LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Jefferson County Public Schools’ new Chief Academic Officer Angela Hosch said most students aren't on grade level and called for major changes across the district.
"At this point, it would be immoral to maintain the status quo," Hosch said.
"These are the floor of what students should be able to do at each grade level," Hosch said.
The state is taking notice. From 2024 to 2025, the number of JCPS schools identified among Kentucky’s lowest-performing increased by 116%.
"You can do the math — over 50% of our schools are below state performance," Hosch said.
A 2024 independent review by Cognia, a nonprofit that accredits and evaluates schools, found the district’s overall performance ranked in the second-lowest category in the state.
The report also concluded teaching isn't consistent across schools, meaning students are not guaranteed strong instruction in every classroom.
Despite those struggles, many students are still graduating.
"That diploma is not carrying the same weight of academic achievement," Hosch said.
Last year, less than half of seniors met the ACT benchmark of 20, and just more than a quarter met the math benchmark of 19.
Hosch said the district’s size is not the issue. She pointed to districts with similar size and demographics — including Fulton County, Georgia, and Prince William County, Virginia — where 60% to 80% of students are proficient, compared to JCPS’ 20% to 25%.
In Gwinnett County, Georgia — a district nearly twice the size with a similar makeup — proficiency rates are double those in JCPS.
"It’s not the largeness or complexity of our district," Hosch said. "It’s our systems."
District data presented to board members showed higher-performing districts share a common approach: consistent curriculum, aligned instruction and clear systemwide expectations.
Hosch said a major issue is inconsistency in what students are learning from school to school. Her plan focuses on standardizing instruction across the district.
That includes more training for teachers, closer monitoring inside classrooms and a leadership overhaul.
Under newly approved organizational charts, schools and academics are now under one department. This shifts away from what district leaders described as a fragmented system where schools received mixed messages and inconsistent support.
The new structure is designed to align principals, academic specialists and regional assistant superintendents under one system focused on improving instruction.
Hosch said the changes are meant to ensure stronger, more consistent teaching and to catch students before they fall behind.
"Return on investment is important because in this case the investment is in our students and our students are not growing," Hosch said.
The district’s plan centers on creating one aligned academic system with consistent curriculum, coaching and data monitoring to improve results across all schools.
Hosch said she will present a rollout plan soon. Superintendent Brian Yearwood said the changes will take three to five years.
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