Hickman County is home to the unique and award-winning Falcon Academy. The Falcon Academy, which began in 2009, allows high school students to take dual credit college classes while in the high school setting. Dual credit classes are coordinated through Murray State University and West Kentucky Community and Technical College.
The Falcon Academy is the only dual credit program that pays for every class for every student and has been since its inception in 2009. This is made possible through donations from the Four Rivers Scholarship Program and 64 individuals who give so graciously so that every student of Hickman County High School can graduate with enough dual credit hours to begin college as a Sophomore. This saves the parents and students an average of $15,000 – $20,000 over their college career.
The Falcon Academy has become the model for the state of Kentucky’s dual credit program. Not only has the Falcon Academy set the state standard by winning the prestigious Peak Award for the state of Kentucky, its greatest impact is how it is changing the lives of students in Hickman County. Students leaving the Academy upon graduation, have the soft skills and confidence in themselves to meet any challenge ahead.
In partnership with and in service to our community, the mission of the Hickman County School District is to prepare every student to be a successful individual. Our 762 students not only attend core content courses, but also have rich choices for additional opportunities.
Our staff members, certified and classified, all work toward sustaining a positive learning environment with high expectations for all students. Our faculty receives extensive professional development in the areas of differentiated instruction and recognition of diverse learning styles. Hickman County is constantly in the process of analyzing school culture, plus classroom and test data, in an effort to ensure excellence.
All curricula at Hickman County Schools are aligned to the Kentucky Program of Studies and Common Core Academic Standards. Various research-based assessment programs are used in classroom instruction. Comprehensive School and District Improvement plans are revised annually. Our purpose at Hickman County Schools is to ensure that every student receives an education based on high academic standards and gets the resources needed to attain success, regardless of socio-economic status, race or gender. Our system is an equal education and employment opportunities institution. We are fully compliant with Title IX and Title I standards, as well as in requirement of Individual Education Plans for special-needs students and Individual Graduation Plans.
Enrollment is approximately 762 students in pre-school through grade 12.
Hickman County, Kentucky is a part of the Purchase Area Development District. In 2015, universities in Purchase Area Development District PUMA, KY awarded 4,756 degrees. The student population of Purchase Area Development District PUMA, KY is skewed towards females, with 2,031 male students and 2,725 female students. Most students in Purchase Area Development District PUMA, KY are White (3,959 and 83.2%), followed by Black or African American (304 and 6.39%), Hispanic or Latino (106 and 2.23%), and Two or more races (53 and 1.11%).
The largest universities in Purchase Area Development District PUMA, KY by number of graduates are West Kentucky Community and Technical College (2,444 and 51.4%), and Murray State University (2,267 and 47.7%), The most popular majors in Purchase Area Development District PUMA, KY are Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (267 and 5.61%), Welding Technology (153 and 3.22%), and Medical Administrative Assistant (141 and 2.96%). The median tuition costs in Purchase Area Development District PUMA, KY are N/A for private four year colleges, and $7,296 and $21,576 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.
Murray State University’s Hutson School of Agriculture Campus is also being developed right here in Hickman County, which will sustain our future as one of the nations’ leading farm communities.