Barren County, KY - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Barren County

Barren County Schools is a countywide district in south-central Kentucky serving prekindergarten through grade twelve. It is one of two districts that share Barren County, the other being a separately governed city school system. For families looking at the district as a whole, the starting point is its academic proficiency picture, which shows a mixed profile with some grade levels performing more strongly than others.

On the Kentucky Summative Assessment, the district’s proficiency rates across tested subjects and grades sit above the midpoint among Barren County’s districts. This is a meaningful distinction, as it places the district higher than the county median in overall performance. In reading the grade-level results, a clear pattern emerges. In elementary math, proficiency rates are below half of tested students in third and fourth grades, then rise to nearly half by fifth grade. The middle school years show a similar arc, with sixth grade hitting a relatively strong point and seventh and eighth grades dipping back. In English language arts, the trend is more encouraging. By sixth grade, well more than half of students meet the proficiency mark, and seventh grade holds at half. The younger elementary grades and eighth grade cluster around the mid-forties. Science results, tested in fourth and seventh grades, are lower, with about a third of students reaching proficiency in both grades. Social studies, assessed in fifth and eighth grades, shows a modest improvement from the earlier to the later grade, though both remain below half. Families weighing these results may want to look at how individual schools within the district vary, since district-level averages can mask differences between, say, a strong elementary school and one that is struggling.

The student population is predominantly white, which is consistent with the county’s overall demographics. Hispanic students form the next largest group, followed by students who identify as two or more races. The district serves a sizable enough enrollment to sustain multiple elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school, all listed among its campuses. There is also a College Street Campus and an entity called BAVEL, which likely serves an alternative or specialized purpose, though the data does not clarify its exact role.

Housing in the district’s coverage area is anchored by the city of Glasgow, which makes up the bulk of the weighted home values. Home values across the district’s zip codes vary considerably, from lower-cost rural areas to higher-priced pockets near Smiths Grove. The weighted average home value is below the national median but also slightly below the Kentucky state median, and it has shown a modest year-over-year decline. This combination suggests an affordable housing market relative to broader benchmarks, which may appeal to families looking for lower entry costs. The county’s unemployment rate is at the national average, and real median household income nationally has been on a gradual upward trend in recent years.

The district’s chronic absenteeism rate is above the midpoint among Barren County’s two districts, meaning it is not the higher of the two. Still, a rate at this level is a soft spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school. Per-pupil current spending is in the middle range, upper half of the two-district county, indicating that the district is not at either extreme in financial input.

We looked for recent district policy changes, curriculum shifts, or referenda through web research and did not find any that specifically concerned Barren County Schools. The search returned general geographic and county information but nothing about board decisions or new initiatives. This absence means a parent should plan to ask the district directly about any recent developments in programming, facilities, or budgeting.

For a family considering this district, the read is of a system that performs across a broad middle band, with some grade-level strengths in literacy by the upper elementary and middle school years and room for improvement in math and science. The county setting offers a range of housing costs and a largely rural character. The district’s size allows for multiple elementary attendance zones and a single comprehensive high school, which is typical for a county system outside a major metro area.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

5,072

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 5%

Black 2%

White 89%

Asian 0%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

30%

52%

Gr 4

42%

53%

Gr 5

41%

57%

Gr 6

48%

71%

Gr 7

46%

56%

Gr 8

36%

58%

Math

Gr 3

30%

49%

Gr 4

34%

47%

Gr 5

41%

58%

Gr 6

47%

67%

Gr 7

40%

56%

Gr 8

30%

54%

Science

Gr 4

32%

43%

Gr 7

27%

41%

Social studies

Gr 5

32%

46%

Gr 8

29%

56%

source_specific:wri

Gr 5

41%

59%

Gr 8

58%

73%

Schools in this District

11 schools are officially reported under this district.

Austin Tracy Elementary School

Barren County High School

Eastern Elementary School

Hiseville Elementary School

Park City Elementary School

Red Cross Elementary School

Temple Hill Elementary School

Barren County Middle School

College Street Campus

BAVEL

North Jackson Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

38%

Grade 3

39%

Grade 4

48%

Grade 5

56%

Grade 6

46%

Grade 7

41%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

39%

Grade 3

46%

Grade 4

47%

Grade 5

58%

Grade 6

50%

Grade 7

46%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

36%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 7

Social Studies

2 grades reported

38%

Grade 5

41%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$211,352

Year-over-year change-1.3%

Range across 10 ZIP codes$161K to $258K

vs. state typical0.91x

vs. national typical0.57x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (10 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
42141	Glasgow	$216K	-0.6%	55.1%
42127	Cave City	$207K	-2.1%	14.4%
42160	Park City	$200K	-2.4%	6.2%
42171	Smiths Grove	$258K	+1.9%	5.4%
42133	Fountain Run	$161K	-8.8%	5.3%
42123	Austin	$221K	-0.8%	4.7%
42166	Summer Shade	$187K	-4.7%	3.7%
42156	Lucas	$210K	+5.4%	1.6%
42749	Horse Cave	$171K	+2.2%	1.1%
42154	Knob Lick	$195K	-2.8%	0.7%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,066/mo

Home price / national median income2.5x

Comparison

State typical home value$232,231 (-0.3% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.