LEXINGTON, Ky. — Data published by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) shows Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) students outperform state averages.

What You Need To Know

  • 69% of schools were scored yellow (medium), green (high), or blue (very high) in the state's accountability ratings 

  • 40% reduction in schools identified for federal support and improvement 

  • Elementary and high school reading proficiency scores increased from 2022, middle school saw no change 

  • Elementary math proficiency scores rose 3% from last year, middle school students did not see an increase, high school math proficiency saw a 3% decrease 

Fayette County Public Schools continue to outperform other districts in the state on the state’s accountability rating system on the state’s report card. Thirty-eight FCPS schools received a medium, high or very high rating for 2023.

Of the 55 schools in FCPS eligible for the state’s color ranking system; three schools received a red or very low rating. 14 schools received an orange or low rating, 15 received a yellow or medium rating and 23 total schools received a high or very high rating, which was represented by the colors green and blue, respectively.

FCPS Superintendent Demetrus Liggins said while the state won’t compare color ratings from year to year, more FCPS schools moved up in ranking this year according to their data.

“The progress we are making is a testament of the hard work our teachers are doing for our students and the hard work our students are doing,” Liggins said.

FCPS also saw a 40% reduction in schools identified for federal support and improvement. Two schools no longer needing Comprehensive Support and Intervention (CSI) and 12 schools are no longer designated for Targeted Support and Intervention. Liggins said these designations do not mean a student is attending a bad school.

“We have in each of our schools the highest performing schools and lowest performing schools, students that are struggling and we have students that are thriving,” Liggins said.

A school qualifies for Targeted Support and Intervention because scores for individual student groups are below state averages. Comprehensive Support and Intervention is a school that has had three consecutive years of such data.

“We’re really ensuring that we’re just doubling down on the services that we’re providing in order to help those students not only learn the content but also learn the language simultaneously,” Liggins said.

FCPS data also shows students are outperforming their statewide peers in math and reading.

Elementary school reading scores increased 3% in FCPS from 2022 to 2023, and up 1% in high school.

 

Fewer improvements were made in math scores at FCPS. 46% of students in FCPS perform math at least a proficient level, up 3% from last year.

Middle school students saw no increase in performance from 2022 to 2023. Only 37% of FCPS high school students perform math proficiently, a 3% decrease from 2022.

 

Liggins said none of this data comes as a surprise. 

“We take data points throughout the school year and we’re not waiting on this data to intervene or to make any type of acceleration for our students or their learning,” Liggins said.

The Kentucky Department of Education says individual results will be sent in the mail later this fall. To view the KDE state report card, visit their website.

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