The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in English language arts. The lowest is 33% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Joe Harrison Carter
Joe Harrison Carter is a regular public elementary school in Tompkinsville, Kentucky, serving students from preschool through fifth grade. The school sits within Monroe County, a rural county-seat town that has seen its population edge slightly downward in recent years and where a high share of residents live below the poverty line. Alcohol sales only became legal here in 2023 after a referendum, reflecting the historically dry character of the community. The downtown core around the Monroe County Courthouse remains walkable, but the town itself is low-density and car-dependent outside that center.
The school’s state testing results for the 2024-25 school year provide a mixed picture. In reading, third graders posted a solid proficiency rate, with well over half of students meeting the state’s proficient or above benchmark. Fourth-grade reading proficiency dipped to about half of students tested, while fifth graders scored slightly above that mark. In math, third-grade results were suppressed for data privacy reasons, so no figure is available for that grade. Fourth-grade math proficiency came in near the midpoint, and fifth-grade math was slightly higher, with a slim majority of students reaching the proficient level. Science results for fourth grade were also suppressed. Social studies, tested in fifth grade, showed a lower proficiency rate, with about a third of students scoring proficient or above. Parents may want to follow up with the school about what supports are in place for social studies instruction.
The school enrolls a modest number of students, a typical size for a rural elementary school in this region. The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic and Black students and a very small number of students identifying as two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic challenges faced by many families in the area. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the state’s reporting.
Because Joe Harrison Carter serves only elementary grades, no graduation rate or college readiness measures apply. The school did not report program offerings such as advanced coursework or specialized pathways, which is expected at this grade band. The district, Monroe County, has no recent major changes confirmed from publicly available sources.
Housing context for the area shows home values that are notably lower than the statewide Kentucky average and well below the national benchmark, which makes the community relatively affordable for buyers. The national mortgage rate at the time of this data was moderate, and the unemployment rate stood at a level consistent with many rural areas.
Joe Harrison Carter is a school that fits families looking for a small, community-based elementary experience in a rural Kentucky setting. Academic performance is strongest in early-grade reading, while math and especially social studies show room for improvement. Given the high poverty rate and suppressed results for some tested grades, a parent may want to ask the school about how it supports students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and what interventions are in place for subjects where proficiency lags. The lack of civil rights data, discipline records, and staffing information means that families looking into those areas will need to reach out directly to the school or district for more detail.
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