Enrollment
860
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Paducah, KY
Paducah Tilghman High School
Federal NCES profile for Paducah Tilghman High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 210465001154
👥 S:T ratio 41
📚 AP courses 90
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paducah Tilghman High School earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #13 of 17
- public schools in Paducah · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 62.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Paducah Tilghman High School has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paducah Tilghman High School ranks #13 of 17 public schools in Paducah, KY.
School address
District: Paducah Independent · Kentucky
NCES ID 210465001154 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
58.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.8:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.6%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+6% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Paducah Tilghman High School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Paducah Tilghman High School
Paducah Tilghman High School is a higher-need, large high school in Paducah, Kentucky, enrolling 860 students.
At 14.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Kentucky median, within a few percentage points of the 15.2:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 62.6% lands close to the Kentucky typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Kentucky, bigger than 91% of state schools at 860 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Against 275 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #62.
Its student body is led by African American (41%) and White (39%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 18 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 287 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 26.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 242 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 860 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Paducah's high schools, it stands alongside Mccracken County High School (1,882 students): Paducah Tilghman High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.8:1 vs 17.8:1).
Paducah Independent also operates Paducah Middle School (632 students) and Clark Elementary School (615 students) alongside Paducah Tilghman High 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 Paducah Tilghman High School compares
Paducah Tilghman High 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 | 14.8:1 | ▼ 3% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.6% | ▲ 6% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 860 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
860
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% 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
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 47% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 53% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
29.7%
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
$13,678
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 287 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
242
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 28.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.1 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
African American 41.2%
White 39.4%
Two or More 11.3%
Hispanic or Latino 7.4%
Asian 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 41.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.7, Paducah Tilghman High School is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 18
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Paducah Independent, which includes Paducah Tilghman High School.
$13,678
Per student
+4%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.0%
State 44.9%
Federal 26.1%
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 Paducah Tilghman High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Clark Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Morgan Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mcnabb Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Paducah Head Start Preschool | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paducah Tilghman High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 632
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 615
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 369
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 334
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 251
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Similar high schools in Paducah
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high 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 (~860 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Paducah Tilghman High School's federal record.
- Compare Paducah Tilghman High School against another school. Compare schools
- Paducah Independent'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 Paducah Tilghman High School
How many students attend Paducah Tilghman High School?
Paducah Tilghman High School has 860 students enrolled. It is a high school in Paducah, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paducah Tilghman High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Paducah Tilghman High School is 14.8:1, which is 3% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 6% 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 Paducah Tilghman High School?
62.6% of students at Paducah Tilghman High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paducah Tilghman High School?
The largest demographic group at Paducah Tilghman High School is African American at 41.2% of enrollment, in Paducah, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paducah Tilghman High School?
Paducah Tilghman High School has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Paducah Tilghman High School rank among public schools in Paducah?
By Resource Investment Index, Paducah Tilghman High School ranks #13 of 17 public schools in Paducah, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Paducah on the city page.
Is Paducah Tilghman High School a good school?
Paducah Tilghman High School earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Paducah Independent?
Besides Paducah Tilghman High School, Paducah Independent also operates Paducah Middle School (632 students), Clark Elementary School (615 students), and Morgan Elementary School (369 students). See the Paducah Independent 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.