State Testing Results: Lawrence County School System Receives Three Stars

The Kentucky Department of Education recently unveiled its new 5-STAR rating system, and the Lawrence County School System compared well with others in our region and in our state. Each school system received a rating for its combined elementary schools, a separate rating for its combined middle schools, and a separate rating for its combined high schools. Keep in mind, many districts have multiple elementary, middle, and high schools. Here is a chart for many of the districts in our region and a couple of the larger districts in our state:

Along with district wide ratings, each school received its own rating. Blaine Middle School has the distinction of being the first 5-STAR school in Lawrence County history. Fallsburg Middle School finished close behind with a 4-STAR rating. Louisa East and Louisa West received the same rating since Louisa West is a feeder school for Louisa East. These two schools and Fallsburg Elementary fell short of the 4-STAR rating by only tenths of a point. Louisa Middle and Lawrence County High School performed at a 3-STAR level while Blaine Elementary finished with a 2-STAR rating.

Blaine Middle School also had the 7th highest rating in the state.

As superintendent, I am very proud of the hard work that our teachers and students put forth on a daily basis. In 2009-2010, the Lawrence County School System was labeled as a persistently-low achieving district.

Mr. Armstrong and the Lawrence County staff members began the hard work of turning around a school district. We have continued some areas and tweaked other areas of that work.

Since 2013, schools have received positive school labels of proficient, distinguished, high progressing, and school of distinction in the old system, and in the new system, 4- and 5-STAR ratings. It is also very important to realize that this is the first year, since 2009-2010, that NO Lawrence County School received a negative state or federal label such as persistently low achieving, targeted assistance, comprehensive support improvement, targeted support improvement, or additional targeted support improvement.

We should celebrate our progress in various areas, but we also realize we must continue to adapt and to improve to ensure our students are successful. In short, we must continue to be “All In” when striving to meet the individual needs of our students.

BLAINE MIDDLE SHINES BRIGHTLY – RECEIVES A 5-STAR RATING AND RANKS AS THE 7^TH HIGHEST MIDDLE SCHOOL INDEX IN THE STATE

            When you drive to Blaine, you better put on your sunglasses.  Blaine Middle School is only 1 of 12 middle schools in the state of Kentucky to receive a 5-STAR rating.  To add to this amazing accomplishment, Blaine’s overall rating places them in a tie for the 7^th highest overall index among the 319 middle schools in the Commonwealth.  Congratulations to the Blaine Middle students, staff, and parents for a job well done!

TOP MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Source:  https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article235611647.html

-Dr. Robbie L. Fletcher
Superintendent