LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Department of Education released data outlining performance for the 2022-2023 school year for all schools. For Jefferson County Public Schools, the report reveals students falling behind but also shows wide disparities for those who are economically disadvantaged and those who are not.

What You Need To Know

  • The Kentucky Department of Education released the report card on all schools in the state

  • The report outlines school performance for the 2022-2023 school year 

  • Education disparities, school safety perceptions and pandemic learning are a few main topics highlighted 

  • The data reports graduation rates continue to increase while middle and high school overall performance is low

Education disparities, school safety perceptions and pandemic learning are a few of the key factors in the 2022- 2023 JCPS report card. 

The 2023 report ranked JCPS elementary schools collectively in the yellow or middle category. High schools and middle schools collectively came in orange, which is the second to worst category. 

Because of the changes to the testing method and classifications, scores can not be directly compared to pre-pandemic school report cards. 

Overall, many JCPS students are not at grade level expectations for math, but there is a major difference in performance between students who are economically disadvantaged and those who are not. 

For example, only 22% of elementary students who are economically disadvantaged scored proficient or distinguished in math, compared to 56% for students who are not economically disadvantaged. 

“Many students have continued to either struggle or be behind. As a result, districts have been working hard to catch students up,” explained JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio. “And so, you know, there are so many things to look at when you look at these test scores. But I think it’s important, you know, having said all that and not minimizing test scores, but also saying that there’s a lot of other important indicators we have a lot to celebrate in our scores this year.”

While only 25% of elementary students scored as English proficient in the 2021-2022 school year, nearly 50% of the students scored proficient in the 2022-2023 school year.

Pollio added, “We want to continue to see is that continued growth and improvement in literacy and numeracy, and especially amongst our students of color, we want to see that gap reduced and not reduced because students are going backwards, but because we have students that are accelerating their learning.”

Pollio says graduation rate continues to increase. 

“Our graduation rates are at an all-time high right now, once again, 87%. We have a graduation rate for Black students that is an all-time high as well,” Pollio said. 

The data also reported nine JCPS schools that were in the bottom 5% statewide for state assessment scores are now above the bottom 5% range.

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