One and seven of Kentucky's public school kids attend Jefferson County Public Schools, and CPS is the state's largest district, serving more than twice as many students as Fayette County.

Our Jim Leffler has more on how learners in and near Louisville tested.

As we take a deep dive in whether Kentucky kids are making the grade.

Superintendent Brian Yearwood highlights progress at JCPs.

When we look at this data.

Graduation rates rose to over 89.2%, or post-secondary readiness rates climbed to 84% or intentionality.

The intentionality is actually paying off as we look at or minority students, and we look at their graduation rates reaching 90.8%, matching their white peers.

Lumping all grades together.

The district found a one percentage point increase in students scoring proficient or distinguished in reading, social studies, and writing.

And a two percentage point increase in math.

The biggest positive is that we are maintaining in many areas, and we are showing promise and growth in other areas.

Science proves to be a more difficult subject for these students across grade levels.

While more than a third of students are proficient or distinguished in reading.

But Yearwood says that could and should be better.

Or achievement gaps are still there.

There's still, gaps that we do we need to pay attention to.

Just like last year, new test scores show across grades and subjects.

JCPs students scored worse than the state average.

Something that has concerned leaders in Frankfort who fund the state's public schools.

Here is a Middletown state representative speaking of the district last week.

Our problem is our school system is failing on far too many levels.

It's doing a lot of good.

What I'll say is I'm going to I'm going to give them as much support and as I can to Doctor Harewood, but if it doesn't turn it around pretty soon, we must do something.

The number of JCPs schools that fall in the bottom 5% of schools statewide has grown, from 34 in 20 22 to 41 schools today.

These 41 schools represent our greatest opportunity for growth.

While the district has both the flexibility and responsibility to turn these schools around.

According to the state.

Yearwood says the designation does adversely affect the school's reputation.

If you start putting labels on schools like this one is low or this one's high.

That's internalized by students, and then their own expectations will mimic what they hear.

We have to do a much better job, and we will do a much better job in ensuring that regardless of where a school is located, what zip code the school is located in, or what geographic location that we expect.

Acceleration at a higher and higher level.

The student body of JCPs is unique.

It has slightly more economically disadvantaged kids than the state.

As a whole.

And students who speak English as their second language make up nearly a quarter of JCPs students.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Jen Leffler.