Kentucky Department of Education

Percentage of high school dropouts: 24^th highest of 46 states reporting (2003-04)

Percentage of freshmen who graduate from high school: 24^th highest of 50 states and the District of Columbia (2004-05)

Percentage of student ethnicity: (2004-05)

- Native American: 43^rd

- Asian/Pacific Islander: 48^th

- Black/African American: 26^th

- Hispanic: 46^th

- White: 7^th

Percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals: 10^th (2001-02)

Percentage of students in schools served by Title I, schoolwide: 5^th (2004-05)

Percentage of teachers who hold master's degrees: 6^th (2004-05)

NAEP

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is also known as "The Nation's Report Card." NAEP has been conducting assessments since 1969. NAEP's 2007 math and reading assessments showed that Kentucky's 8th-graders made progress from 1998 to 2007 in those subjects.

Kentucky 4th-grade readers started out two points below the national average in 1992, equaled the national average in 1994, and moved three points above it in 1998. In 2007, the score was 222, two points higher than the national average.

In math, Kentucky's 4th-graders' average score was 235 in 2007, four points below the national average. For Kentucky 8th-graders, the average score was 279, one point below the national average.

NAEP also assesses science, with the most recent administration in 2005. That year, Kentucky's 8th-graders' average score of 153 was seven points above the national average. Kentucky 4^th-graders scored an average of 158 in science, nine points above the national average. From 2000 to 2005, Kentucky was one of nine states or jurisdictions that had a significant score increase in science at the 4^th-grade level, and one of eleven that had a significant score increase at the 8^th-grade level.

NAEP assessments follow the subject area frameworks developed by the National Assessment Governing Board and use the latest advances in assessment methodology. NAEP assessments include multiple-choice and constructed-response questions. NAEP does not report scores for individual students or schools.

NAEP bases its results on a sample of students and provides data at the state and national level. States and districts receiving Title 1 funds are required to participate in state NAEP in reading and mathematics at grades 4 and 8 every two years. State participation in other state NAEP subjects (science and writing) remains voluntary.

To learn more about Kentucky's progress, visit the State Profile for Kentucky on the National Center for Education Statistics Web site.

Education Week - "Quality Counts"

For its 12th annual “Quality Counts” report, Education Week looked at state efforts to enhance teacher quality. The 2008 report provided grades for states, many of which were not available in 2007, and reintroduced its survey of the teaching profession.

“Quality Counts” gave states overall grades using the Chance for Success index, which is based on 13 indicators, and other variables, including K-12 achievement and the teaching profession. Kentucky’s overall score was 76.4 out of 100 possible points, a C grade, and its rank among the 50 states and the District of Columbia was 22nd. The top-performing five states were New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia. The bottom five were Nebraska, Mississippi, Oregon, Idaho and the District of Columbia.

“Quality Counts 2008” provided grades for states’ efforts to enhance the teaching profession. Kentucky’s overall grade in that area was 80.9 out of 100 possible points, which was a B-. Kentucky was ranked 9th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Another index, the State K-12 Achievement Index, looked at math and reading performance, graduation rates and participation in Advanced Placement courses. Kentucky’s rank on that index was 33rd.

Technology

The theme of the 2008 "Technology Counts" publication was STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – and how states are working to improve offerings and achievement in those areas.

“Technology Counts” looked at achievement gaps, using data from the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) math and science assessments.

In math, Kentucky was one of 21 states where the gap between low-income and higher-income 8th-graders was from 20.1 to 25.0 points. Twelve states had lower gaps, and 18 had higher gaps. (NOTE: The data includes the District of Columbia.)

In science, Kentucky was one of 13 states where the gap between low-income and higher-income 8th-graders was 20 points or fewer. Thirty-one states had higher gaps. (NOTE: The data includes the District of Columbia, and seven states did not participate.)

“Technology Counts” graded states in three main areas:

• Access to Technology; i.e., students with access to computers , students per computer (Kentucky’s grade was a B.)
• Use of Technology; i.e., student standards for technology, virtual schools (Kentucky’s grade was an A-.)
• Capacity to Use Technology; i.e., teacher standards for technology, technology coursework requirements (Kentucky’s grade was an A.)

States also got an overall grade and ranking. Kentucky’s overall grade was a B+, and the state ranked 3rd nationwide. West Virginia was the highest graded state, with an A; South Dakota and Georgia each received an A-. Virginia also received a B+. The national overall grade was a C+.

ACT Scores – All High School Seniors

(Kentucky's number of 12^th-grade ACT test-takers has grown from 24,942 in 1990 to 31,728 in 2008.)