Hanson Elementary School, Hanson KY

Original Research by School Decision on Hanson Elementary School

Hanson Elementary School is a regular public school in western Kentucky, serving students from preschool through fifth grade. It sits in the small rural city of Hanson, roughly a mile north of Madisonville, the Hopkins County seat. The school is part of the Hopkins County district, and its enrollment is moderate for an elementary school, drawing from the local community.

State testing results show solid overall performance. In math and reading, a strong majority of students scored proficient or above in all three tested grades. Science performance in fourth grade follows a similar pattern, with most students meeting the bar. One area where the school’s results dip is fifth-grade social studies, where about half of students reached the proficient mark. That subject-area soft spot is noticeable compared to the school’s otherwise consistent showing across the other tested areas. When stacked against other schools in Hopkins County, Hanson Elementary’s combined proficiency across subjects places it well above the typical school in the area—a clear academic strength for a school of this size and setting.

The student body is predominantly white, with modest representation of students who are Asian, Black, Hispanic, or multiracial. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a meaningful level of economic diversity. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the records examined, so families with children who may need those services should follow up directly with the school.

Hanson itself is a very small town that grew around a railroad stop and has a historic Main Street district. Its population has been essentially flat in recent years, with a slight downward trend. The town has limited commercial and civic amenities—no public parks or library branches were found within Hanson’s boundaries, though nearby Madisonville provides broader services. Housing values in the area are around the statewide benchmark, and the home market has seen a modest softening recently. Employment within Hanson is minimal; residents typically commute to Madisonville or beyond for work. The city’s website notes aspirations tied to the I-69 corridor, but no major development projects were identified in search results.

The school website was listed, but no detailed program descriptions—such as arts, music, or enrichment offerings—were part of the data provided. Likewise, information on class sizes, staffing ratios, and attendance rates was absent. Given the limited public data on these fronts, a visit or conversation with the school would be useful for families wanting a fuller picture of day-to-day school life.

In short, Hanson Elementary delivers consistently strong academic results, particularly in math and reading, and stands out among its county peers. It serves a predominantly white, moderately low-income student body in a quiet, slow-growth rural town. The weaker fifth-grade social studies result is worth a conversation with the school, but overall the academic picture is a positive one. The lack of detail on programs and support services means the school’s fit for a particular child will depend on what families learn by reaching out directly.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 371%

School 71% · District 56% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median

Grade 474%

School 74% · District 53% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median

Grade 563%

School 63% · District 45% · ▲ 18 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 366%

School 66% · District 56% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median

Grade 468%

School 68% · District 56% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median

Grade 564%

School 64% · District 53% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median

Science

Grade 464%

School 64% · District 41% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 548%

School 48% · District 41% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 10 pts above state median

This schoolHopkins County, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 4Lower-income55%Higher-income74%19 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income44%Higher-income74%30 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income55%Higher-income82%27 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income59%Higher-income81%22 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income41%Higher-income74%33 pp gap