There were 19 African American students enrolled in Letcher County schools in the 2023-24 school year, a 5.6% increase from the 18 African American students in the previous school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Data showed that Letcher County welcomed a total of 2,682 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 0.7% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the county.
Among the 10 schools in Letcher County, two schools recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of four students.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jenkins Independent School | 0.8% | 533 |
| Letcher County Central High School | 0.5% | 750 |
| Fleming Neon Middle School | 1.4% | 148 |
| Cowan Elementary School | 1.1% | 276 |
| Martha Jane Potter Elementary School | 1% | 304 |
| West Whitesburg Elementary School | 0.4% | 470 |
| Whitesburg Middle School | 0.5% | 201 |