Enrollment
392
Kentucky · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Olive Hill, KY
West Carter Middle School
Federal NCES profile for West Carter Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 210102001661
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Carter Middle School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Kentucky schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #5 of 5
- public schools in Olive Hill · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17:1
- large classes for Kentucky
- 63.1%
- free-lunch eligible
West Carter Middle School has class sizes larger than 77% of Kentucky schools. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Carter Middle School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Olive Hill, KY.
School address
District: Carter County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210102001661 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17:1
vs 15.2:1 Kentucky avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
63.1%
vs 59.2% Kentucky avg
+7% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Carter Middle School compares with Kentucky and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Carter Middle School
West Carter Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Olive Hill, Kentucky, enrolling 392 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17:1 puts it in the larger third of Kentucky schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 63.1% lands close to the Kentucky typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 392 students, its enrollment sits close to the Kentucky median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,389 scored Kentucky schools.
Among 457 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kentucky schools statewide, it ranks #389, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (98% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 4/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 392 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 34.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 17.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 124 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 392 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Carter County also operates East Carter County High School (678 students) and Prichard Elementary School (612 students) alongside West Carter Middle 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 West Carter Middle School compares
West Carter Middle 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 | 17:1 | ▲ 12% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.1% | ▲ 7% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 392 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
392
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
63.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% 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
17:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 77% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
34.9%
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
$11,978
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 392 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
53
in-school suspensions + 71 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 31.6 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 98.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Hispanic or Latino 0.5%
Two or More 0.3%
Largest group: White at 98.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 3.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 3.6, West Carter Middle School is less mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Carter County, which includes West Carter Middle School.
$11,978
Per student
-9%
vs Kentucky
Avg $13,211
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.0%
State 67.0%
Federal 17.0%
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 West Carter Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Carter County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Prichard Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Carter County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Carter Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Olive Hill Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Carter Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 678
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 612
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 506
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 490
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 360
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar middle 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 (~392 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Carter Middle School's federal record.
- Compare West Carter Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Carter 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 West Carter Middle School
How many students attend West Carter Middle School?
West Carter Middle School has 392 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Olive Hill, KY.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Carter Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Carter Middle School is 17:1, which is 12% higher than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Carter Middle School?
63.1% of students at West Carter Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Carter Middle School?
The largest demographic group at West Carter Middle School is White at 98.2% of enrollment, in Olive Hill, KY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Carter Middle School?
West Carter Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 West Carter Middle School rank among public schools in Olive Hill?
By Resource Investment Index, West Carter Middle School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Olive Hill, 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 Olive Hill on the city page.
Is West Carter Middle School a good school?
West Carter Middle School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Kentucky schools. It is also less 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 Carter County?
Besides West Carter Middle School, Carter County also operates East Carter County High School (678 students), Prichard Elementary School (612 students), and West Carter County High School (506 students). See the Carter 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.