SE Kentucky News

There were 351 seventh grade students enrolled in Bell County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 3.5% more than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Middlesboro Middle School welcomed most of the seventh grade students in the county, registering 68 students.

Within Bell County schools, the highest student population was found in ninth grade, with the smallest class sizes seen in fifth grade.

Statewide, Bell County ranked 39th in enrollment numbers. It was also ranked 39th the year before.

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.

Data also shows that 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	# of 7th Grade Students Enrolled	% of Student Body	Total Enrollment
Middlesboro Middle School	68	21.5%	317
Yellow Creek School Center	65	10.2%	636
Pineville Independent School	63	9.8%	641
Bell Central School Center	50	9.3%	536
Page School Center	38	11.9%	320
Lone Jack School Center	30	13.1%	229
Right Fork School Center	19	11.2%	170
Frakes School Center	12	10.2%	118
Bell County High School	4	0.5%	740
Middlesboro Alternative School	1	2.3%	44
Middlesboro Group Home School	1	3.3%	30