There were 77 African American students enrolled in Rowan County schools in the 2023-24 school year, a 16.3% decrease from the 92 African American students in the previous school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Data showed that Rowan County welcomed a total of 3,843 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 2% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the county.
Among the 10 schools in Rowan County, Morehead Youth Development Center recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of 33 students, making up 34.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Clearfield Elementary School | 0.3% | 350 |
| McBrayer Elementary School | 1.2% | 608 |
| Rowan County Preschool Center | 0.5% | 210 |
| Morehead Youth Development Center | 34.7% | 95 |
| Bluegrass Discovery Academy High School | 6.8% | 44 |
| Bluegrass Discovery Academy Middle | 6.9% | 29 |
| Rowan County Senior High School | 1.6% | 1,098 |
| Tilden Hogge Elementary School | 0.8% | 238 |
| Rowan County Middle School | 1.1% | 734 |
| Rodburn Elementary School | 0.5% | 437 |