2024 Best High Schools in Kentucky

What High School Paths Does Kentucky Provide?

Kentucky represents the exact median in terms of the quantity of high schools in a typical state, with 486 total. It ranks 29th in the nation for per capita high schools, with just a 2% difference from the average state, meaning there are plenty of options for students. The average grade of high schools in the state is a B–, which is in line with the national average.

Of the 486 high schools in the state, 338 are public schools, representing 70% of the total number. The majority of those (97%) are traditional public schools, with 329 in total. Out of those, 41% sit above the national average. It's worth noting that in Kentucky there are no charter schools, which ranks it in the 44th spot nationally.

On the other hand, there are 9 magnet schools and 114 private schools, representing 23% of all high schools. The median grade of these private schools is a B+, with 55% of them exceeding the national average. The majority of private schools are religiously affiliated, with 86% of them falling into this category—the most common type of religious school being Christian with 79 schools. Kentucky ranks 14th nationally for religious schools per capita.

In addition, Kentucky also has 13 all-boys schools and 10 all-girls schools. Both of these figures mark a significant increase from the average state, 75% and 147% respectively. They also have 11 online schools, 58% more than the typical state (after adjusting for population size). The online schools represent just 2% of the total, however.