Local Public Schools Celebrate Performance(s) in State Assessment Test Scores

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) publicly released assessment and accountability data for the 2024-2025 school year on Nov. 19, as required by state statute and the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Statewide, the data showed students performed better in 2025 than they had in recent years across several grade levels and subjects.

During the 2024-2025 school year, Kentucky public school students in grades 3-8, 10 and 11 took assessments called the Kentucky Summative Assessments and the Alternate Kentucky Summative Assessments in reading, mathematics, social studies, science, editing and mechanics, and on-demand writing. Students take reading and mathematics assessments annually in grades 3 through 8, and in grade 10. Other subjects are assessed once per grade level, with social studies, editing and mechanics, and on-demand writing assessed in grades 5, 8 and 11. Science continued to be assessed in grades 4, 7 and 11.

Kentucky students performed at proficient or distinguished levels at a higher rate during the 2024-2025 school year in reading and mathematics than they have in previous years. Several other categories were either slightly above or slightly below where they were in the 2023-2024 school year.

Kentucky is currently in its third year of full implementation following revisions made to KRS 158.6455 by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2020. The accountability system features Status and Change as ways to evaluate state indicators; Status being the current-year performance and Change representing year-to-year progress.

Results are shared through a color-coded dashboard with five colors: blue, green, yellow, orange and red, in order from highest to lowest ranking.

The overall performance rating color is based on a score that is determined by combining data from all available indicators. The overall score is used to determine the state’s lowest-performing schools by grade level, as required federally.

For each subject assessment, students are also ranked as either Distinguished, Proficient, Apprentice or Novice. These assessments allow for comparisons between school(s) and district performances based on performance scores.

McKee Elementary
McKee Elementary Principal Timmy Truett, the staff and the students were feeling “Blue” again last week. However, they are anything but “sad”! Just the opposite in fact. McKee Elementary earned a designation of “Blue” denoting the highest performance level possible in the Statewide Summative Assessment scores for 2024-25, scoring an impressive 89.7. For Mr. Truett and the McKee Elementary Bulldogs, this is the third consecutive year in a row they have earned the highest performance level possible!
Principal Tim Truett and faculty members praised students for their determination and growth, while also commending teachers for their continuous commitment to excellence.
“This achievement is a reflection of our entire school community,” Mr. Truett reported. “We are extremely proud of our students and the effort they show every day. We are proud of our students’ hard work and dedication to achieve great things inside and outside the classroom.”
The other public schools in Jackson County have reason to be proud of their accomplishments as well.

Sand Gap Elementary
The staff of Sand Gap Elementary were proud to announce that their school earned a GREEN rating on the 2025 Kentucky Summative Assessment!
Principal Muncy reported, “Our students and staff worked incredibly hard last year, and our
results show it. We earned an overall index score of 77.0, ranking us 193rd out of 717 elementary schools across the state! We saw strong growth in multiple areas—a combined 10-point increase in Reading and Math, along with an additional 0.4-point increase in Science and Social Studies. We are extremely proud of our students and staff and very excited to celebrate this success.”

Tyner Elementary
Principal Melanie Philpot reported, “As we receive the official results from the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA), Tyner is designated “Yellow” and we will continue to work hard to grow and excel. I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the hard work of our students and staff and to share our bold vision for the future of learning at Tyner Elementary. We are incredibly proud of the dedication shown by our students and the exceptional instructional support provided by our teachers. Beyond the proficiency scores, we are especially proud of the academic growth our students demonstrated, especially the areas where we scored above the state average.”

Tyner Elementary recognized their 5th grade students for their outstanding performance on KSA! To show how proud they were of them, their 5th grade teachers visited the students with smiles, hugs, and slushies in hand! These students performed above state average in Reading, Math, Social Studies, Writing, Editing & Mechanics…in ALL areas! Congratulations for your impressive scores- a job well done!
Principal Philpot continued, “While we celebrate our successes, we recognize the KSA data also highlights areas where we focus growth and work as a team for success. The dedication of our teachers, the support of our parents, and the hard work of our students are the forces that drive Tyner Elementary forward. We look forward to partnering with you as we commit to making this the greatest year of growth yet.”

JCMS
JCMS Principal Jason Vaughn was pleased to announce strong academic progress in this year’s Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) results for the Jackson County Middle School. The JCMS was designated “Orange”. However, according to data released for the 2024–2025 school year, both math and reading scores improved compared to the previous year, reflecting the hard work of our students, staff, and families. Principal Vaughn reported, “We still have several areas to improve in and the students and staff at JCMS have this as a high priority going forward. We will continue to work and improve those areas that dropped from the previous year. These gains demonstrate continued growth in core academic areas and highlight the school’s commitment to high-quality instruction, targeted support, and meaningful learning experiences for all students. Teachers have worked diligently to align curriculum with Kentucky Academic Standards, provide individualized support, and foster a positive learning environment that encourages students to reach their full potential.
Jackson County Middle School will use this year’s assessment data to guide instructional planning and strengthen supports throughout the 2025–2026 school year. The school extends its appreciation to families and community members for their ongoing encouragement and involvement.”
For more information about the school’s continued initiatives and upcoming events, community members are encouraged to contact the Jackson County Middle School office at 606-287-8351

JCHS
The JCHS earned a High Performance Rating for Second Consecutive Year! The Jackson County High School has once again earned a GREEN rating, officially designating the school as a High Performing High School for the second year in a row. School Administrators credit the achievement to the hard work and dedication of students, teachers and staff.

Principal Parrett reported, “We are extremely proud of our school community. These results show that when students graduate from Jackson County High School, they are well prepared for college and careers. According to the statewide data, Jackson County High School ranked 72nd out of 228 high schools in Kentucky, placing it in the higher tier of high-performance. School leaders say the accomplishment reflects not only the efforts inside the school but also the continued partnership with families and community members. This is something the entire community can be proud of. We are grateful for the support we receive from parents, guardians, and local organizations who help make student success possible. Individual KSA scores will be distributed to students this week.”

* It is important to note that private schools such as the Annville Christian Academy or the Friendship Christian School are not tested by the KSA and, therefore, they are not represented here. For private schools, there is no equivalent public, Federal, or State accountability for academic performance.