LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Kentucky’s annual School Report Card was released Wednesday, offering a detailed look at district performance on state testing and highlighting both progress and ongoing gaps for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS).
JCPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood said the district uses multiple measures to track academic progress.
"The test does inform us, but we already have measures in place to determine where we need to go for academic progress and student success," Yearwood said.
He noted improvements in two core subjects.
"In our science area, across the board we are seeing definite improvements," he said. "In math, we're seeing many positive results as well."
However, some challenges remain.
"In elementary schools, we need to improve reading and literacy, and that work is underway," Yearwood said.
The district’s overall performance rating for elementary, middle, and high schools landed in the orange category — the second-lowest level on the state’s color-coded scale, where blue is the highest. Kentucky overall scored in the yellow range.
"The achievement gap is still there, and we definitely want to see it closed, but this is a statewide issue," Yearwood said.
District officials noted that students who fell behind during the COVID-19 pandemic are beginning to recover.
"Our middle schools showed strong gains across tested areas," Yearwood said. "Yes, there may have been a lag, but now all middle schools are performing strongly."
One of the district’s biggest challenges remains the number of schools in the bottom 5% statewide, which rose from 34 in 2022 to 41 this year.
"These 41 schools represent our greatest opportunity for growth," Yearwood said. "We will be looking at these schools to find ways to accelerate learning."
Despite mixed results, JCPS highlighted gains in graduation rates. The district’s overall graduation rate increased to 89.2%, continuing a three-year upward trend. The graduation rate for Black students reached 90.8%, nearly matching that of white students.
"We are facing these challenges head-on," Yearwood said. "Our job now is to deliver on the promise of equity and excellence for every student, in every zip code, every year, ensuring all students are supported."
