LOUISVILLE, Ky. — According to the Kentucky Department of Education’s School Report Card, elementary, middle and high schools overall rated orange, the midpoint of KDE’s color-coded ranking system.

But how did schools in Louisville fare?

District Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio got right down to brass tacks about the School Report Card data, saying that educators nationwide face the two biggest crises in the last 50 years. The pandemic—which Dr. Pollio said has greatly affected students—as well as the teacher shortage, which he says has been enormous across the nation.

Pollio said he hesitates to celebrate or mourn any of the data discussed. He’s dealt with test score ups and downs through the decades as an educator.

“We have some things that we are able to celebrate here, and obviously some things of concern that we will be dealing with for many years to come. As I’ve told our principals though, I’m not expecting any celebrations or parties as a result of test scores at certain schools, nor are we asking for that funeral-type atmosphere as well, because we know the challenges every school has faced throughout this process and quite candidly, last year was a challenge to have school every day,” Pollio said Monday.

In terms of how JCPS students are performing academically, for example, 26% of economically disadvantaged elementary school students tested and are accountable with proficient and distinguished scores. Compare that with 60% of non-economically disadvantaged students.

In elementary math, the report found 17% of those economically disadvantaged were proficient, versus 52% of those non-economically disadvantaged.

In terms of assessment performance in reading, 43% of 10th graders scored proficient distinguished compared to 45% of the state’s students.

That amounts to Kentucky’s highest designation.

Around 33% of 10th graders hit that mark in math, compared to 38% of students in the state.

The report even includes school safety data. It shows 15.9% of students had a “state reported behavior event” and 8.2% of students had out-of-school suspensions. Pollio says there’s work to be done there.

“Higher the poverty, the more challenges we have with attendance. Those are things that we have to overcome.” Pollio said. “We have nearly 70,000 children living in poverty in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2022. This isn’t just here, it’s city after city. We’ve got major issues as a nation we have to deal with.”

There are areas where JCPS scored high marks. The JCPS graduation rate is at an all-time high—above 80% for the first time.

Plus, Polio said the achievement gap is almost gone with graduation rates. The post-secondary readiness rate is at its highest ever, at 72%.

“The work continues. This is one snapshot. We are gonna continue the work and our schools are gonna continue to move our students.” Pollio added.

There is far more detailed information, data and topics for you to explore in the School Report Card.