Approximately 51% of public high school students in Kentucky are eligible for free lunch (2026).
The public high schools with the highest eligible for free lunch are listed below (where sufficient data available).
The public high school with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Kentucky is Childrens Crisis Stabilization Unit, Covington Adult High School, and Barnabus Home High School, among others each with 100% of students eligible.
Eligible for Free Lunch Range: 88%
100%
Avg. Eligible for Free Lunch: 96%
Public High Schools Eligible For Free Lunch in Kentucky (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Eligible for Free Lunch
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Barnabus Home High School
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 9-12
4500 Highway 30 W
Annville, KY 40402
(606) 364-2111
Annville, KY 40402
(606) 364-2111
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Calloway County Day Treatment
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-12
2003 College Farm Rd
Murray, KY 42071
(270) 762-7318
Murray, KY 42071
(270) 762-7318
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Childrens Crisis Stabilization Unit
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: K-12
501 Chestnut St
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 746-2200
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 746-2200
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Christian County Day Treatment
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-12
4001 Fort Campbell Blvd
Hopkinsville, KY 42240
(502) 764-2257
Hopkinsville, KY 42240
(502) 764-2257
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Covington Adult High School
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 9-12
212 Levassor Drive
Covington, KY 41014
(859) 292-5864
Covington, KY 41014
(859) 292-5864
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Glen Dale Center
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-12
1030 Commerce Dr
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 506-1215
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 506-1215
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Guardian Angel
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 1-12
75 Orphanage Road
Ft Mitchell, KY 41017
(859) 331-2040
Ft Mitchell, KY 41017
(859) 331-2040
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Hardin County Day Treatment Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-12
643 Westport Road
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 769-8800
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 769-8800
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: PK-12
3332 Newburg Road
Louisville, KY 40218
(502) 485-6054
Louisville, KY 40218
(502) 485-6054
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Lake Cumberland Youth Development Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 8-12
9000 Hwy 1546
Monticello, KY 42633
(606) 348-1482
Monticello, KY 42633
(606) 348-1482
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Letcher County Alternative Education Center
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 8-12
185 Circle Dr
Whitesburg, KY 41858
(606) 633-5559
Whitesburg, KY 41858
(606) 633-5559
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Mayfield Youth Development Center
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-12
3179 State Rt 45 S
Mayfield, KY 42066
(270) 247-9609
Mayfield, KY 42066
(270) 247-9609
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Otter Creek Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-12
1442 Old Bethel Church Rd
Monticello, KY 42633
(606) 343-0203
Monticello, KY 42633
(606) 343-0203
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Raceland-worthington Schools Campus A
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 7-12
1539 Greenup Ave
Ashland, KY 41101
(606) 836-7141
Ashland, KY 41101
(606) 836-7141
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 2-9
461 Fowler Lane
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 234-0591
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 234-0591
Rank: #1 - 161. - 16.
Warren Regional Juvenile Detention Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 6-12
1020 Kentucky St
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 746-7155
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 746-7155
Rank: #1717.
Owsley County High School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 97%
Grades: 6-12
177 Shepherd Lane
Booneville, KY 41314
(606) 593-5185
Booneville, KY 41314
(606) 593-5185
Rank: #1818.
Newport Regional School
Alternative School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 96%
Grades: 6-12
590 Columbia Street
Newport, KY 41071
(859) 292-6476
Newport, KY 41071
(859) 292-6476
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Family Care Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 95%
Grades: 9-12
1135 Harry Sykes Way
Lexington, KY 40504
(859) 288-4040
Lexington, KY 40504
(859) 288-4040
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50%)
Eligible for Free Lunch: 95%
Grades: 9-12
305 Park Avenue
Hazard, KY 41701
(606) 439-5888
Hazard, KY 41701
(606) 439-5888
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Transformational Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 95%
Grades: K-12
200 Home Road
Covington, KY 41011
(859) 581-7512
Covington, KY 41011
(859) 581-7512
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Warren County Day Treatment
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 95%
Grades: 7-12
877 Jackson Street
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 904-4131
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 904-4131
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Pike County Day Treatment
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 93%
Grades: 5-12
5279 North Mayo Trail
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 433-9250
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 433-9250
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Renaissance Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 93%
Grades: K-12
145 Randy Caudill Loop
Martin, KY 41649
(606) 285-3634
Martin, KY 41649
(606) 285-3634
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
The Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 92%
Grades: 6-12
400 Democrat Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 695-6720
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 695-6720
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
The Life Connection
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 92%
Grades: 4-12
81 Bud's Lake Road
Sonora, KY 42776
(270) 324-4956
Sonora, KY 42776
(270) 324-4956
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Dessie Scott School
Alternative School
(Reading: <50%)
Eligible for Free Lunch: 91%
Grades: K-12
5274 Ky 15 N
Campton, KY 41301
(606) 668-6006
Campton, KY 41301
(606) 668-6006
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Knox Appalachian School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 91%
Grades: 5-12
1909 Ky Hwy 3439
Barbourville, KY 40906
(606) 645-2842
Barbourville, KY 40906
(606) 645-2842
Rank: #29 - 3229. - 32.
Hopkins County Day Treatment
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 90%
Grades: 6-12
110 Sugg Street
Madisonville, KY 42431
(270) 825-6059
Madisonville, KY 42431
(270) 825-6059
Rank: #29 - 3229. - 32.
Horse Creek Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 90%
Grades: 3-12
239 Richmond Rd
Manchester, KY 40962
(606) 598-1601
Manchester, KY 40962
(606) 598-1601
Rank: #29 - 3229. - 32.
Northpoint Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 90%
Grades: 6-12
5279 North Mayo Trail
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 433-9254
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 433-9254
Rank: #29 - 3229. - 32.
St. Joseph Children's Home
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 90%
Grades: K-9
2823 Frankfort Ave
Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 893-0241
Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 893-0241
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
Boyd County Central School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 89%
Grades: 6-12
12001 Twin Ridge Road
Ashland, KY 41102
(606) 925-0400
Ashland, KY 41102
(606) 925-0400
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
Mary Jo And William Macdonald Maryhurst
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 89%
Grades: 6-12
1015 Dorsey Ln
Louisville, KY 40223
(502) 271-4577
Louisville, KY 40223
(502) 271-4577
Rank: #35 - 3935. - 39.
Bartlett Educational Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 88%
Grades: 6-12
305 Bartlett Ave
Erlanger, KY 41018
(859) 342-2460
Erlanger, KY 41018
(859) 342-2460
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kentucky average of public high schools students eligible for free lunch?
The Kentucky average of public high schools students eligible for free lunch is 51%% for 2026.
What are the public high schools with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Kentucky?
The best top-ranked public high schools in Kentucky include Barnabus Home High School, Calloway County Day Treatment and Childrens Crisis Stabilization Unit.
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.