This is a list of school districts in Kentucky, which has two types of public school districts. The first type, county school districts, typically cover all or a large part of a county, and are generally styled "XXXX County (Public) Schools." The second type, "independent" districts, usually encompass cities or groups of cities. These have several different styles, but with one detail in common—"County" is nowhere to be found in the district name. All independent districts operate within a single county, with the following exceptions:[1]
All county districts operate schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. Most independent districts also do so; however, four do not operate high schools. These districts have agreements in place with one or more nearby school districts to allow their students to attend high schools in the other district(s). If a district does not operate high schools, the district(s) that its students will go to at that level will be noted below it.
All school districts organized under Kentucky law are independent governments. There are no public school systems under Kentucky law dependent on another layer of government like a county government or a municipal government.[2]
The Southgate district does not operate a high school. It has reciprocal agreements with most, if not all, other districts within Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties to allow Southgate students to attend high school in those districts. According to a 2015 report by the Legislative Research Commission, the research arm of the Kentucky General Assembly, most Southgate high school students in the 2013–14 school year attended Highlands High School in the Fort Thomas district, with a large minority attending Newport High School in that city's district. Six other Southgate students were attending high school in five other districts.[3]
The Anchorage district does not operate a high school. It has reciprocal agreements with both Jefferson County Public Schools and Oldham County Schools that allow Anchorage students to apply for admission to any high school in either district.[3]
The East Bernstadt district does not operate a high school. It has a reciprocal agreement with Laurel County Public Schools that allows East Bernstadt students to attend either of the Laurel County district's two high schools.[3]
The Science Hill district does not operate a high school. It has reciprocal agreements with the Pulaski County and Somerset districts that allow Science Hill students to attend high school in either district. According to the aforementioned Legislative Research Commission report, almost all Science Hill students choose to attend the Somerset district's high school.[3]
^While a tiny part of Shelby County is served by the Eminence district, otherwise in Henry County, said area is so small that Shelby County for all practical purposes has a single district.
