KY’s top middle school is in Lexington, according to US News & World Report
Lexington’s School for the Creative and Performing Arts at Bluegrass was named the top middle school in the state for 2026 by U.S. News & World Report.
Edythe Jones Hayes Middle School was ranked ninth.
U.S. News & World Report, a popular resource for education analysis and ratings, released the 2026 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings Tuesday.
Morton Middle School in Fayette County was ranked 21st.
SCAPA at Bluegrass houses grades 4 through 8 and was categorized as an elementary and middle school in the ranking. SCAPA is a gifted and talented school.
Among elementary schools in Kentucky, SCAPA at Bluegrass was fifth; Athens-Chilesburg Elementary was seventh and Rosa Parks Elementary was 16th.
The report includes about 47,000 public elementary schools and more than 23,000 middle schools that are ranked at the state and district levels. The 2026 rankings are based on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education.
“The 2026 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings highlight institutions that excel in fostering student achievement and providing exceptional learning environments for all,” LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News, said in a news release.
“These rankings offer communities and families valuable insights into schools dedicated to preparing students for future success.”
The methodology focuses on state assessments of students who were proficient or above proficient in mathematics and reading/language arts, while accounting for student background and achievement in core subjects.
Student-teacher ratios are applied to break ties in the overall score.
US News’ top 16 elementary schools in Kentucky in 2026
1. Greathouse/Shyrock Traditional, Jefferson County
2.. Anchorage Independent Public School, Anchorage Independent
3. Sublimity Elementary School, Laurel County
4. Murray Elementary, Murray Independent
5. SCAPA at Bluegrass, Fayette County.
6. Donald E. Cline Elementary School, Campbell County
7. Athens-Chilesburg Elementary School, Fayette County
8. Norton Elementary, Jefferson County
9. Farmington Elementary School, Graves County
10. Valley Elementary School, Pike County
11. Kyrock Elementary School, Edmondson County
12. Cold Hill Elementary School, Laurel County
13.. Perryville Elementary School, Boyle County
14. Bush Elementary School, Laurel County
15.. London Elementary School, Laurel County
16. Rosa Parks Elementary School, Fayette County
US News’ top 16 middle schools in Kentucky for 2026
(Middle grades are included in some high schools.)
1. SCAPA at Bluegrass, Fayette County
2. J. Graham Brown School, Jefferson County
3. Anchorage Independent Public School, Anchorage Independent
4. Pikeville High School, Pikeville Independent
5. Corbin Middle School, Corbin Independent
6. Beechwood High School, Beechwood Independent
7. East Bernstadt Elementary School, East Bernstadt Independent
8. Conner Middle School, Boone County
9. Edythe Jones Hayes Middle School, Fayette County
10. North Washington Elementary School, Washington County
11. Murray Middle School, Murray Independent
12. Gray Middle School, Boone County
13. Farristown Middle School, Madison County
14. Drakes Creek Middle School. Warren County
15. Valley Elementary School, Pike County
16. North Laurel Middle School, Laurel County