Educational Attainment
Kentucky's educational attainment lags the nation, with 26.6% holding a bachelor's degree or higher.
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year (FRED GCT1502KY).
| Indicator | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree+ (%) | 26.6 | 35 |
Schools
Kentucky operates roughly 1,470 public K-12 schools across 171 school districts.
Public schools reporting teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Public school enrollment (K-12)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Universities
Kentucky is home to the University of Kentucky (Lexington) and the University of Louisville, both major research institutions.
College and graduate school students
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, undergraduate + graduate/professional, B14001 (2020 not released).
Graduation Rates
Kentucky's high school graduation rate is about 90%, above the national average.
Adults 25+ with a high school diploma or higher
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B15003 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate (%) | 90 | 87 |
Student Enrollment
Kentucky enrolls about 620,000 K-12 public school students statewide.
People enrolled in school (age 3+)
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B14001 (2020 not released).
Student-Teacher Ratios
Kentucky's student-teacher ratio is about 15.5:1, close to the national average.
Students per full-time teacher (public schools)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Full-time-equivalent public school teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
| Indicator | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Student-teacher ratio | 15.5 | 15.4 |