There were 1,663 ninth grade students enrolled in Hardin County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 4.6% fewer than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Central Hardin High School welcomed most of the ninth grade students in the county, registering 538 students.
Within Hardin County schools, enrollment was highest in ninth grade and lowest in preschool.
Statewide, Hardin County ranked sixth in total enrollment. It held the same ranking the previous year.
Kentucky schools face funding gaps as state support is 24% below 2008 levels after accounting for inflation. According to a report from KY Policy, the average teacher salaries are 19.8% lower than in 2008, when adjusted for inflation, while transportation funding covers just 82% of the required amount. The gap between wealthy and poor districts has widened to $4,247 per student, and several districts report deficits, including $16 million in Fayette County and $3.9 million in Newport.
| School | # of 9th Grade Students Enrolled | % of Student Body | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Hardin High School | 538 | 27.5% | 1,958 |
| North Hardin High School | 458 | 26.2% | 1,745 |
| John Hardin High School | 218 | 23.6% | 924 |
| Elizabethtown High School | 202 | 24.8% | 813 |
| Lincoln Trail Behavioral Health Systems | 103 | 17.4% | 591 |
| College View Campus | 74 | 13.1% | 563 |
| 39 | 17.3% | 226 | |
| Valley View Education Center | 14 | 17.3% | 81 |
| Glen Dale Center | 11 | 32.4% | 34 |
| Hardin County Day Treatment Center | 6 | 23.1% | 26 |
Information in this article was obtained from the Kentucky Department of Education. The source data can be found here.