Kentucky Schools Release 2024-2025 Performance Ratings

The Kentucky Department of Education published its 2024-2025 Assessment and Accountability results, revealing the academic performance of public school districts across the state. This report marks the third full year of Kentucky’s new accountability system, established in 2020, which evaluates student performance in various subjects and provides overall indicators for schools and grade levels.

The report features two primary metrics: the status metric, which indicates current performance, and the change metric, which compares this year’s results to the previous year. The metrics are color-coded from red to blue, with red signifying a significant decline and blue indicating a significant improvement. Students in grades 3 through 8 and in grade 10 must take state tests, known as Summative Assessments, to determine their performance categories, with the top categories being proficient and distinguished.

Robbie Fletcher, Kentucky’s Commissioner of Education, emphasized the commitment to student success in a press release, stating, “At the heart of Kentucky’s accountability system is a commitment to students.” The state aims to elevate all students to a higher performance category, ideally reaching proficiency.

Despite statewide stability in kindergarten readiness scores, many districts in Northern Kentucky reported various trends. For instance, Southgate achieved a notable 71% readiness rate for incoming kindergarteners, credited to its focus on early childhood education. In contrast, the composite ACT scores for the state have generally declined, although some districts noted slight improvements.

Individual District Performance

The report details unique performances across districts. In Bellevue, overall metrics were low, but change metrics showed improvement, particularly in middle and high schools. Superintendent Misty Middleton highlighted the district’s growth, attributing it to a consistent curriculum planning system.

In Dayton, improvements were evident, with middle school ratings shifting from orange to yellow and high school from yellow to green. Superintendent Rick Wolff reported strong third-grade scores, which are critical indicators of future success. Meanwhile, Erlanger-Elsmere saw all elementary schools improve their ratings, with two achieving green status. Superintendent Chad Molley noted the district’s commitment to supporting the holistic needs of students.

Kenton County excelled with 14 out of 18 schools rated green or blue. This district reported high proficiency rates across grade levels, with the only exception being high school science, which met the state average. District officials expressed pride in their achievements and commitment to equitable learning experiences.

Conversely, Ludlow faced mixed results, with middle school ratings declining, although post-secondary readiness remained strong. Superintendent Jason Steffen acknowledged the positive aspects of the district’s spring testing results.

In Newport, overall ratings improved but were still among the lowest in the region. The district reported gains in reading and math scores at the middle and high school levels, along with improved graduation rates. Acting Superintendent Matt Atkins expressed optimism about the progress made, while acknowledging that challenges remain.

Finally, Walton-Verona stood out with consistently high ratings, never falling below a yellow metric. Superintendent Matt Baker highlighted the increase in proficient and distinguished students across the majority of assessments.

Families interested in the detailed performance of individual districts can access more specific data on demographic breakdowns and trends through the Kentucky Department of Education’s dashboard at reportcard.kyschools.us.

This comprehensive assessment underscores the ongoing efforts in Kentucky to ensure that students are well-prepared for their futures, reflecting both achievements and areas needing attention.