Enrollment
222
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Elizabethtown, KY
Panther Academy
Federal NCES profile for Panther Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 62/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 210165002319
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Panther Academy earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #4 of 10
- schools in Elizabethtown · Resource Index
- 62
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.9:1
- students per teacher
- 46.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Panther Academy has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Panther Academy ranks #4 of 10 schools in Elizabethtown, KY.
School address
District: Elizabethtown Independent · Kentucky
NCES ID 210165002319 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
14.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.9:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
+5% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
46.9%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
-21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Panther Academy compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at Panther Academy
Panther Academy is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, enrolling 222 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.9:1 puts it in the larger third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 46.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 222 puts it in the smaller third of Kentucky schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 94% of the 1,389 Kentucky schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 82 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #8, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (60%) and Two or More (19%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 58/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 8.6% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Its district draws 15.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Elizabethtown's public schools, it stands alongside Lincoln Trail Elementary School (653 students): Panther Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.9:1 vs 17.6:1).
Elizabethtown Independent also operates Elizabethtown High School (757 students) and Talton K Stone Middle School (526 students) alongside Panther Academy.
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 Panther Academy compares
Panther Academy on the metrics families compare, against Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.9:1 | ▲ 5% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.9% | ▼ 21% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 222 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.9:1
Leaner classes than 39% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
222
Bigger than 22% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
46.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% below the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.9:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 62% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
8.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$11,567
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kentucky avg of $13,211
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 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 60.4%
Two or More 18.9%
Hispanic or Latino 9.0%
African American 8.1%
Asian 2.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
Largest group: White at 60.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.4, Panther Academy is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Elizabethtown Independent, which includes Panther Academy.
$11,567
Per student
-12%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.1%
State 57.0%
Federal 15.9%
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 Panther Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Talton K Stone Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Helmwood Heights Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Morningside Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Valley View Education Center | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Panther Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 757
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 526
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 461
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 455
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 23
- Students per teacher
- 7.7:1
- Resource Index
- 70/100
Similar other schools in Elizabethtown
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Lincoln Trail Elementary School
Standard public school
653 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
G C Burkhead Elementary School
Standard public school
634 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Heartland Elementary School
Standard public school
564 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
New Highland Elementary School
Standard public school
505 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
College View Campus
Alternative education program
210 students 7.8:1 students per teacher
Valley View Education Center
Alternative education program
23 students 7.7:1 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 (~222 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Panther Academy's federal record.
- Compare Panther Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Elizabethtown 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 Panther Academy
How many students attend Panther Academy?
Panther Academy has 222 students enrolled. It is a public school in Elizabethtown, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Panther Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Panther Academy is 15.9:1, which is 5% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Panther Academy?
46.9% of students at Panther Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Panther Academy?
The largest demographic group at Panther Academy is White at 60.4% of enrollment, in Elizabethtown, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Panther Academy?
Panther Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 62/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Panther Academy rank among schools in Elizabethtown?
By Resource Investment Index, Panther Academy ranks #4 of 10 schools in Elizabethtown, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Elizabethtown on the city page.
Is Panther Academy a good school?
Panther Academy earns 62/100 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 Elizabethtown Independent?
Besides Panther Academy, Elizabethtown Independent also operates Elizabethtown High School (757 students), Talton K Stone Middle School (526 students), and Helmwood Heights Elementary School (461 students). See the Elizabethtown 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.