LOUISVILLE, Ky. — According to a new study from Stanford and Harvard universities, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is leading the way in academic recovery as schools nationwide work to get students caught up to pre-pandemic levels. 

Specifically, Harvard and Stanford's Education Report Card reveals JCPS is ahead of the national average in recovery in reading and math.

The district also highlighted its Black students for their recent success in fully recovering from reading losses during the pandemic. Superintendent Marty Pollio said he credits the district's success in investing its federal funding on technology, staff and student support and extended learning opportunities. 

One of its most successful schools is Alex R. Kennedy Elementary School, where principal Patrick Siviori said its success is rooted in in-person learning. 

"Ever since we received those [Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief] funds, I've spent every penny on adults, on human resources because I knew it was vital to get humans, teachers back in front of [our] kids," Sivori said. 

The district's reading scores have increased by nearly a third of grade level in reading and nearly a quarter in math since 2022, but Pollio said there's still work to be done. 

"This does not mean we are saying, ‘Let's wave the flag; we’ve won,'" Pollio said. "We've got a long way to go. We still have gaps that persist; we still want to increase our proficiency." 

Kentucky overall saw increases in reading and math scores. According to the Education Report Card, the Commonwealth's reading scores increased by more than a quarter of a grade level and math scores increased by less than a fifth of a grade level. Both are above the U.S. average.