The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Elliott County Middle School
Elliott County Middle School sits in Sandy Hook, the seat of Elliott County, a rural, dry county in eastern Kentucky. The town is small, auto-oriented, and population is declining. Its civic life centers on the courthouse, a public library, and the local cemetery where a statue of hometown country singer Keith Whitley stands. The Little Sandy Correctional Complex and county government are major local employers. Publicly reported information about recent district-level changes was sparse, and we found little of lasting parent-relevant impact from recent years to report.
The school serves grades six through eight and is a regular public school. Its enrollment is small for a middle school, and the student body is nearly entirely white. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a large portion of households in the area face economic strain. This is consistent with the community context, where median household income is very low and a notable share of the population lives below the poverty line. Information on the share of students with an individualized education plan or who are English learners was not available in the data we reviewed, so a parent may want to ask the school about these supports directly.
On the Kentucky Summative Assessment for the most recent school year, the school’s proficiency rates were low across tested grades and subjects. In math, less than a quarter of students scored at the proficient or above level in each grade. In reading, the rates were somewhat higher but still below half in sixth grade, and lower in seventh and eighth grades. Social studies results for eighth graders were similar. Science results for seventh graders were suppressed, meaning they were not reported for privacy reasons, so we cannot characterize that performance. Overall, the academic picture is one where most students are not meeting state proficiency benchmarks. A parent may want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are below grade level and what strategies are in place to improve outcomes.
Because Elliott County is the only district in its county, a comparison relative to other districts in the county was not applicable, so we are unable to position this school’s performance alongside a local peer group. The data does not provide information on the school’s staffing ratios, chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or course access, so we cannot speak to those aspects of the school environment. Neither graduation rate nor high school data apply here, as the school only serves middle grades.
For a family considering this school, the main takeaway is that Elliott County Middle School operates in a small, economically challenged rural community. The student peer environment is homogeneous in terms of race and ethnicity, and the school serves a predominantly low-income population. Academic performance on state assessments is weak across the board, and the data we reviewed does not offer detail on special education, English learner services, or other programming. A parent would likely want to visit, speak with teachers and administrators, and ask about academic intervention supports, enrichment offerings, and the overall school climate to get a fuller picture than the available metrics provide.
See more original research from School Decision →