There were 61 African American students enrolled in Nelson County School District schools in the 2022-23 school year, 15.1% more than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Data showed that Nelson County School District welcomed 4,788 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 1.3% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the district.
Nelson County School District roughly covers 11 schools within Nelson County and has a main office in Bardstown.
Among the 11 schools in Nelson County School District, Nelson County High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 19 students.
Kentucky is in the midst of a statewide teacher shortage as turnover rates spiked to 10.9% in 2023, up from an 8.9% nine-year average. This issue is more prominent in schools with more low-income and minority students.
Data also shows that between 2019 and 2023, there was an increase of 260% in the number of available teaching posts in Kentucky schools. This often leads to larger class sizes, combining programs, and retaining staff despite potential negative impacts on teacher working conditions.
| Year | Total District Enrollment | Total African American Students | African American % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 4,788 | 61 | 1.3% |
| 2021-22 | 4,776 | 53 | 1.1% |
| 2020-21 | 4,762 | 58 | 1.2% |
| 2019-20 | 4,895 | 65 | 1.3% |