LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fayette County Superintendent Demetrius Liggins said over the last few years students have outperformed the national average in areas like reading and math.

Wednesday was the first day of classes in Fayette County and the district is focusing on three goals to ensure progress continues throughout the year.

“Implementing what I call our triple A’s, which is achievement, attendance, and advanced coursework, and basically, it boils down to those three things if we’re going to be successful,” Liggins said. 

This year, all but nine Fayette County schools will have free school lunches through the Community Eligibility Program. Regardless of their family’s income, each student has a 100% free lunch. FCPS is one school system that has a direct federal certification.

With purple pom-poms and claps from the crowd, men in the community stood outside of the school as students entered, wishing them well and a successful school year.

Carter G. Woodson Academy is an all-boys school STEM school for sixth through 12th graders. Three different pathways for students to pursue are offered, including agriculture, cinema and photography and engineering.

“I feel more refreshed this year. I feel like we’re more in our element. We’re creating systems to raise our instructional levels in the classrooms and have the scholars do more inquiry-based learning. They’re ready.” Cozart explained. “The teachers are ready. They’ve had time to prepare. They have some great units ready. We have new curriculums in place.”

Cozart says this year the school is focusing on themes like “justice is a mindset” and building students up for future roles in community leadership.