The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Math. The lowest is 43% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Calhoun Elementary School
Calhoun Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in McLean County, Kentucky. It is located in the small, rural county seat of Calhoun, a town on the Green River that has experienced a modest population decline in recent years and is described as an aging, stable community with limited commercial activity. The school sits within a compact town where civic buildings and schools are likely within a short distance of one another.
The school's enrollment is small for its grade band, and the student body is overwhelmingly white. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a notable portion of families face economic challenges. This is a characteristic of the community context, and a parent considering the school would want to understand how the school supports students from these backgrounds.
On the Kentucky Summative Assessment, the school shows a pattern of performance. In mathematics, proficiency rates across the tested grades of three, four, and five are generally in a range that is above the midpoint in the majority of tested grades, though with some variation. In English language arts, similar patterns appear, with proficiency rates also falling in a similar range; one grade's rate is slightly below the others, while the remaining two are somewhat higher. In science, which is tested in fourth grade, the proficiency rate is at a level that, like the lower end of the ELA results, is one a parent may want to explore further with the school. In social studies, tested in the fifth grade, the proficiency rate is lower again, a soft spot in the overall picture. These results present a mixed portrait: the school has clear academic strengths in some areas and subject-grade combinations, while in others, the numbers suggest room for improvement.
The data does not provide information on special education services, English learner support, or discipline rates, so a parent with a child who may need these supports would need to contact the school directly. There is no reported information on chronic absenteeism or staffing ratios. The school’s status regarding Title I funding was also not available in the provided data.
The district itself, McLean County, was not found to have any recent major strategic changes or initiatives publicly reported, so there is no visible district-level pivot to be aware of. Calhoun Elementary operates as part of that stable, small-district structure.
The housing market in the area, based on the data, shows that home values are below the state average and have seen some recent decline. Rents are relatively affordable compared to national benchmarks. This places the school in a lower-cost community, which may be a factor for families weighing housing and school options together.
For a family, this school fits a particular profile. It is a small, rural elementary school in a community that is not growing. The academic results are mixed, with some grades and subjects showing solid performance and others where the rates are lower. The student population is not diverse, and a significant share of families are economically disadvantaged. A parent who values a small-town, county-seat setting and is prepared to engage with the school on the academic areas where proficiency is weaker may find this a reasonable match. A parent seeking a school with uniformly high proficiency across all subjects and grades, or one with a more diverse student body, would likely want to look at other options. The lack of detailed data on programs and student supports means that any serious consideration would require a direct conversation with the school.
See more original research from School Decision →