Best Middle Schools in Kentucky (2025-26)

Ranked middle schools

206

Listed, not ranked

Every ranked middle school in Kentucky, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.

Kentucky rankings: High Schools · Middle Schools · Elementary Schools

Kentucky middle schools ranked

Rank	Grade	School	City	District	Actual	Projected	Impact	Students
#1	A+	Edythe Jones Hayes Middle School	Lexington	Fayette County	62%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,081
#2	A+	Highlands Middle School	Fort Thomas	Fort Thomas Independent	62%	59%	Meets Expectations	732
#3	A+	Conner Middle School	Hebron	Boone County	61%	54%	Meets Expectations	896
#4	A+	Corbin Middle School	Corbin	Corbin Independent	61%	42%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	646
#5	A+	Gray Middle School	Union	Boone County	60%	57%	Meets Expectations	1,029
#6	A+	North Oldham Middle School	Goshen	Oldham County	60%	53%	Meets Expectations	787
#7	A+	Ballard County Middle School	Barlow	Ballard County	59%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	215
#8	A+	Farristown Middle School	Berea	Madison County	59%	35%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	466
#9	A+	Lone Oak Middle School	Paducah	McCracken County	59%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	796
#10	A+	South Warren Middle School	Bowling Green	Warren County	59%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	772
#11	A+	Drakes Creek Middle School	Bowling Green	Warren County	58%	46%	Exceeds Expectations	729
#12	A+	Walton Verona Middle School	Walton	Walton-Verona Independent	58%	52%	Meets Expectations	547
#13	A+	East Oldham Middle School	Crestwood	Oldham County	57%	49%	Exceeds Expectations	622
#14	A+	Lyon County Middle School	Eddyville	Lyon County	57%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	243
#15	A+	Noe Middle (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	57%	60%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,347
#16	A	Scott County Middle School	Georgetown	Scott County	57%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	864
#17	A	South Oldham Middle School	Crestwood	Oldham County	56%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	839
#18	A	Carlisle County Middle School	Bardwell	Carlisle County	55%	28%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	146
#19	A	Daviess County Middle School	Owensboro	Daviess County	55%	46%	Exceeds Expectations	813
#20	A	Jessie M Clark Middle School	Lexington	Fayette County	55%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	1,044
#21	A	North Laurel Middle School	London	Laurel County	55%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,003
#22	A	Wolfe County Middle School	Campton	Wolfe County	55%	33%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	171
#23	A	B Michael Caudill Middle School	Richmond	Madison County	54%	34%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	479
#24	A	East Hardin Middle School	Elizabethtown	Hardin County	54%	50%	Meets Expectations	780
#25	A	Whitley County Middle School	Williamsburg	Whitley County	54%	30%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	563
#26	A	Ballyshannon Middle School	Union	Boone County	53%	53%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	633
#27	A	Barret Traditional Middle (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	53%	41%	Exceeds Expectations	630
#28	A	Heath Middle School	West Paducah	McCracken County	53%	58%	Underperforms Expectations	410
#29	A	Boyle County Middle School	Danville	Boyle County	52%	42%	Exceeds Expectations	679
#30	A	Morton Middle School	Lexington	Fayette County	52%	45%	Meets Expectations	705
#31	A-	Knox County Middle School	Barbourville	Knox County	52%	28%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	429
#32	A-	South Laurel Middle School	London	Laurel County	52%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	979
#33	A-	Woodland Middle School	Taylor Mill	Kenton County	52%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	616
#34	A-	Calloway County Middle School	Murray	Calloway County	51%	40%	Exceeds Expectations	674
#35	A-	Clark Moores Middle School	Richmond	Madison County	51%	42%	Exceeds Expectations	546
#36	A-	Grayson County Middle School	Leitchfield	Grayson County	51%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	839
#37	A-	Southern Middle School	Somerset	Pulaski County	51%	32%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	941
#38	A-	Twenhofel Middle School	Independence	Kenton County	51%	48%	Meets Expectations	835
#39	A-	Marion County Middle School	Lebanon	Marion County	50%	30%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	431
#40	A-	Northern Middle School	Somerset	Pulaski County	50%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	846
#41	A-	Beaumont Middle School	Lexington	Fayette County	49%	48%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	843
#42	A-	Fleming Neon Middle School	Neon	Letcher County	49%	25%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	167
#43	A-	North Marshall Middle School	Calvert City	Marshall County	49%	37%	Exceeds Expectations	497
#44	A-	Oldham County Middle School	Buckner	Oldham County	48%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	715
#45	A-	Owensboro Innovation Middle School	Owensboro	Owensboro Independent	48%	43%	Meets Expectations	311
#46	A-	West Jessamine Middle School	Nicholasville	Jessamine County	48%	35%	Exceeds Expectations	904
#47	B+	Crittenden County Middle School	Marion	Crittenden County	47%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	291
#48	B+	Crosby Middle	Middletown	Jefferson County	47%	40%	Meets Expectations	1,016
#49	B+	Henderson County South Middle School	Henderson	Henderson County	47%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	721
#50	B+	Russell County Middle School	Russell Springs	Russell County	47%	40%	Meets Expectations	677
#51	B+	Turkey Foot Middle School	Edgewood	Kenton County	47%	40%	Meets Expectations	1,029
#52	B+	Foley Middle School	Berea	Madison County	46%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	445
#53	B+	Graves County Middle School	Mayfield	Graves County	46%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	621
#54	B+	Larue County Middle School	Hodgenville	LaRue County	46%	30%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	533
#55	B+	Bowling Green Junior High	Bowling Green	Bowling Green Independent	45%	54%	Underperforms Expectations	963
#56	B+	Edmonson County Middle School	Brownsville	Edmonson County	45%	33%	Exceeds Expectations	280
#57	B+	James Madison Middle School	Madisonville	Hopkins County	45%	33%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	494
#58	B+	Johnson County Middle School	Paintsville	Johnson County	45%	28%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	475
#59	B+	Madison Middle School	Richmond	Madison County	45%	32%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	670
#60	B+	Mclean County Middle School	Calhoun	McLean County	45%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	319
#61	B+	Royal Spring Middle School	Georgetown	Scott County	45%	42%	Meets Expectations	726
#62	B+	Talton K Stone Middle School	Elizabethtown	Elizabethtown Independent	45%	45%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	545
#63	B	Belfry Middle School	Belfry	Pike County	44%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	349
#64	B	Camp Ernst Middle School	Burlington	Boone County	44%	45%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	723
#65	B	Eastside Middle School	Mount Washington	Bullitt County	44%	48%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	683
#66	B	Henry County Middle School	New Castle	Henry County	44%	35%	Exceeds Expectations	454
#67	B	Meece Middle School	Somerset	Somerset Independent	44%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	444
#68	B	Woodford County Middle School	Versailles	Woodford County	44%	35%	Exceeds Expectations	889
#69	B	Anderson County Middle School	Lawrenceburg	Anderson County	43%	36%	Meets Expectations	818
#70	B	Bracken County Middle School	Brooksville	Bracken County	43%	34%	Exceeds Expectations	259
#71	B	Ohio County Middle School	Hartford	Ohio County	43%	27%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	550
#72	B	Russell Middle School	Russell	Russell Independent	43%	41%	Meets Expectations	511
#73	B	Southern Middle School	Lexington	Fayette County	43%	32%	Exceeds Expectations	772
#74	B	Washington County Middle School	Springfield	Washington County	43%	39%	Meets Expectations	203
#75	B	West Hardin Middle School	Cecilia	Hardin County	43%	41%	Meets Expectations	509
#76	B	Caldwell County Middle School	Princeton	Caldwell County	42%	33%	Exceeds Expectations	421
#77	B	Campbell County Middle School	Alexandria	Campbell County	42%	36%	Meets Expectations	1,184
#78	B	Henderson County North Middle School	Henderson	Henderson County	42%	28%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	720
#79	B	Mayfield Middle School	Mayfield	Mayfield Independent	42%	30%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	536
#80	B-	Leestown Middle School	Lexington	Fayette County	42%	36%	Meets Expectations	966
#81	B-	Mcnabb Middle School	Mount Sterling	Montgomery County	42%	31%	Exceeds Expectations	1,018
#82	B-	Mt Washington Middle School	Mount Washington	Bullitt County	42%	39%	Meets Expectations	484
#83	B-	Barren County Middle School	Glasgow	Barren County	41%	28%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	652
#84	B-	Bernheim Middle School	Shepherdsville	Bullitt County	41%	32%	Exceeds Expectations	435
#85	B-	Clay County Middle School	Manchester	Clay County	41%	26%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	407
#86	B-	College View Middle School	Owensboro	Daviess County	41%	43%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	863
#87	B-	Gallatin County Middle School	Warsaw	Gallatin County	41%	29%	Exceeds Expectations	326
#88	B-	Glasgow Middle School	Glasgow	Glasgow Independent	41%	35%	Meets Expectations	539
#89	B-	Meyzeek Middle (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	41%	43%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	930
#90	B-	Rowan County Middle School	Morehead	Rowan County	41%	26%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	716
#91	B-	South Hopkins Middle School	Nortonville	Hopkins County	41%	27%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	365
#92	B-	Whitesburg Middle School	Whitesburg	Letcher County	41%	29%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	165
#93	B-	F T Burns Middle School	Owensboro	Daviess County	40%	40%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	710
#94	B-	John W Bate Middle School	Danville	Danville Independent	40%	28%	Exceeds Expectations	399
#95	C+	Adair County Middle School	Columbia	Adair County	40%	26%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	598
#96	C+	Franklin Simpson Middle School	Franklin	Simpson County	40%	33%	Meets Expectations	687
#97	C+	Stuart Pepper Middle School	Brandenburg	Meade County	40%	43%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	772
#98	C+	Western Middle School For The Arts (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	40%	43%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	650
#99	C+	Hancock County Middle School	Lewisport	Hancock County	39%	34%	Meets Expectations	333
#100	C+	Reidland Middle School	Paducah	McCracken County	39%	43%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	330
#101	C+	Taylor County Middle School	Campbellsville	Taylor County	39%	28%	Exceeds Expectations	601
#102	C+	Trigg County Middle School	Cadiz	Trigg County	39%	35%	Meets Expectations	440
#103	C+	Breckinridge County Middle School	Harned	Breckinridge County	38%	30%	Exceeds Expectations	553
#104	C+	Hazard Middle School	Hazard	Hazard Independent	38%	29%	Exceeds Expectations	295
#105	C+	Morgan County Middle School	West Liberty	Morgan County	38%	26%	Exceeds Expectations	413
#106	C+	Ockerman Middle School	Florence	Boone County	38%	39%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	653
#107	C+	Rockcastle County Middle School	Mount Vernon	Rockcastle County	38%	28%	Exceeds Expectations	578
#108	C+	Tates Creek Middle School	Lexington	Fayette County	38%	33%	Meets Expectations	769
#109	C	Kenneth D King Middle School	Harrodsburg	Mercer County	38%	41%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	610
#110	C	Monroe Co Middle	Tompkinsville	Monroe County	38%	30%	Exceeds Expectations	382
#111	C	Bardstown Middle School	Bardstown	Bardstown Independent	37%	44%	Underperforms Expectations	575
#112	C	East Jessamine Middle School	Nicholasville	Jessamine County	37%	27%	Exceeds Expectations	936
#113	C	Georgetown Middle School	Georgetown	Scott County	37%	28%	Exceeds Expectations	636
#114	C	James T Alton Middle School	Vine Grove	Hardin County	37%	34%	Meets Expectations	666
#115	C	Mckell Middle School	South Shore	Greenup County	37%	28%	Exceeds Expectations	361
#116	C	Robert D Campbell JR High	Winchester	Clark County	37%	32%	Meets Expectations	820
#117	C	Spencer County Middle School	Taylorsville	Spencer County	37%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	721
#118	C	West Carter Middle School	Olive Hill	Carter County	37%	42%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	366
#119	C	Highland Middle (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	36%	31%	Meets Expectations	801
#120	C	Jefferson County Traditional Middle (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	36%	34%	Meets Expectations	877
#121	C	South Marshall Middle	Benton	Marshall County	36%	31%	Meets Expectations	462
#122	C	Webster County Middle School	Dixon	Webster County	36%	30%	Meets Expectations	315
#123	C-	Berea Community Middle School	Berea	Berea Independent	36%	29%	Meets Expectations	230
#124	C-	Caverna Middle School	Horse Cave	Caverna Independent	36%	23%	Exceeds Expectations	129
#125	C-	Estill County Middle School	Irvine	Estill County	36%	25%	Exceeds Expectations	446
#126	C-	Green County Middle School	Greensburg	Green County	36%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	377
#127	C-	Hebron Middle School	Shepherdsville	Bullitt County	36%	43%	Underperforms Expectations	536
#128	C-	Kammerer Middle	Louisville	Jefferson County	36%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	720
#129	C-	Martin County Middle School	Warfield	Martin County	36%	24%	Exceeds Expectations	260
#130	C-	Paducah Middle School	Paducah	Paducah Independent	36%	31%	Meets Expectations	652
#131	C-	Ashland Middle School	Ashland	Ashland Independent	35%	30%	Meets Expectations	687
#132	C-	Bath County Middle School	Owingsville	Bath County	35%	24%	Exceeds Expectations	416
#133	C-	Bluegrass Middle School	Elizabethtown	Hardin County	35%	33%	Meets Expectations	578
#134	C-	Butler County Middle School	Morgantown	Butler County	35%	28%	Meets Expectations	454
#135	C-	Christian County Middle School	Hopkinsville	Christian County	35%	23%	Exceeds Expectations	650
#136	C-	Elkhorn Middle School	Frankfort	Franklin County	35%	40%	Underperforms Expectations	737
#137	C-	Fulton County Middle School	Hickman	Fulton County	35%	23%	Exceeds Expectations	134
#138	C-	Garrard Middle School	Lancaster	Garrard County	35%	30%	Meets Expectations	563
#139	C-	Metcalfe County Middle School	Edmonton	Metcalfe County	35%	44%	Underperforms Expectations	367
#140	C-	Cumberland County Middle School	Burkesville	Cumberland County	34%	29%	Meets Expectations	206
#141	D+	Boyd County Middle School	Ashland	Boyd County	34%	31%	Meets Expectations	620
#142	D+	Bryan Station Middle School (Magnet)	Lexington	Fayette County	34%	24%	Exceeds Expectations	815
#143	D+	Campbellsville Middle School	Campbellsville	Campbellsville Independent	34%	30%	Meets Expectations	311
#144	D+	Middlesboro Middle School	Middlesboro	Middlesboro Independent	34%	24%	Exceeds Expectations	281
#145	D+	Simons Middle School	Flemingsburg	Fleming County	34%	30%	Meets Expectations	325
#146	D+	East Carter Middle School	Grayson	Carter County	33%	44%	Underperforms Expectations	505
#147	D+	Lincoln County Middle School	Stanford	Lincoln County	33%	25%	Exceeds Expectations	745
#148	D+	Louisa Middle School	Louisa	Lawrence County	33%	28%	Meets Expectations	457
#149	D+	Westport Middle (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	33%	23%	Exceeds Expectations	1,177
#150	D+	Grant County Middle School	Dry Ridge	Grant County	32%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	807
#151	D+	Hopkinsville Middle School	Hopkinsville	Christian County	32%	25%	Meets Expectations	549
#152	D+	James E Bazzell Middle School	Scottsville	Allen County	32%	35%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	472
#153	D+	Lewis County Middle School	Vanceburg	Lewis County	32%	36%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	299
#154	D+	Russellville Middle School	Russellville	Russellville Independent	32%	34%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	237
#155	D+	Shelby County East Middle School	Shelbyville	Shelby County	32%	46%	Underperforms Expectations	552
#156	D+	Warren East Middle School	Bowling Green	Warren County	32%	29%	Meets Expectations	487
#157	D	Muhlenberg North Middle	Greenville	Muhlenberg County	32%	37%	Underperforms Expectations	507
#158	D	Browning Springs Middle School	Madisonville	Hopkins County	31%	24%	Meets Expectations	499
#159	D	Clinton County Middle School	Albany	Clinton County	31%	25%	Meets Expectations	444
#160	D	Crawford Middle School	Lexington	Fayette County	31%	20%	Exceeds Expectations	751
#161	D	Harrison County Middle School	Cynthiana	Harrison County	31%	38%	Underperforms Expectations	607
#162	D	Livingston County Middle School	Burna	Livingston County	31%	51%	Underperforms Expectations	252
#163	D	Mccreary County Middle School	Stearns	McCreary County	31%	36%	Underperforms Expectations	605
#164	D	Wayne County Middle School	Monticello	Wayne County	31%	26%	Meets Expectations	679
#165	D	Wurtland Middle School	Wurtland	Greenup County	31%	36%	Underperforms Expectations	250
#166	D	Bloomfield Middle School	Bloomfield	Nelson County	30%	36%	Underperforms Expectations	352
#167	D	Bondurant Middle School	Frankfort	Franklin County	30%	34%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	643
#168	D	Bourbon County Middle School	Paris	Bourbon County	30%	28%	Meets Expectations	593
#169	D	James D Adams Middle School	Prestonsburg	Floyd County	29%	24%	Meets Expectations	312
#170	D	Phillip Sharp Middle School	Butler	Pendleton County	29%	27%	Meets Expectations	497
#171	D	Jackson County Middle School	Mckee	Jackson County	28%	21%	Meets Expectations	401
#172	D	Old Kentucky Home Middle School	Bardstown	Nelson County	28%	35%	Underperforms Expectations	368
#173	D	Tichenor Middle School	Erlanger	Erlanger-Elsmere Independent	28%	27%	Meets Expectations	539
#174	D-	North Middle School	Radcliff	Hardin County	28%	31%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	578
#175	D-	Paris Middle School	Paris	Paris Independent	28%	26%	Meets Expectations	146
#176	D-	Winburn Middle School	Lexington	Fayette County	28%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	800
#177	D-	Carrithers Middle	Louisville	Jefferson County	27%	20%	Meets Expectations	583
#178	D-	Casey County Middle School	Liberty	Casey County	27%	26%	Meets Expectations	513
#179	D-	Ramsey Middle	Louisville	Jefferson County	27%	26%	Meets Expectations	1,008
#180	D-	Owensboro Middle School	Owensboro	Owensboro Independent	26%	34%	Underperforms Expectations	807
#181	D-	Farnsley Middle (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	25%	20%	Meets Expectations	1,038
#182	D-	Herald Whitaker Middle School	Salyersville	Magoffin County	25%	25%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	250
#183	D-	Lexington Trad Magnet School (Magnet)	Lexington	Fayette County	25%	13%	Exceeds Expectations	296
#184	D-	Mason County Middle School	Maysville	Mason County	25%	27%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	585
#185	D-	Rector A Jones Middle School	Florence	Boone County	25%	20%	Meets Expectations	679
#186	D-	Bullitt Lick Middle School	Shepherdsville	Bullitt County	24%	27%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	461
#187	D-	Shelby County West Middle School	Shelbyville	Shelby County	24%	37%	Underperforms Expectations	600
#188	F	Marion County Knight Academy	Lebanon	Marion County	41%	43%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	541
#189	F	Newburg Middle (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	24%	19%	Meets Expectations	941
#190	F	Todd County Middle School	Elkton	Todd County	24%	35%	Underperforms Expectations	392
#191	F	Elliott County Middle School	Sandy Hook	Elliott County	23%	26%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	236
#192	F	Henry F Moss Middle School	Bowling Green	Warren County	23%	23%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	566
#193	F	Holmes Middle School	Covington	Covington Independent	23%	18%	Meets Expectations	656
#194	F	Maurice Bowling Middle School	Owenton	Owen County	23%	41%	Underperforms Expectations	484
#195	F	Carroll County Middle School	Carrollton	Carroll County	22%	28%	Underperforms Expectations	590
#196	F	Powell County Middle School	Stanton	Powell County	22%	24%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	462
#197	F	Union County Middle School	Morganfield	Union County	21%	28%	Underperforms Expectations	437
#198	F	Knight Middle	Louisville	Jefferson County	20%	18%	Meets Expectations	452
#199	F	Lassiter Middle	Louisville	Jefferson County	20%	19%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,004
#200	F	Zoneton Middle School	Shepherdsville	Bullitt County	20%	27%	Underperforms Expectations	354
#201	F	Stuart Academy	Louisville	Jefferson County	15%	17%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,105
#202	F	Frederick Law Olmsted Academy North (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	14%	11%	Meets Expectations	510
#203	F	Johnson Traditional Middle (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	14%	14%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	742
#204	F	Thomas Jefferson Middle (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	14%	14%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	892
#205	F	Conway Middle	Louisville	Jefferson County	11%	14%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	730
#206	F	Frederick Law Olmsted Academy South (Magnet)	Louisville	Jefferson County	11%	13%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	578

How Kentucky's middle schools compare

A: 46B: 48C: 46D: 47F: 19

46% of the 206 ranked middle schools in Kentucky earn an A or B (46 A grades, 48 B, 46 C, 47 D, 19 F), against 46% of middle schools nationwide. 146 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (71% here, 70% nationally), and 84 exceed it. On average 39% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 34% (national averages: 45% actual, 38% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Carlisle County Middle School (55% against 28%, A), Farristown Middle School (59% against 35%, A+), Whitley County Middle School (54% against 30%, A), Knox County Middle School (52% against 28%, A-), Fleming Neon Middle School (49% against 25%, A-).

Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 52): Fayette County (4), Oldham County (4), Madison County (4), Boone County (3).

Cities with the most ranked middle schools: Louisville (20, 3 at A or B), Lexington (11, 6 at A or B), Bowling Green (5, 3 at A or B), Owensboro (5, 4 at A or B), Shepherdsville (4, 1 at A or B).

The largest ranked middle schools: Noe Middle (1,347 students, A+, #15), Campbell County Middle School (1,184 students, B, #77), Westport Middle (1,177 students, D+, #149).

Of the top 25, 1 is a magnet school and 0 are charters. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.

Middle schools in Kentucky that are not ranked

4 graded middle schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.

Not yet graded (4)

Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.

Barnabus Home Middle School, Annville
Bluegrass Discovery Academy Middle, Morehead
Muhlenberg South Middle School, Greenville
Williamstown JR High, Williamstown

About this ranking

Scope: every public middle school in Kentucky.
Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the middle schools.
Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works

Questions about middle schools in Kentucky

What is the best middle school in Kentucky?

Edythe Jones Hayes Middle School in Lexington ranks first among the 206 ranked middle schools in Kentucky with a SchoolGrade of A+, 62% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 49%.

How are middle schools in Kentucky ranked?

By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.

How many middle schools does Kentucky have?

SchoolGrade grades 210 public middle schools in Kentucky; 206 are ranked here and 4 are listed as not ranked.