While the U.S. is one of the most educated countries in the world, it doesn’t provide the same quality elementary school or secondary school education to all students. In many states, more affluent school districts receive a greater amount of funding per student than poorer districts.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. As states decide whether their school districts will have in-person learning this fall, studies show that low-income students will suffer the greatest “learning loss” due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor is that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need.
States that provide equitable funding to all school districts can help prevent poor students from having lower graduation rates, lower rates of pursuing higher education and smaller future incomes than their wealthy peers. The difference is dramatic: College graduates have $460 - $1,154 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
Kentucky has the 21st most equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts within the state are fairer than others. To find out where school funding is distributed most equitably, WalletHub scored 173 districts in Kentucky based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil. Read on for the district ranking and a complete description of our methodology.
Main Findings
Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category. Rank 1 on the “Expenditures Ranking” means highest expenditures and Rank 1 on “Income Ranking” means lowest income.
Most & Least Equitable School Districts in Kentucky
Rank* | School District | Score | Expeditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools per Pupil | Income by School District |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Union County School District | 0.49 | $11,138 | $42,844 |
2 | Ballard County School District | 0.54 | $10,649 | $44,350 |
3 | Grant County School District | 0.70 | $10,076 | $47,186 |
4 | Madison County School District | 0.95 | $9,518 | $49,526 |
5 | Murray Independent School District | 1.42 | $11,611 | $40,119 |
6 | Barbourville Independent School District | 2.55 | $9,896 | $46,488 |
7 | Paris Independent School District | 2.66 | $12,130 | $37,500 |
8 | Barren County School District | 2.97 | $10,527 | $46,369 |
9 | Muhlenberg County School District | 3.42 | $10,645 | $43,110 |
10 | Hickman County School District | 3.59 | $11,288 | $40,463 |
11 | Henderson County School District | 3.81 | $10,033 | $45,389 |
12 | Bracken County School District | 3.86 | $9,913 | $45,851 |
13 | Hopkins County School District | 3.96 | $10,309 | $47,673 |
14 | Dayton Independent School District | 4.06 | $11,537 | $42,804 |
15 | Science Hill Independent School District | 4.06 | $11,182 | $44,226 |
16 | Lyon County School District | 4.20 | $9,730 | $50,097 |
17 | Berea Independent School District | 4.30 | $11,891 | $41,491 |
18 | Danville Independent School District | 4.57 | $13,288 | $36,020 |
19 | Garrard County School District | 4.82 | $9,850 | $49,888 |
20 | Robertson County School District | 5.19 | $11,514 | $38,864 |
21 | Graves County School District | 5.23 | $10,262 | $48,416 |
22 | Logan County School District | 5.50 | $9,870 | $50,102 |
23 | Menifee County School District | 5.79 | $11,188 | $39,905 |
24 | La Rue County School District | 5.95 | $10,703 | $41,779 |
25 | Eminence Independent School District | 6.06 | $10,861 | $46,382 |
26 | Greenup County School District | 6.09 | $10,530 | $42,408 |
27 | Hart County School District | 6.14 | $11,342 | $39,139 |
28 | Owen County School District | 6.48 | $9,755 | $45,338 |
29 | Augusta Independent School District | 6.63 | $11,075 | $45,774 |
30 | Trimble County School District | 6.86 | $10,676 | $47,470 |
31 | Crittenden County School District | 6.88 | $10,254 | $43,169 |
32 | Fleming County School District | 6.98 | $10,482 | $42,213 |
33 | Pikeville Independent School District | 7.21 | $12,370 | $34,556 |
34 | Lincoln County School District | 7.22 | $11,050 | $39,833 |
35 | Harrison County School District | 7.62 | $10,202 | $49,696 |
36 | Ashland Independent School District | 7.66 | $11,352 | $38,435 |
37 | Marion County School District | 7.72 | $11,318 | $38,544 |
38 | Breckinridge County School District | 7.74 | $10,446 | $48,772 |
39 | Taylor County School District | 8.29 | $10,248 | $49,807 |
40 | Owensboro Independent School District | 8.65 | $11,372 | $37,924 |
41 | Covington Independent School District | 8.69 | $13,262 | $37,921 |
42 | Caldwell County School District | 8.85 | $9,597 | $44,940 |
43 | Mclean County School District | 9.31 | $10,200 | $50,445 |
44 | Raceland Independent School District | 9.94 | $9,955 | $51,698 |
45 | Christian County School District | 10.61 | $10,134 | $42,024 |
46 | Mason County School District | 10.65 | $10,281 | $41,415 |
47 | Montgomery County School District | 10.92 | $10,112 | $41,974 |
48 | Gallatin County School District | 10.96 | $10,439 | $50,204 |
49 | Mccracken County School District | 10.99 | $10,117 | $51,509 |
50 | Calloway County School District | 11.08 | $10,503 | $40,342 |
51 | Simpson County School District | 11.40 | $10,960 | $48,311 |
52 | Monroe County School District | 11.44 | $12,007 | $34,167 |
53 | Frankfort Independent School District | 11.52 | $12,632 | $41,674 |
54 | Marshall County School District | 11.59 | $10,376 | $50,731 |
55 | Caverna Independent School District | 11.67 | $12,848 | $30,702 |
56 | Paducah Independent School District | 11.71 | $12,019 | $33,999 |
57 | Bath County School District | 11.84 | $10,296 | $40,837 |
58 | Henry County School District | 12.17 | $10,152 | $51,883 |
59 | Todd County School District | 12.25 | $9,995 | $41,865 |
60 | Pendleton County School District | 12.32 | $9,984 | $52,620 |
61 | Nicholas County School District | 12.83 | $10,059 | $41,354 |
62 | Green County School District | 12.86 | $11,050 | $37,374 |
63 | Edmonson County School District | 13.16 | $10,022 | $41,360 |
64 | Anderson County School District | 13.22 | $9,697 | $54,160 |
65 | Carlisle County School District | 13.39 | $10,420 | $39,664 |
66 | Pulaski County School District | 13.47 | $10,254 | $40,293 |
67 | Adair County School District | 13.99 | $10,435 | $39,346 |
68 | Ohio County School District | 15.03 | $9,451 | $42,826 |
69 | Warren County School District | 15.05 | $9,495 | $55,768 |
70 | Mercer County School District | 15.10 | $11,015 | $49,705 |
71 | Williamstown Independent School District | 15.56 | $10,693 | $37,625 |
72 | Allen County School District | 15.57 | $9,876 | $40,893 |
73 | Carroll County School District | 15.58 | $12,679 | $43,258 |
74 | Clark County School District | 15.66 | $10,268 | $52,938 |
75 | Ludlow Independent School District | 15.95 | $11,641 | $47,574 |
76 | Martin County School District | 16.26 | $11,242 | $35,125 |
77 | Bowling Grn Independent School District | 16.46 | $11,127 | $35,497 |
78 | Washington County School District | 16.47 | $10,892 | $50,794 |
79 | Johnson County School District | 16.47 | $10,498 | $38,009 |
80 | Trigg County School District | 16.67 | $10,543 | $52,279 |
81 | Owsley County School District | 16.77 | $13,584 | $25,530 |
82 | Elizabethtown Independent School District | 17.24 | $10,901 | $36,064 |
83 | Webster County School District | 18.01 | $9,596 | $40,947 |
84 | Whitley County School District | 18.02 | $11,044 | $35,150 |
85 | Erlanger-Elsmere Independent School District | 18.06 | $11,178 | $50,343 |
86 | Boyle County School District | 18.37 | $10,454 | $53,376 |
87 | Russellville Independent School District | 18.51 | $12,046 | $30,925 |
88 | Newport Independent School District | 18.71 | $14,921 | $35,650 |
89 | Butler County School District | 18.73 | $9,739 | $40,061 |
90 | Hardin County School District | 18.88 | $10,086 | $55,070 |
91 | Paintsville Independent School District | 19.14 | $12,134 | $30,302 |
92 | Rockcastle County School District | 19.66 | $10,536 | $36,468 |
93 | Metcalfe County School District | 19.76 | $10,690 | $35,809 |
94 | Livingston County School District | 19.86 | $12,441 | $46,076 |
95 | Hancock County School District | 20.26 | $10,999 | $52,019 |
96 | Russell County School District | 21.00 | $10,467 | $36,159 |
97 | Laurel County School District | 21.07 | $9,655 | $39,379 |
98 | Grayson County School District | 21.26 | $10,002 | $37,906 |
99 | Casey County School District | 21.41 | $10,848 | $34,457 |
100 | Rowan County School District | 21.51 | $10,042 | $37,639 |
101 | Cumberland County School District | 21.73 | $11,201 | $32,906 |
102 | Pike County School District | 21.79 | $10,910 | $34,043 |
103 | Jackson Independent School District | 21.80 | $11,576 | $31,375 |
104 | Meade County School District | 21.89 | $9,075 | $60,431 |
105 | Jackson County School District | 22.00 | $11,362 | $32,143 |
106 | Powell County School District | 22.02 | $10,156 | $36,958 |
107 | Wayne County School District | 22.31 | $10,854 | $34,039 |
108 | Jenkins Independent School District | 22.34 | $12,764 | $26,383 |
109 | Jessamine County School District | 22.50 | $10,066 | $56,728 |
110 | Corbin Independent School District | 22.88 | $9,618 | $38,737 |
111 | West Point Independent School District | 23.24 | $14,760 | $38,269 |
112 | Elliott County School District | 23.48 | $10,892 | $33,377 |
113 | Bardstown Independent School District | 23.52 | $11,323 | $52,146 |
114 | Fairview Independent School District | 23.83 | $9,933 | $37,063 |
115 | Franklin County School District | 23.92 | $10,249 | $56,615 |
116 | Morgan County School District | 24.18 | $10,555 | $34,419 |
117 | Cloverport Independent School District | 24.27 | $10,490 | $34,643 |
118 | Campbellsville Independent School | 25.23 | $12,705 | $25,359 |
119 | Daviess County School District | 25.90 | $10,271 | $57,392 |
120 | Russell Independent School District | 26.28 | $10,195 | $57,862 |
121 | Knott County School District | 26.73 | $11,550 | $29,326 |
122 | Letcher County School District | 27.36 | $11,160 | $30,615 |
123 | Fulton Independent School District | 27.63 | $13,013 | $23,080 |
124 | Bullitt County School District | 27.75 | $9,687 | $60,534 |
125 | Knox County School District | 28.65 | $11,736 | $27,745 |
126 | Bourbon County School District | 28.68 | $10,247 | $58,702 |
127 | Williamsburg Independent School District | 29.41 | $10,768 | $31,290 |
128 | Perry County School District | 29.54 | $10,449 | $32,507 |
129 | Floyd County School District | 30.17 | $10,691 | $31,267 |
130 | Clinton County School District | 30.29 | $10,715 | $31,115 |
131 | Boyd County School District | 30.50 | $11,580 | $54,158 |
132 | Fulton County School District | 30.57 | $10,420 | $32,173 |
133 | Magoffin County School District | 31.19 | $11,017 | $29,516 |
134 | Glasgow Independent School District | 31.25 | $10,314 | $32,302 |
135 | Carter County School District | 31.29 | $10,119 | $33,067 |
136 | Lawrence County School District | 32.60 | $10,289 | $31,813 |
137 | Leslie County School District | 32.98 | $10,502 | $30,798 |
138 | Wolfe County School District | 33.91 | $12,484 | $22,458 |
139 | Burgin Independent School District | 34.08 | $10,979 | $58,125 |
140 | Estill County School District | 34.23 | $10,231 | $31,337 |
141 | Lewis County School District | 36.66 | $10,026 | $31,096 |
142 | Mayfield Independent School District | 36.96 | $10,188 | $30,317 |
143 | Breathitt County School District | 38.01 | $11,159 | $25,973 |
144 | Woodford County School District | 39.06 | $10,396 | $62,629 |
145 | Nelson County School District | 39.08 | $10,718 | $61,350 |
146 | Clay County School District | 39.57 | $10,920 | $26,250 |
147 | Scott County School District | 41.78 | $9,609 | $66,966 |
148 | Middlesboro Independent School District | 42.90 | $11,404 | $22,862 |
149 | East Bernstadt Independent School District | 43.21 | $9,333 | $31,012 |
150 | Fayette County School District | 43.94 | $12,855 | $54,918 |
151 | Bell County School District | 44.04 | $10,391 | $26,417 |
152 | Harlan County School District | 44.33 | $10,315 | $26,596 |
153 | Shelby County School District | 44.97 | $10,637 | $64,240 |
154 | Lee County School District | 45.15 | $10,881 | $23,972 |
155 | Bellevue Independent School District | 47.22 | $12,573 | $57,475 |
156 | Mccreary County School District | 48.22 | $10,722 | $23,273 |
157 | Campbell County School District | 48.37 | $10,908 | $64,639 |
158 | Hazard Independent School District | 49.19 | $10,124 | $25,243 |
159 | Dawson Springs Independent School District | 49.67 | $10,240 | $24,569 |
160 | Somerset Independent School District | 50.66 | $10,460 | $23,256 |
161 | Jefferson County School District | 52.67 | $13,972 | $54,255 |
162 | Southgate Independent School District | 55.88 | $14,884 | $52,005 |
163 | Kenton County School District | 59.74 | $9,681 | $74,505 |
164 | Harlan Independent School District | 60.18 | $9,148 | $24,355 |
165 | Silver Grove Independent School District | 61.03 | $15,415 | $52,125 |
166 | Walton Verona Independent School District | 61.77 | $10,271 | $73,033 |
167 | Spencer County School District | 66.86 | $9,649 | $77,738 |
168 | Pineville Independent School District | 67.74 | $9,251 | $20,647 |
169 | Boone County School District | 69.42 | $10,555 | $75,230 |
170 | Ft Thomas Independent School District | 84.66 | $10,722 | $81,206 |
171 | Beechwood Independent School District | 97.21 | $10,256 | $88,544 |
172 | Oldham County School District | 113.84 | $9,805 | $97,597 |
173 | Anchorage Independent School District | 398.68 | $19,935 | $181,250 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,919 school districts throughout the U.S. based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
For expenditures, for each 1 percent above the state's average we removed 1 point from a base score of 50 points for each district. For household income, for each 1 percent above the state's average we added 1 point to a base score of 50 points for each district. The inverse was true for each 1 percent below the state's average.
The final score for each district was calculated by taking the absolute difference between the score for expenditures and the score for household income. We then ranked the districts based on the total score, with the lowest value, representing the most equitable, being ranked 1.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from of the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.