LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools is reporting a mixed bag of test score results and promising graduation rates for students in the largest district in the state.
JCPS graduation post-secondary readiness rates reached an all-time high, according to results of the 2023-24 Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA).
The results also show the gap between Black and white students' graduation rate post-secondary readiness is narrowing. JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio, who recently announced his retirement, was encouraged by these numbers.
"The continuing gains in graduation and post-secondary readiness rates coupled with the reduction in the gaps between Black and white students is encouraging," Pollio said. "More of our students are receiving a diploma and are fully prepared for college, technical school or a career. That's good news, not only for our students and their families but our community as well."
The KSA results show JCPS' overall graduation rate increased to 88.2% and the gap between Black and white graduation rates in shrinking. Two years ago, the difference was three percentage points and now there is just a half a percentage point between the groups.
The average graduation rate for Black students is at an all-time high of 88.9%.
Overall, math proficiency rates increased slightly while reading proficiency rates dipped slightly to 2022 levels. JCPS officials believe late buses last year impacted some test scores.
"It's clear that students missing millions of minutes of instructional time due to late buses had an impact on learning last year," Pollio said.
The superintendent also noted chronic absenteeism and teacher shortages had an impact on student success at JCPS and across the country.
KSA results show students who were chronically absent were 56% less likely to score proficient or distinguished in reading and 65% less likely to score high in math.
Students with teacher vacancies during the 2023-24 school year saw their odds of scoring proficient or higher in reading and math decrease by 26% and 40%, respectively, according to JCPS officials.
"As I have said repeatedly, test scores are only one measure of the success of a school district and its students," Pollio said. "We recognize there is room for improvement, but we continue to make significant progress toward our goal of graduating ALL students to be skilled, critical thinkers who are ready to make significant contributions to our community. In many ways, those successes can't be measured by a standardized test."
