The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Yates Elementary School
Yates Elementary School, at the corner of East New Circle Road in Lexington, is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of Fayette County Public Schools. The school draws its students from a section of the city that is built out and auto-oriented, a short distance from the commercial corridors that ring Lexington's urban core. With an enrollment that places it at a moderate size for an elementary school, Yates educates a student body that is notably diverse across racial and ethnic lines. Approximately three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that is well above the national average and likely qualifies the school for federal Title I support (the state data did not confirm that designation directly). The peer environment is one in which a substantial share of families are navigating financial strain, and the school's demographic mix includes significant populations of Black, Hispanic, and white students, along with a smaller number of students from Asian, Native American, and multiracial backgrounds.
State assessment results from the 2024-25 school year paint a picture of academic challenge. On the Kentucky Summative Assessment, proficiency rates across tested grades and subjects sit well below what most families would consider a strong baseline. In third-grade math, about two in ten students scored proficient or above; in fourth-grade math, roughly three in ten; and in fifth-grade math the rate was withheld from public reporting due to small numbers. Reading results followed a similar pattern: third-grade English language arts proficiency came in around two in ten, fourth-grade at two in ten, and fifth-grade at about four in ten. Fourth-grade science proficiency was very low, and fifth-grade social studies came in at about two in ten. These are not the numbers that suggest a school where most students are meeting grade-level expectations with ease. A parent considering Yates would want to ask directly about the academic support structures in place, including interventions and enrichment, and whether the school has programs aimed at moving students from below-proficient to proficient. The data do not include information on special education services or English learner support, so families of children with those needs should consult the school directly.
Housing in the zip code around Yates sits at a level comparable to the state median home value, with rents that absorb a moderate share of local income. Lexington itself is a consolidated city-county shaped by the University of Kentucky, the thoroughbred horse industry, and an urban growth boundary that contains sprawl. The school’s neighborhood is inside that boundary, in an older, established part of the city. Home values have risen modestly, though affordability relative to national benchmarks is tighter than it once was. For a family buying or renting in this area, the cost of housing is a real but not overwhelming factor compared to pricier parts of the county.
The school operates as a regular public elementary school. It is not a charter or magnet. The district, Fayette County Public Schools, oversees dozens of elementary schools across the county. Publicly reported information about specific district-level initiatives, bond measures, or new school construction in the area was not available at the time of this profile, so it is not reflected here. The school itself reports no data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing ratios, which limits a full view of the school environment. A parent visiting Yates should ask about teacher retention, class sizes, and how the school builds a positive climate for learning.
Yates Elementary serves a community with high economic need and test scores that indicate many children are not yet at grade-level proficiency. Families who value a diverse student body and a neighborhood school within a large public district will find that here. Those seeking a school with a track record of strong academic outcomes on state tests will want to investigate further, particularly around what targeted instruction and support the school offers to move its students forward.
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