There were 20 Hispanic or Latino students enrolled in Lewis County schools in 2023-24 school year

There were 20 Hispanic or Latino students enrolled in Lewis County schools in the 2023-24 school year, a 42.9% increase from the 14 Hispanic or Latino students in the previous school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Data showed that Lewis County welcomed a total of 1,693 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, Hispanic or Latino students comprised 1.2% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the six schools in Lewis County, Tollesboro Elementary School recorded the highest enrollment of Hispanic or Latino students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of eight students, making up 2.8% 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.