Owsley County’s schools’ student body predominantly white in 2023-24 school year

The majority of students in Owsley County schools were white in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Of the 452 students attending Owsley County schools, 96.1% were white. Hispanic or Latino students were the second most represented ethnicity, making up 2%.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Owsley County schools, representing 97.2% of the student body.

Owsley County Elementary School had the most diverse student body in the county, which included African American, Hispanic or Latino, multiracial, and white students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in schools in the county increased by 6.1% compared to the previous year.

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.