Reading, graduation rate and post-secondary readiness show gains
October 31, 2023 – Every demographic group of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) students improved their proficiency rates in reading and improved or maintained proficiency rates in math according to results of the 2022-23 Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA). The results also show significant increases in JCPS’ graduation and post-secondary readiness rates which are both at all-time highs.
“The gains we are seeing in reading among all of our student groups is encouraging,” said Dr. Marty Pollio, JCPS Superintendent. “It is a testament to the hard work of our teachers and staff who are preparing our children to be successful at the next level.”
The assessment showed almost 70 percent of JCPS schools increased or significantly increased their reading and math score.
Elementary schools showed improved proficiency rates in every content area among all student groups with 81 percent of elementary schools increasing or significantly increasing their reading and math score. Overall, elementary schools improved the rating applied by the state from orange to yellow.
The number of middle and high schools who increased their scores in reading and math outnumbered the schools that decreased. While overall test scores for middle and high schools declined in some content areas their overall rating remained the same as last year (orange).
“We’re thrilled with the impressive improvements our elementary school students are showing,” Pollio said. “But we also recognize that those gains in elementary school cannot level off or decline in middle and high school. We are attacking this issue with a renewed focus on chronic absenteeism in our upper grades to ensure students are in the classroom and getting face-to-face instruction. I’m confident this focus as well as our newly instituted, district-wide literacy and math curricula will make a difference in student achievement going forward.”
The KSA results show JCPS’ four-year graduation rate increased substantially to 87 percent. The numbers also show African American seniors catching up to their white peers. The graduation rate gap is now 2.4 percent between Black and white students, nearly half of what it was in 2017-18 (5 percent). The four-year graduation rate for Black students is at an all-time high of 86.5 percent.
The class of 2023 also had a post-secondary readiness rate of 78.6 percent, a significant jump from the previous year. The gap between African American and white students narrowed by three percentage points.
Last year, JCPS had 34 schools in Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) status. Based on the results of the testing, nine fewer schools are in CSI status this year. Over the past two years, 22 schools have exited CSI status and only one has entered. CSI schools are those whose state assessment scores rank in the bottom five percent statewide, making them eligible for increased academic and other support from the school district.
Eight JCPS schools’ results were rated “very high” by the state - Bloom, Dunn, Greathouse, Norton, and Stopher Elementary Schools; J. Graham Brown School (middle and high) as well as duPont Manual High School.
“Our goal continues to be to graduate students who are critical thinkers, can clearly express themselves and make meaningful contributions to their families and our community,” Pollio said. “We continue to make progress toward that goal while recognizing there is room for improvement.”