8:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kentucky, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~325 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Jesse D Lay Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Jesse D Lay Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Knox County's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Jesse D Lay Elementary School
How many students attend Jesse D Lay Elementary School?
Jesse D Lay Elementary School has 325 students enrolled. It is a public school in Barbourville, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jesse D Lay Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jesse D Lay Elementary School is 13:1, which is 14% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 17% 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 Jesse D Lay Elementary School?
60.2% of students at Jesse D Lay Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jesse D Lay Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Jesse D Lay Elementary School is White at 94.5% of enrollment, in Barbourville, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jesse D Lay Elementary School?
Jesse D Lay Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Jesse D Lay Elementary School rank among schools in Barbourville?
By Resource Investment Index, Jesse D Lay Elementary School ranks #8 of 8 schools in Barbourville, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Barbourville on the city page.
Is Jesse D Lay Elementary School a good school?
Jesse D Lay Elementary School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 75% of Kentucky schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Knox County?
Besides Jesse D Lay Elementary School, Knox County also operates Knox Central High School (720 students), Knox County Middle School (522 students), and Lynn Camp Elementary School (501 students). See the Knox County district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.