There were 86 Hispanic or Latino students enrolled in Harlan County schools in the 2023-24 school year, a 3.4% decrease from the 89 Hispanic or Latino students in the previous school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Data showed that Harlan County welcomed a total of 4,780 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, Hispanic or Latino students comprised 1.8% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the county.
Among the 12 schools in Harlan County, Harlan Elementary School recorded the highest enrollment of Hispanic or Latino students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of 13 students, making up 3.4% 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.
| School name | % of Hispanic or Latino Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Harlan County High School | 1.2% | 1,029 |
| Black Mountain Elementary School | 1.6% | 304 |
| Cawood Elementary School | 1.3% | 228 |
| Cumberland Elementary School | 2.3% | 518 |
| Evarts Elementary School | 2.4% | 375 |
| Green Hills Elementary School | 8.6% | 140 |
| James A. Cawood Elementary School | 1.2% | 339 |
| Rosspoint Elementary School | 0.5% | 435 |
| Wallins Elementary School | 0.8% | 397 |
| Harlan Elementary School | 3.4% | 383 |
| Sunshine School | 2.1% | 146 |
| Harlan High School | 1.6% | 486 |