Choosing a school? Youāve got options.
If you live in Kentucky and face a K-12 education decision for your child, this post is for you. Where you send your child to school impacts whether they are inspired, happy, and equipped for success (no pressure, right?). You may have more school options than you realize! This post will breakdown the types of school choice available to you in Kentucky, as well as provide additional education resources.
In Kentucky, you can choose fromĀ traditional public schools,Ā public magnet schools,Ā private schools,Ā online learning,Ā homeschooling, andĀ microschooling and mix-and-match learning.
One factor that families consider when choosing a school is transportation. In Kentucky, transportation is available for students who attend their assigned public school, transfer between two public schools that have a tuition agreement in place, or have transportation services in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Transportation may be available for other types of schools – for more information visit our transportation guide.
Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in Kentucky at theĀ Ultimate Guide to Special Education.
Widely
Available
Traditional Public Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Homeschooling
Microschooling
Partially
Available
Public School Transfers
Online Learning
Not
Available
Public Charter Schools
State Choice Funding
Widely
Available
Traditional Public Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Homeschooling
Microschooling
Partially
Available
Public School Transfers
Online Learning
Not
Available
Public Charter Schools
State Choice Funding
Download the School Choice Snapshot for Kentucky
Click a School Type to See Your Options
Traditional Public School
Free public school based on your address or zone
Public Charter School
Free public schools open to all students run by an independent board of directors
Homeschool
School that takes place in your own home
Online Learning
Schools where students attend virtually, can be free public or private schools
Microschool
School that takes place with a small group of students
Kentucky Traditional Public Schools
Most children (79.3%) in Kentucky attend traditional public schools. Traditional public schools are free to attend, open to all students, operated by schoolĀ districts, and funded by taxpayers like you. On average, Kentucky spendsĀ $12,126Ā per public school student each year.
Kentucky has more thanĀ 170Ā public school districts and flexibleĀ open enrollment for public school. What this means is that in many cases you can choose to send your child to a public school in your district other than the one you have been assigned. Additionally,Ā all Kentucky families are able to apply to public schools inĀ otherĀ districts. The receiving district can set capacity limits, but must otherwise have a policy allowing for admission of non-resident students. If you would like to participate in open enrollment, contact your local district to learn more. In some cases, receiving districts in KentuckyĀ charge feesĀ for out-of-district students.
Open enrollment is a valuable school choice. Just remember to ask the deadline and application process for any public school district you are interested in transferring into. For example, open enrollment inĀ Fayette County Public SchoolsĀ usually takes place after spring break each year. Additionally, keep in mind that high school students who transfer may be required to wait a year before participating in athletics at their new school.
Find out more about public schools in your state atĀ Kentuckyās Department of Education.Ā If you live in Jefferson County, the largest school district in Kentucky, note that theĀ districtās assignment plan has dramatically changed for the 2024-2025 school year. āChoice zonesā have been established to give families more options near their homes and expand magnet offerings.
Kentucky Charter Schools
Currently, there are no charter schools in Kentucky becauseĀ permanent funding for chartersĀ was not approved until spring 2022. AlthoughĀ funding measures were approved, in December 2023,Ā the bill was considered unconstitutional.
Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that have the freedom to innovate while being held accountable for student achievement. Each school has a charter which explains the schoolās purpose and what specific community need it serves, whether that be providing aĀ language immersion programĀ or offering a rigorous, literacy-based curriculum. If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system is usually used to determine admittance.
You can learn more at theĀ Kentucky Department of Education.
Kentucky Magnet Schools
Magnet schools are free public schools that allow kids to focus on specific themes, like science or the performing arts. Kentucky has a variety of magnet schools and programs spread throughout the state servingĀ 6.6% of the K-12 student population, including inĀ Mason County School District,Ā Fayette County Public SchoolsĀ andĀ Jefferson County Public Schools.Ā Fayette County Public Schools, for instance, describes how it has magnet schools with these focuses: āBiomedical sciences (Frederick Douglass High School); International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (Tates Creek High School); traditional programs (LTMS); individually prescribed education (Dixie); Spanish immersion (Maxwell and Bryan Station middle and high); science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM Academy and Rise STEM Academy for Girls); and curriculum taught through the lens of African-American history and culture (Carter G. Woodson academies).ā
Kentucky Private Schools
Families in Kentucky can also consider private schools, nonpublic schools that charge tuition. In Kentucky,Ā 8.9% of all K-12 studentsĀ are enrolled in private. Private schools may offer a uniqueĀ curriculum, smaller class sizes, or a faith-based tradition. Kentuckyās more thanĀ 380Ā private schools come in all shapes and forms, from religious schools to schools designed for children with special needs.Ā The average tuition for private schools in the stateĀ isĀ $7,221Ā for elementary schools andĀ $8,078Ā for high schools.
In 2021, KentuckyĀ created a unique private school choice program.Ā Through it, low-income families would be eligible for flexible funding to use at a public or private school of their choosing. This program, the nationās first education savings account program funded by tax-credit donations, wasĀ ruled unconstitutional in 2022. However, other privately funded scholarships may be available.
Learn more atĀ EdChoice KY,Ā theĀ Catholic Conference of Kentucky, andĀ Private School Review: Kentucky.
Kentucky Online Learning
Whether your child wants to accelerate his or her learning or needs a quieter environment in which to focus, you may be interested in giving virtual school a try. Kentucky currently has one free state-wide online school,Ā Kentucky Virtual Academy, available for grades K-12.
Part-time or full-time courses may also be available at a cost via Barren Academy of Virtual and Expanded Learning (BAVEL),Ā The Corbin School of Innovation, orĀ Jefferson County Public Schools eSchool.Ā In some cases, schools may cover costs for a studentās online courses.Ā More information on these paid options is available on theĀ Kentucky Department of Education website.
There are also several in-district online learning programs, some of which are open to students from other districts. These include Hardin County Schools Online Academy,Ā Success Academyās Virtual Learning Center, We Lead CS Virtual Academy, Christian County Public Schools Virtual Learning Academy,Ā Kenton County School District Virtual Learning Program,Ā Jessamine County Virtual Learning Academy, andĀ Bullitt Virtual Learning Academy.
Plus, there are private, full-time online schools that are available for a fee in all 50 states, such asĀ George Washington University Online High School,Ā The Keystone School,Ā Excel High School, andĀ K12 Private Academy.
To read more about online learning in Kentucky, check out theĀ Digital Learning Collaborativeās state profile.
Kentucky Homeschooling
Homeschooling is another school option; it is the process of parents educating students at home. Families in all 50 states can homeschool. As technology and school choices have spread in Kentucky, homeschooling is an increasingly popular choice with more support than ever. In Kentucky,Ā 5.2% of all K-12 students are homeschooled.
Homeschooling Requirements:
Notice of your intent to homeschool is required annually within two weeks of the school year beginning or ten days prior to starting if you are starting mid-year. This notification should be sent to the superintendent of the local school board. It is recommended that you formally withdraw from your public school so your student is not marked truant. Kentucky homeschool parents are required to keep attendance reports and report cards. (Note that since there isnāt a homeschool statute in Kentucky; homeschool families technically operate under the private school statute.)
If you choose to homeschool, you are required toĀ teach specific subjects (like reading, writing, math, and history) but specific standardized tests are not required. In general, children who are homeschooled may face roadblocks if they want to participate in public school sports or activities in Kentucky. However, you can always look for other leagues or co-ops near you!
Homeschool parents are required to report basic information such as names and ages of students, but local school districts are never allowed toĀ demand information that is not legally required.Ā You can find a greatĀ how-to at the Home School Legal Defense Association about homeschooling in Kentucky.Ā Ā You may also wish to check outĀ Christian Home Educators of Kentucky.
Kentucky Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning
Today, many Kentucky families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education.Ā MicroschoolsĀ are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group ā with adult supervision ā to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.
Examples of microschools and related resources in Kentucky:
- Wilmore Crossing AcademyĀ is a microschool with intentionally small class sizes that are often held outdoors.
- Sphinx AcademyĀ is a full-time microschool in Lexington for gifted and talented highschoolers.
Remember, microschooling is more a mentality than a specific legal distinction in most cases. Often, a family participates in a microschool while legally homeschooling, or being enrolled in a private or online school.
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