There were 105 African American students enrolled in Laurel County schools in the 2023-24 school year, a 16.7% increase from the 90 African American students in the previous school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Data showed that Laurel County welcomed a total of 9,569 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 1.1% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the county.
Among the 18 schools in Laurel County, South Laurel High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of 17 students, making up 1.4% 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 African American Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| East Bernstadt Elementary School | 1.1% | 545 |
| London Elementary School | 1% | 627 |
| Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary School | 1.5% | 455 |
| Bush Elementary School | 0.4% | 563 |
| South Laurel Middle School | 1.2% | 1,003 |
| Laurel County Day Treatment | 2.9% | 209 |
| Camp Ground Elementary School | 0.6% | 337 |
| Colony Elementary School | 0.7% | 418 |
| Hazel Green Elementary School | 1% | 418 |
| Johnson Elementary School | 1.1% | 355 |
| Hunter Hills Elementary School | 1.7% | 701 |
| North Laurel Middle School | 0.8% | 1,027 |
| North Laurel High School | 0.9% | 1,373 |
| South Laurel High School | 1.4% | 1,254 |
| Cold Hill Elementary School | 1.1% | 284 |