The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in Science. The lowest is 32% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Stanton Elementary School
Stanton Elementary School, a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Powell County, Kentucky, is the neighborhood elementary for the town of Stanton, the county seat. For a family living in or moving to this small town at the edge of the Red River Gorge region, this school represents the local public pathway for the elementary years. The school's student body is overwhelmingly white and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a poverty indicator that aligns with the broader economic conditions in the town, where median household income is low relative to national averages.
The most important academic measure available is Kentucky's state assessment, which tests students in grades three through five in math and English language arts, fourth graders in science, and fifth graders in social studies. The results present a mixed picture, with meaningful variation by grade and subject. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above drops sharply as grade levels rise. Third-grade math proficiency was at a level below a majority of students, fourth-grade math was somewhat higher, and fifth-grade math proficiency was much lower, at a level that a family may want to explore further with the school. In English language arts, the pattern was more consistent but uneven. Third-grade and fifth-grade proficiency were at the same moderate level, while fourth-grade was lower. Science proficiency among fourth graders was at a similar moderate level, and fifth-grade social studies proficiency was lower. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism was available in the source material for this profile.
Stanton Elementary is one of several schools in the Powell County district, which includes another elementary, a middle school, and a high school. The district itself appears to have no publicly reported major recent changes, so families should expect a stable, traditional operational environment. The school's location in the town of Stanton places it close to the town's civic anchors: the county courthouse, city hall, the public library, and Lion's Club Park. Housing in Stanton is relatively affordable, with home values well below the state and national benchmarks, though recent data shows a slight decline. The town is compact and auto-dependent, with no public transit. The local economy is driven by retail, manufacturing, and public administration, and the school district itself is a notable employer.
For a parent trying to decide if this school fits, the core question is about academic expectations. The school is not producing high proficiency rates across the board, and the particularly low fifth-grade math outcome is a point worth investigating. A family might want to ask the school about the reading and math curricula used in the upper elementary grades, what interventions are available for students who fall behind, and how the school supports the transition to the district's middle school. On the other hand, the school is the only elementary option within the town for a regular public pathway, and it sits in a community where the cost of living is lower than in many parts of the state. The peer environment is largely homogenous, and the economic context of the community is one of modest means. For a family that values a small-town setting and affordable housing, and is prepared to be an engaged partner in their child's academic progress, Stanton Elementary is the local school to work with.
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