There were 48 African American students enrolled in Clay County schools in the 2023-24 school year, a 23.1% increase from the 39 African American students in the previous school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Data showed that Clay County welcomed a total of 2,796 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 1.7% of the student body to be the second most represented ethnicity in the county.
Among the 10 schools in Clay County, Clay County High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of 15 students, making up 1.9% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Horse Creek Learning Center | 2.7% | 150 |
| Burning Springs Elementary School | 0.9% | 349 |
| Clay County Middle School | 0.7% | 421 |
| Clay County High School | 1.9% | 803 |
| Goose Rock Elementary School | 2.8% | 254 |
| Manchester Elementary School | 2.7% | 477 |
| Paces Creek Elementary School | 0.9% | 342 |