FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Department of Education released its 2022 School Report Card data from the 2021-22 academic year. More than 383,000 students participated in the standardized testing in the spring of 2022. 

What You Need To Know

  • The state now uses a color-coded system to rank schools, as opposed to the previous star method

  • Federal classifications are back this year for the first time since the pandemic began

  • Overall, school performance fell right down the middle in the "yellow" category

  • School ratings varied by student demographics

What is different this year?

This year's report card provides the first full look at how students, schools and districts fare post-pandemic, as federally required school accountability labels are back for the first time since the pandemic began.

The state previously used a star method ranking schools from one to five stars. That has now changed. In this latest report, the state used a new color-coded ranking system ranging from red (lowest) to blue (highest). 

What are the key findings in terms of school ratings?

Using scores from the standardized tests taken in the spring of 2022, the state categorized overall school performance. 

A majority of schools fell right down in the middle in the yellow category. About 5% of schools in the state fell in the worst ranking, the red category. A little under 8% of schools got the highest, the blue category.

When you isolate overall performance per student group, though, it does not all fall down the middle. Certain groups fared better than others, and it also varied based on elementary, middle and high school scores.

 

How many schools now fall under federal classifications?

Out of 1,267 schools, 1,016 are labeled Title I schools. Title I is designated to schools in which children from low-income families make up at least 40% of enrollment. These schools are eligible to use Title I funds to operate schoolwide programs that serve all kids in the school.

 

There are 51 Comprehensive Support and Improvement schools. This means the school fell in the bottom 5%, or its graduation rate is under 80%. 

There are 403 Targeted Support and Improvement schools. This means at least one group of students there is performing at the same level as those in the bottom 5%. About 32% of schools in the state are now under this federal classification. 

KDE did not identify any new ATSI schools this fall, but there are still four ATSI schools that were identified prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, as those schools did not meet the established exit criteria.

How did KDE respond?

“As expected, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on our students, and our schools as they continue to recover from the interrupted learning that occurred over the past two years,” said KDE Commissioner Dr. Jason Glass. “These assessment results will serve as the baseline from which we will move forward as we look to new and innovative learning opportunities for all of Kentucky’s students.”

Glass said Kentucky’s results are in line with what other states are experiencing.

“There will be no quick fix for the challenges our students endured during the pandemic. It will take time and resources,” said Glass.

Kentucky has received more than $2 million in federal funding through the American Rescue Plan to help accelerate learning and get additional support to districts and students who need it most. 

“It’s important for all of us to use this data responsibly to help inform parents and families about their students’ schools and to allow local leaders to target resources to communities and schools that need them most,” said Glass.

Where can I find out how my child’s school fared?

You can go to this online portal for more information about state-, district- and school-level data. If you want to know how your child specifically did, talk to their teacher to find out where you can get that information.

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