(Harlan, Ky.) – Harlan High School students have consistently outperformed the region and state as it relates to academic assessment outcomes for students. After a review of the recently released 2024 Kentucky Summative Assessment data for public schools, the Green Dragons have done it again. Headlined by strong ACT Scores, and top 10 rankings in nearly every assessment area, Harlan High was only one of 24 High Schools to achieve the highest overall performance rating. Harlan High School achieved the 18th-highest High School overall index score in Kentucky.
Superintendent C.D. Morton had high praise for his district, staff, and students after digging into the assessment results, “Consistently performing at a high level takes a dedicated team of individuals extremely focused on improving student achievement year after year. I could not be prouder for our faculty, staff, and entire school community with our results. Particularly Harlan High, where we are once again ranked among the top-performing schools across the entire state. We are a small school district, with a proven track record for big impact when comes to a student’s academic readiness. Our staff creates a culture that allows for great growth along the entire journey, culminating with life-changing results just as they graduate from Harlan High School. It makes me proud for our entire community that our small school district can be such an enormous source of pride for the achievement our students reach every year. Our primary responsibility is to prepare our students for academic excellence and we have met the goal once again!”
Morton noted that for a school to achieve at such a high level, they must perform well across every area of the assessment. Harlan High exceeded state averages in all areas (English, Reading, Math, and Science) of the ACT and had the 2nd highest composite average in the Southeast Southcentral region and the 20th highest scores across all of Kentucky placing them among the top 8% of Kentucky High Schools.
In addition to high ACT scores, students at Harlan High were among the highest in multiple areas including Reading, Social Studies, Editing & Mechanics as well as having the top score of all Kentucky High Schools in Writing.
Harlan High School Principal Mike Bolton noted that the results point to a strong school culture of high expectations with a clear focus on supporting students to achieve at the highest level. “Harlan High School is known for providing students and families with a quality education year after year. Former Principal Britt Lawson along with the teaching and support staff poured into our students and the results haven’t changed much in the last decade. In fact, the school system from Sunshine Preschool through Harlan High School is responsible for the amazing results we see as our kids graduate. While the testing mechanism may change every few years, the formula at school remains the same. We will continue to set high expectations for our students, meet them where they are, and support them to achieve greatness, and then finally, we will celebrate them every step of the way. I am proud of our school community. What an accomplishment to be only one of 24 High Schools to achieve at this level!”
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Senate Bill 158 (2020), Kentucky schools are held accountable for student assessment results in all core subjects (reading, mathematics, science, social studies, and writing), improving the English language proficiency of English learners, the quality of school climate and safety, and postsecondary readiness and graduation rate at high schools.
Beginning in 2022, Kentucky’s School Report Card featured the state’s new color-coded accountability system, which was previously a 5-star system. Moving forward, the accountability system provides a color-coded rating for all schools at each level (elementary, middle, and high) ranging from red (lowest) to blue (highest).
On Thursday, October 3rd, the Kentucky Department of Education publicly released Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) results from the Spring 2024 assessment for all Kentucky public schools.
Overall Index scores at Harlan Middle School saw an 11.2-point increase, representing a 21% improvement from 2023. Students exceeded the state average index score in all assessment areas (Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Combined Writing) while having some of the highest School Quality and Climate ratings among all Middle Schools.
The quality of school climate and safety indicators is designed to measure the school environment. Perception data from student surveys is used to measure insight into the school environment.
“The safety of our children and the climate around them in school are crucial parts of their education,” Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher said. “While the work on improving school safety is constant, it’s a point of pride knowing more and more Kentucky students feel like their schools are safe and provide a quality learning environment.”
Harlan Middle School fell short of the Green performance rating by one-tenth of a point.
Principal Andrew Williams noted that the results were encouraging, commenting “Harlan Middle School saw more growth over the year than any of our other schools, so we are moving in the right direction. A 21% increase is significant and the potential for even more growth is tangible. We will build on this momentum and try to duplicate this year’s success. We have amazingly dedicated teachers. I am very proud that our School Quality and Climate results ranked us in the top 10% of all Middle Schools, which speaks volumes about how good students feel about their school.”
Scores at Harlan Elementary saw a slight decline from the 2023 assessment year but remained on the upper end of the Green rating range achieving an index score of 77.0 for 2024. Students outperformed the state averages in every area except 4th grade Math, while like Harlan Middle School the Quality School Climate and Safety results were among the top in Kentucky Elementary Schools. The School Climate score of 90.5 was the 2nd highest of all elementary schools, while the safety score of 84 was #3.
A continuing positive trend at the elementary level is the strong Science scores for 4th-grade students. Zero students performed at the Novice level bucking the trend at the state level across all grade levels. When reviewing state-level science achievement scores, the rate of students testing at a proficient or distinguished level in science was lower across all grade levels than any other content area, continuing a multi-year trend. “Science performance is concerning. We need to analyze science assessment, instruction and student performance with the goal of developing actionable steps to improve science education and performance for Kentucky’s students,” noted Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher.
“Overall, we are thrilled with the results from the assessment, we have seen a real bounce back from the learning loss that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our High School is right back to where we were leading the state in multiple assessment areas before the pandemic, while our Middle School experienced a 20% increase in student achievement and the Elementary School continues to provide a strong foundation for our students. Schools all across Kentucky are dealing with significant challenges like chronic absenteeism and teacher shortages, so to see these kinds of achievement levels in the face of such dynamic obstacles is phenomenal. The Harlan Independent School District continues to build our legacy of academic excellence by preparing students to excel in the classroom.” stated Supervisor of Instruction, Mrs. Jennifer Parsons.
Superintendent Morton closed by stating, “We will celebrate these student achievements, taking every opportunity to remind our students and families how significant it is for our small school to have such a big impact year after year. The academic excellence our students achieve on a consistent basis helps to build a sense of confidence that empowers our students to achieve in ways that make all of Harlan County proud.”
The data will be released initially in datasets in Open House (https://www.education.ky.gov/Open-House/data/Pages/Assessment_Accountability_Datasets_2023-2024.aspx)
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