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, with one estimate claiming that low-income districts are underfunded by around $6,700 per pupil.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more due to the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income students have suffered 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 $154 - $1,115 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 172 districts in Kentucky based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
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 | Berea Independent | 0.33 | $12,647 | $40,858 |
| 2 | Harrison County | 0.33 | $10,480 | $50,270 |
| 3 | Breckinridge County | 0.52 | $10,842 | $48,348 |
| 4 | Science Hill Independent | 0.82 | $10,675 | $49,679 |
| 5 | Hazard Independent | 1.03 | $11,358 | $45,943 |
| 6 | Graves County | 1.63 | $10,485 | $50,860 |
| 7 | Larue County | 1.67 | $11,052 | $48,495 |
| 8 | Anderson County | 1.77 | $9,654 | $54,413 |
| 9 | Lyon County | 1.78 | $10,478 | $49,286 |
| 10 | Owensboro Independent | 1.88 | $12,533 | $42,375 |
| 11 | Ballard County | 1.99 | $11,351 | $45,517 |
| 12 | Murray Independent | 2.00 | $12,514 | $40,629 |
| 13 | Owen County | 2.15 | $10,134 | $50,553 |
| 14 | Madison County | 2.45 | $9,619 | $52,574 |
| 15 | Hickman County | 2.53 | $11,637 | $44,063 |
| 16 | Muhlenberg County | 2.92 | $11,147 | $45,937 |
| 17 | Dayton Independent | 2.94 | $11,864 | $45,686 |
| 18 | Henderson County | 3.08 | $10,740 | $50,471 |
| 19 | Frankfort Independent | 3.20 | $12,552 | $42,917 |
| 20 | Carroll County | 3.48 | $13,037 | $41,014 |
| 21 | Raceland-Worthington Independent | 3.57 | $9,623 | $55,390 |
| 22 | Simpson County | 3.74 | $10,888 | $50,159 |
| 23 | Union County | 5.59 | $11,178 | $49,812 |
| 24 | Bourbon County | 6.44 | $10,328 | $53,784 |
| 25 | Fairview Independent | 6.45 | $10,148 | $48,472 |
| 26 | Ashland Independent | 6.57 | $11,259 | $43,750 |
| 27 | Pendleton County | 6.67 | $9,825 | $56,000 |
| 28 | Mason County | 6.79 | $10,641 | $46,241 |
| 29 | Pikeville Independent | 6.88 | $12,568 | $38,110 |
| 30 | Hopkins County | 7.14 | $10,143 | $48,167 |
| 31 | West Point Independent | 7.60 | $14,577 | $36,486 |
| 32 | Logan County | 7.69 | $10,342 | $54,312 |
| 33 | Mclean County | 8.08 | $10,417 | $54,181 |
| 34 | Barren County | 8.36 | $10,423 | $46,419 |
| 35 | Fulton Independent | 8.49 | $16,222 | $30,000 |
| 36 | Warren County | 8.53 | $9,343 | $58,901 |
| 37 | Caldwell County | 8.67 | $9,945 | $48,281 |
| 38 | Marion County | 8.70 | $11,059 | $43,587 |
| 39 | Corbin Independent | 8.98 | $10,047 | $47,705 |
| 40 | Mccracken County | 9.00 | $10,302 | $55,097 |
| 41 | Martin County | 9.39 | $11,147 | $42,894 |
| 42 | Danville Independent | 9.57 | $13,238 | $43,038 |
| 43 | Webster County | 9.59 | $10,733 | $44,540 |
| 44 | Greenup County | 9.75 | $10,584 | $45,089 |
| 45 | Russellville Independent | 9.81 | $13,590 | $32,440 |
| 46 | Carlisle County | 9.85 | $11,493 | $41,222 |
| 47 | Trigg County | 10.02 | $11,397 | $50,980 |
| 48 | Mercer County | 10.10 | $11,207 | $51,813 |
| 49 | Montgomery County | 10.63 | $10,031 | $46,998 |
| 50 | Lincoln County | 10.63 | $11,166 | $42,231 |
| 51 | Crittenden County | 10.73 | $10,173 | $46,354 |
| 52 | Todd County | 11.11 | $9,922 | $47,229 |
| 53 | Covington Independent | 11.14 | $13,567 | $42,394 |
| 54 | Nicholas County | 11.74 | $9,747 | $47,665 |
| 55 | Garrard County | 12.09 | $10,583 | $55,369 |
| 56 | Menifee County | 12.39 | $12,671 | $46,746 |
| 57 | Eminence Independent | 12.64 | $10,256 | $45,104 |
| 58 | Augusta Independent | 12.96 | $12,294 | $48,594 |
| 59 | Erlanger-Elsmere Independent | 13.01 | $11,020 | $53,968 |
| 60 | Edmonson County | 13.10 | $10,413 | $44,229 |
| 61 | Henry County | 13.14 | $11,208 | $53,241 |
| 62 | Gallatin County | 13.61 | $10,814 | $55,113 |
| 63 | Clark County | 13.63 | $10,874 | $54,871 |
| 64 | Bath County | 13.97 | $10,157 | $44,893 |
| 65 | Caverna Independent | 14.29 | $12,747 | $33,871 |
| 66 | Butler County | 14.31 | $9,866 | $45,955 |
| 67 | Fleming County | 14.63 | $10,752 | $42,087 |
| 68 | Powell County | 15.27 | $10,922 | $41,071 |
| 69 | Elizabethtown Independent | 15.38 | $10,797 | $41,542 |
| 70 | Calloway County | 15.74 | $10,218 | $43,806 |
| 71 | Christian County | 15.77 | $9,875 | $45,233 |
| 72 | Johnson County | 15.86 | $11,309 | $39,167 |
| 73 | Hardin County | 15.90 | $10,155 | $58,962 |
| 74 | Marshall County | 16.13 | $10,565 | $57,348 |
| 75 | Hart County | 16.58 | $11,063 | $39,864 |
| 76 | Monroe County | 16.67 | $12,192 | $35,078 |
| 77 | Ohio County | 16.75 | $9,636 | $45,773 |
| 78 | Trimble County | 17.27 | $10,635 | $57,589 |
| 79 | Adair County | 17.50 | $10,206 | $43,026 |
| 80 | Ludlow Independent | 17.50 | $11,443 | $54,307 |
| 81 | Allen County | 17.70 | $9,909 | $44,180 |
| 82 | Bardstown Independent | 17.96 | $11,611 | $53,815 |
| 83 | Grant County | 18.06 | $10,516 | $58,462 |
| 84 | Russell Independent | 18.25 | $10,437 | $58,880 |
| 85 | Washington County | 18.46 | $11,309 | $55,321 |
| 86 | Taylor County | 18.55 | $10,184 | $60,086 |
| 87 | Metcalfe County | 18.61 | $10,710 | $40,391 |
| 88 | Owsley County | 18.66 | $13,320 | $29,406 |
| 89 | Meade County | 19.05 | $9,388 | $63,664 |
| 90 | Russell County | 19.70 | $10,268 | $41,731 |
| 91 | Knott County | 19.87 | $12,440 | $32,531 |
| 92 | Whitley County | 20.05 | $11,540 | $36,228 |
| 93 | Perry County | 20.25 | $11,094 | $38,005 |
| 94 | Cumberland County | 20.62 | $11,761 | $35,030 |
| 95 | Pulaski County | 20.64 | $10,108 | $41,963 |
| 96 | Rowan County | 20.71 | $9,911 | $42,754 |
| 97 | Robertson County | 20.83 | $12,109 | $53,074 |
| 98 | Laurel County | 21.07 | $9,518 | $44,237 |
| 99 | Floyd County | 21.11 | $11,691 | $35,096 |
| 100 | Letcher County | 21.18 | $12,004 | $33,746 |
| 101 | Paducah Independent | 21.35 | $11,484 | $35,848 |
| 102 | Hancock County | 21.40 | $11,413 | $56,265 |
| 103 | Carter County | 21.43 | $10,608 | $39,492 |
| 104 | Rockcastle County | 21.99 | $10,723 | $38,744 |
| 105 | Morgan County | 22.02 | $11,040 | $37,399 |
| 106 | Bowling Green Independent | 22.19 | $11,680 | $34,631 |
| 107 | Bracken County | 22.60 | $10,446 | $60,893 |
| 108 | Cloverport Independent | 23.03 | $11,815 | $33,672 |
| 109 | Jenkins Independent | 23.14 | $12,913 | $29,006 |
| 110 | Williamstown Independent | 23.38 | $10,114 | $40,648 |
| 111 | Leslie County | 23.40 | $11,210 | $36,038 |
| 112 | Wayne County | 25.25 | $10,612 | $37,678 |
| 113 | Elliott County | 25.29 | $10,781 | $36,950 |
| 114 | Clinton County | 25.52 | $11,674 | $33,092 |
| 115 | Paris Independent | 26.03 | $11,268 | $34,554 |
| 116 | Fulton County | 26.28 | $11,253 | $34,500 |
| 117 | Boyle County | 26.39 | $11,266 | $59,230 |
| 118 | Pike County | 26.79 | $11,171 | $34,606 |
| 119 | Mayfield Independent | 27.58 | $10,386 | $37,527 |
| 120 | Daviess County | 27.60 | $10,747 | $61,981 |
| 121 | Grayson County | 28.80 | $10,075 | $38,262 |
| 122 | Williamsburg Independent | 28.86 | $11,539 | $32,083 |
| 123 | Barbourville Independent | 28.87 | $9,916 | $38,897 |
| 124 | Jackson County | 28.88 | $11,673 | $31,515 |
| 125 | Bullitt County | 29.18 | $10,078 | $65,531 |
| 126 | Livingston County | 30.45 | $13,254 | $52,795 |
| 127 | Lawrence County | 30.56 | $11,165 | $32,856 |
| 128 | Green County | 30.61 | $10,924 | $33,846 |
| 129 | Knox County | 30.83 | $11,931 | $29,513 |
| 130 | Glasgow Independent | 30.92 | $10,452 | $35,682 |
| 131 | Newport Independent | 31.09 | $16,327 | $40,194 |
| 132 | Bell County | 31.36 | $11,925 | $29,290 |
| 133 | Jessamine County | 31.41 | $10,489 | $64,855 |
| 134 | Campbellsville Independent | 32.10 | $11,446 | $30,952 |
| 135 | Dawson Springs Independent | 32.36 | $11,684 | $29,828 |
| 136 | Casey County | 32.80 | $10,879 | $33,004 |
| 137 | Franklin County | 33.25 | $11,128 | $63,040 |
| 138 | Middlesboro Independent | 35.83 | $11,828 | $27,591 |
| 139 | Burgin Independent | 36.16 | $11,497 | $62,859 |
| 140 | Boyd County | 36.22 | $12,143 | $60,174 |
| 141 | Woodford County | 36.29 | $10,658 | $66,442 |
| 142 | Nelson County | 36.96 | $10,652 | $66,782 |
| 143 | Breathitt County | 37.04 | $11,205 | $29,639 |
| 144 | Wolfe County | 37.51 | $12,902 | $22,292 |
| 145 | Estill County | 39.65 | $10,160 | $32,800 |
| 146 | Magoffin County | 39.95 | $11,315 | $27,807 |
| 147 | Paintsville Independent | 40.05 | $12,672 | $22,060 |
| 148 | Jackson Independent | 40.24 | $11,289 | $27,778 |
| 149 | Mccreary County | 41.62 | $10,725 | $29,499 |
| 150 | Scott County | 42.31 | $10,069 | $71,750 |
| 151 | Fayette County | 42.50 | $13,138 | $58,954 |
| 152 | Clay County | 42.53 | $11,104 | $27,479 |
| 153 | Campbell County | 43.03 | $11,257 | $67,099 |
| 154 | Lewis County | 43.42 | $10,441 | $29,844 |
| 155 | Harlan County | 44.51 | $10,492 | $29,116 |
| 156 | Somerset Independent | 46.33 | $10,903 | $26,536 |
| 157 | Lee County | 48.04 | $11,148 | $24,699 |
| 158 | Jefferson County | 50.40 | $14,228 | $58,095 |
| 159 | East Bernstadt Independent | 52.37 | $8,954 | $31,875 |
| 160 | Shelby County | 52.66 | $11,035 | $72,564 |
| 161 | Pineville Independent | 52.73 | $10,430 | $25,511 |
| 162 | Kenton County | 55.93 | $9,956 | $78,634 |
| 163 | Harlan Independent | 56.89 | $10,858 | $21,756 |
| 164 | Southgate Independent | 58.59 | $15,892 | $54,960 |
| 165 | Walton-Verona Independent | 60.52 | $10,216 | $79,702 |
| 166 | Spencer County | 68.86 | $9,773 | $85,488 |
| 167 | Bellevue Independent | 70.17 | $14,104 | $67,917 |
| 168 | Fort Thomas Independent | 74.32 | $10,998 | $82,910 |
| 169 | Boone County | 76.93 | $11,256 | $83,056 |
| 170 | Beechwood Independent | 102.50 | $10,441 | $98,512 |
| 171 | Oldham County | 114.91 | $10,582 | $103,761 |
| 172 | Anchorage Independent | 389.94 | $21,277 | $188,281 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,876 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.