FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Department of Education released its 2023-2024 Assessment and Accountability Results, which measures school and student performance throughout the state’s districts.

What You Need To Know

  • The Kentucky Department of Education released its 2023-24 Assessment and Accountability Results

  • The report shows some improvements in reading and math compared to last year

  • Science is an area of concern, with scores falling in elementary, middle and high school

  • The teacher shortage and chronic absenteeism are two issues KDE said have contributed to lower overall performance

While more than half of Kentucky students are still not proficient in math and reading, the report showed some improvements from last year.

Middle school students performed better in math this year compared to 2023. In 2024, 39% performed at proficient/distinguished levels, compared to 37% in 2023. High schoolers improved in both math and reading; in 2024, 35% performed at proficient/distinguished levels in math, compared to 33% in 2023, while 45% performed at proficient/distinguished levels in reading compared to 44% in 2023. 

Elementary schools had the highest performance levels in both subjects but remained the same as last year, with 42% performing at a proficient/distinguished level in math and 47% performing at a proficient/distinguished level in reading. 

 

“In all transparency, there’s still a lot of work to be done,” said Robbie Fletcher, KDE commissioner. “We understand that. We want to make sure that ... every single student has every single opportunity to perform at their best.”

Fletcher said his office is working with lawmakers to improve reading and math skills.

“There’s a collaboration among (the) Kentucky Department of Education, along with our legislators, to move forward legislation that would improve instruction within our classrooms,” Fletcher said. “We’re thankful for that partnership.”

The report card data shows science is an area of concern. Student scores in elementary, middle and high school fell from 2024 to 2023 with drops of 35% to 34%, 23% to 22% and 10% to 6%, respectively. 

“We need to reevaluate what’s going on in the science classroom, but also, what does our assessment look like?” Fletcher said. “One of the big areas is science and how do we move forward with the team of saying, ‘Where are we and what can we do to improve?’”

The challenge of finding qualified science instructors is one factor Fletcher said could be leading to lower scores.

“I’ve talked to several superintendents that have gone more than a year without a chemistry teacher; they’ve tried to partner with other districts so they can share a chemistry teacher, maybe virtually or other areas," Fletcher said. "They’re trying to be creative in how they offer those courses." 

A teacher shortage across Kentucky is affecting overall performance. KDE also pointed to chronic absenteeism as another factor, which has been a persistent issue since the COVID-19 pandemic. Chronic absenteeism is defined as when a student misses 10% or more of the enrolled academic year. 

“When you’re not in school, you’re not in class," Fletcher said. "We miss you. You’re missing out on not only learning, but you’re missing out on relationships.”

In both 2023 and 2024, about 30% of Kentucky students were chronically absent each year, according to KDE. The department has run an awareness campaign on this issue, putting up billboards and creating posters schools can hang up. 

Individual school performances can be found online. 

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