The majority of students in Knox County’s school districts were white in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Of the 5,065 students attending schools in Knox County’s school districts, 94.6% were white. Multiracial students constituted the second-largest ethnic group in the county, accounting for 1.9%.
In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Knox County’s school districts, representing 94.5% of the student body.
Barbourville Independent School District had the most even distribution of races among county districts, which included 94.2% white students, 2.3% African American students, 1.7% multiracial students, 1.2% Hispanic or Latino students, 0.2% Asian students, and 0.1% American Indian or Alaska Native students.
In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in school districts in the county dropped to 2% compared to the previous year.
The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Knox County.
Despite ongoing efforts to address educational disparities, Kentucky’s achievement gaps persist. In the 2024 eighth-grade reading assessments, for example, Black students scored 24 points lower than their white peers, while Hispanic students were 19 points behind. In mathematics, the gaps were even more pronounced: Black students lagged by 29 points and Hispanic students by 19 points compared to white students. These disparities have remained relatively unchanged since 2000, highlighting the need for continued focus on equity in education.
| District | Most Prevalent | Percent of Total Student Body | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County School District | White | 94.7% | 4,255 |
| Barbourville Independent School District | White | 94.2% | 810 |
