The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in Math. The lowest is 29% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Dawson Springs Elementary
Dawson Springs Elementary serves students from preschool through fifth grade and is the sole elementary school within the Dawson Springs Independent district, a small public school system that covers this western Kentucky town. Because the district rejected countywide consolidation decades ago, the school is deeply tied to the community it serves; the district itself is now the town’s largest employer. The building sits on Eli Street in a compact residential neighborhood, and its enrollment is small for a PK-5 school, with roughly even class sizes across kindergarten through fifth grade.
The town of Dawson Springs has a history that reaches back to the late 1800s as a spa and health resort, but its economy shifted to coal mining and later light manufacturing. Those manufacturing jobs were lost in the 1990s, and the population has been declining. A destructive EF4 tornado in late 2021 caused major damage and loss of life, and recovery efforts remain underway. The town markets itself as Kentucky’s first designated Trail Town, with outdoor recreation tied to the nearby Pennyrile State Forest, and maintains a National Register Historic District along Railroad Avenue. Housing values in the area are well below state and national medians, and the local economy is lower-income relative to broader averages. For families who live in Dawson Springs, the school is a neighborhood anchor in a place where economic growth has been slow and civic life centers on the school district and downtown heritage efforts.
The student body is composed predominantly of white students, with small numbers of Hispanic and multiracial children and even fewer Black students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the local economic conditions. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported.
State test results are available for math, reading, science, and social studies across grades three through five. Performance varies notably by grade and subject. In third grade, roughly a third of students met the proficiency benchmark in math, and about two in five did so in reading. Fourth-grade results were lower in both math and reading, with just over a quarter of students reaching proficiency in each subject; fourth-grade science also showed similar levels. Fifth-grade results were stronger: a majority of students were proficient in math, and close to half in reading. Social studies in fifth grade showed about a third of students proficient. The overall picture is uneven, with fifth graders outpacing their younger schoolmates, though the school’s composite proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among districts in Hopkins County, the two-district comparison set. A parent looking for consistent academic strength across elementary grades may want to ask the school about instructional supports and how it addresses the dip seen in fourth grade.
Because Dawson Springs Elementary serves only primary grades, there is no graduation rate to report and no data on high school course access, advanced coursework, or college readiness. The school does not offer programs such as magnet or charter options; it functions as a regular neighborhood elementary school. No information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, or teacher staffing was available in the provided data.
This is a school that fits families who value a small, closely knit community where the school and the town are nearly inseparable. The setting is rural and low-density, with limited commercial amenities beyond the historic downtown. Parents who are weighing academic expectations should note that while some grades perform better than others, the overall proficiency levels are lower than those of the one other district in the county. A conversation with the principal about curriculum, intervention programs, and how the school supports students who are not yet at grade level would be a natural next step. For those who want a more detailed picture of academic programming or extracurricular offerings, the school’s website and district office would be the best sources, as this information was not included in the data reviewed here.
See more original research from School Decision →