Kentucky Schools

Kentucky's education system

Education in Kentucky includes elementary school (kindergarten through fifth grade in most areas), junior high school (middle school in most areas, grades 6 through 8), high school (grades 9 through 12 in most areas), and post-secondary institutions. Most Kentucky schools and colleges are accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Education in Kentucky, like many other Southern states, is stigmatized negatively. Some statistics seem to justify stereotypes, such as the city's rate of residents with a bachelor's degree, which ranks 47th in the nation, and an adult illiteracy rate of about 4%. Ranked 14th for education affordability, 25th for K-12 attrition, and named the 31st smartest state using the Morgan Quitno Press formula (California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico Other reports, such as the Western States, may exaggerate the stereotype. In fact, Lexington, Kentucky ranks 10th among U.S. cities in terms of percentage of population with a college degree. In any event, most studies agree that Kentucky has made progress in education, thanks to a number of reforms that began in 1990.

K-12
The Kentucky Board of Education is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing K-12 education in each of the state's 174 school districts. In 2003-2004, Kentucky public schools had 656,503 students enrolled and an additional 12,170 were homeschooled.

Kentucky Federal Diploma
To motivate Kentucky high school students to pursue a more rigorous curriculum, the Kentucky Board of Education began awarding the Commonwealth Diploma in 1987. language, and one elective) and take the Advanced Placement exams in at least three of the four areas (score at least 8 points in total). Students whose combined scores on the three Advanced Placement exams are at or above the prescribed thresholds are eligible for a refund of the registration fee for those exams.

Kentucky Education Excellence Scholarship (KEES)
In 1998, the Kentucky Legislature voted to use a portion of state lottery profits to fund the Kentucky Education Excellence Scholarship. The program was designed to encourage high school students to take precollege-level curriculum while in high school and to pursue higher education in the Commonwealth after graduation.

To qualify, students must achieve a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a rigorous curriculum as defined by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) and attend college at an eligible institution within Kentucky. The actual amount of the award is based on a combination of the student's grade point average and ACT score. Scholarships are renewable for four years as long as the student remains eligible.

Kentucky's Famous Schools

There are many schools in Kentucky that are known for their academic excellence, extracurricular programs, and community involvement. Here are a few examples of schools in Kentucky that are considered to be well-regarded.

Lexington Catholic High School: This is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school in Lexington, Kentucky, known for its strong academic program, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

Trinity High School: This is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school in Louisville, Kentucky, known for its strong academic program, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

St. Xavier High School: This is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school in Louisville, Kentucky, known for its strong academic program, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School: This is a public high school in Lexington, Kentucky, known for its strong academic program, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

Manual High School: This is a public high school in Louisville, Kentucky, known for its strong academic program, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

It's worth noting that these schools are not the only notable schools in Kentucky, and there are many other schools that are considered to be well-regarded and have a good reputation. Additionally, Kentucky also has some of the most prestigious universities and colleges in the country, such as the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University, which are also known for their academic excellence, research, and community involvement.