There were 123 African American students enrolled in Washington County schools in the 2023-24 school year, a 5.1% increase from the 117 African American students in the previous school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Data showed that Washington County welcomed a total of 1,955 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 6.3% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.
Among the five schools in Washington County, Washington County Elementary School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of 55 students, making up 10.4% of the school’s total student body.
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.
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.
| School name | % of African American Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Commander Academy | 8% | 88 |
| North Washington Elementary School | 0.7% | 571 |
| Washington County Middle School | 12% | 208 |
| Washington County High School | 5.7% | 557 |
| Washington County Elementary School | 10.4% | 531 |