Jefferson County

The Jefferson County school district in Kentucky encompasses 163 schools, including 97 elementary schools, 23 middle schools, 35 high schools, and 8 alternative schools. The district serves a diverse student population across a range of socioeconomic backgrounds, with some of the highest-performing and lowest-performing schools in the state.

At the top of the district's schools are standouts like duPont Manual High School, ranked #1 in Kentucky with exceptional performance across metrics like ACT English (87% proficient), ACT Math (78% proficient), and ACT Reading (86% proficient). Other top-tier schools include Greathouse/Shryock Traditional, the #1 elementary school in the state, and Norton Elementary, ranked #8 in Kentucky. In contrast, schools like Iroquois High and Wheatley Elementary struggle to reach even 20% proficiency in key subjects.

The data reveals a stark divide in academic performance that appears to correlate with socioeconomic factors, as the highest-performing schools tend to have lower free/reduced lunch rates while the lowest-performing schools have very high rates. This raises concerns about equity and access to quality education, particularly for disadvantaged student populations. The district's alternative and special needs schools also face significant challenges, with low test scores and high student-teacher ratios. Overall, the Jefferson County school system has both bright spots and areas in need of substantial improvement to ensure all students receive a high-quality education.