Our Affiliated Project: Hindman Elementary School in Hindman, Kentucky

 

facts about Hindman Elementary School:

  • Average Enrollment: 475 students
  • Facility description: The school building houses 22 classrooms, a combined cafeteria and auditorium, workshops, a computer lab, two special education classrooms, a speech room, a reading recovery room, three storage outbuildings and a moderately sized playground.
  • School curriculum: Based on the KY Program of Studies and the KY Core Content. To view the school’s state report card visit www.knott.k12.ky.us.
  • FRYSC: Our sponsorship program at Hindman Elementary School operates through the Family Resource Youth Services Center. “Working to strengthen families,” the FRYSC is an integral part of the school’s outreach to both its students and their families.
  • Academic schedule: The school year typically begins the first week of August and ends the second week of May. Normal holidays are observed.
  • Meals: Breakfast and lunch are provided every school day. Fifty-six percent of the students are enrolled on the Federal Free or Reduced-Price Meal program.
  • School activities: Unite Club, Beta Club, basketball, football, volleyball and cheerleading
  • Medical care: Students’ health is closely monitored. A nurse is on duty every day.

Hindman Elementary School is located in the Eastern Coal Field region of Knott County, Kentucky.  This region of the Bluegrass State is characterized by majestic mountains and quiet river valleys and has been home to generations of hardworking coal miners and close-knit families.  However, with the collapse of the coal industry (due to automation, cheaper foreign markets and a decline in demand), this region’s poverty and unemployment rates have skyrocketed.  Since first opening its doors to students in 1960, Hindman Elementary School’s enrollment has steadily declined, even after a recent consolidation with another local elementary school.

Students from a wide range of demographic and socioeconomic family situations — ranging from severely poverty-stricken to relatively affluent — currently attend Hindman Elementary.  The main challenge facing this school is providing assistance to underprivileged students who contend with the cycle of poverty and general lack of parental involvement.  Were it not for Hindman Elementary School, children of this community would have few opportunities to rise above the circumstances from which they come and reach for a brighter future.