Science Hill Elementary School, Science Hill KY

Original Research by School Decision on Science Hill Elementary School

Science Hill Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade as a regular public school in the small, rural town of Science Hill, Kentucky, and is the sole school within the Science Hill Independent district. Because the school stops at eighth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report, and students who finish here choose either a Pulaski County high school or Somerset City High School.

State assessment results are available for math, English language arts, science, and social studies across the tested grades, and the picture is mixed. In math, proficiency is strongest in the third and sixth grades, with a majority of students meeting the state’s proficient or above threshold, while fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth grades show a smaller share reaching that level. In English language arts, sixth grade stands out with a high rate of proficiency; third and seventh grades also perform well, while fourth and eighth grades are softer. Science results at fourth and seventh grades show that less than half of students are proficient, and social studies in fifth grade is similarly low, though eighth-grade social studies results are stronger. A parent may want to ask the school about the variability across grade levels and subjects, particularly where proficiency dips below half.

The student body is predominantly white, with a noticeable Hispanic presence and a very small Asian population. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that many families face economic challenges. No data was available on the number of students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent should follow up with the school on those counts if those supports matter to them.

Science Hill is a very small, primarily residential community perched on a hill in rural Pulaski County. Its population has been very stable over many decades, with only modest recent growth. The town has limited commercial activity and a small downtown area where Kentucky Route passes through. Walkability is confined to the immediate town center; most families drive. The school itself has moved locations over time to accommodate growth and serves as a key civic anchor. A branch of the Pulaski County Public Library is in town, and US Route 27 runs along the eastern edge, providing access to Somerset and the wider region.

Housing values in the area are below both the Kentucky state average and the national average, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment is modest relative to median income, making this a relatively affordable place to buy a home. Rents and mortgage rates have been trending with national patterns, and the unemployment rate is near the national figure.

When compared with the other districts in Pulaski County, Science Hill Elementary School’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint. That places it in a solid middle position among its county peers. No chronic absenteeism data was reported for this school, so a parent would need to request that information directly.

The district brief turned up no recent changes of lasting note, so the school appears to be operating in a stable administrative environment. Without data on course offerings, discipline, or staffing, a family considering Science Hill Elementary School would benefit from a visit and a conversation with the principal about the specific programs for middle grades and any academic supports available for students who need extra help.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 377%

School 77% · District 77%

▲ 34 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 454%

School 54% · District 54%

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 558%

School 58% · District 58%

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 676%

School 76% · District 76%

▲ 34 pts above state median

Grade 755%

School 55% · District 55%

▲ 12 pts above state median

Grade 854%

School 54% · District 54%

▲ 13 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 363%

School 63% · District 63%

▲ 16 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 446%

School 46% · District 46%

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 555%

School 55% · District 55%

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 678%

School 78% · District 78%

▲ 24 pts above state median

Grade 761%

School 61% · District 61%

▲ 12 pts above state median

Grade 849%

School 49% · District 49%

▲ 7 pts above state median

Science

Grade 433%

School 33% · District 33%

▼ 5 pts below state median

Grade 745%

School 45% · District 45%

▲ 15 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 536%

School 36% · District 36%

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 851%

School 51% · District 51%

▲ 13 pts above state median

This schoolScience Hill Independent, 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 5Lower-income38%Higher-income81%43 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income55%Higher-income69%14 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income40%Higher-income64%24 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income75%Higher-income83%8 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income47%Higher-income71%24 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income45%Higher-income69%24 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income40%Higher-income79%39 pp gap