NE Kentucky News

There were 584 first grade students enrolled in Boyd County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 17% more than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Summit Elementary School welcomed most of the first grade students in the county, registering 103 students.

Within Boyd County schools, the highest student population was found in ninth grade, with the smallest class sizes seen in 12th grade.

Statewide, Boyd County ranked 25th in enrollment numbers. It was also ranked 25th the year before.

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.

School	# of 1st Grade Students Enrolled	% of Student Body	Total Enrollment
Summit Elementary School	103	20.3%	508
Ponderosa Elementary School	67	19.7%	340
Hager Elementary School	65	17.4%	374
Poage Elementary School	64	19.8%	323
Crabbe Elementary School	60	16.8%	358
Oakview Elementary School	58	18.6%	312
Charles Russell Elementary School	50	21.4%	234
Cannonsburg Elementary School	50	16.6%	301
Fairview Elementary School	34	13%	261
Catlettsburg Elementary School	33	14.5%	227