Jackson Purchase News

There were 857 kindergarten students enrolled in McCracken County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 8.8% less than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Reidland Elementary School welcomed most of the kindergarten students in the county, registering 143 students.

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

Statewide, McCracken County ranked 13th in enrollment numbers. It was also ranked 13th 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 Kindergarten Students Enrolled	% of Student Body	Total Enrollment
Reidland Elementary School	143	22.3%	641
Hendron Lone Oak Elementary School	134	24.7%	543
Lone Oak Elementary School	130	22.9%	568
Clark Elementary School	115	17.7%	649
Concord Elementary School	114	17.1%	668
Heath Elementary School	101	19.7%	513
Morgan Elementary School	61	14.7%	415
McNabb Elementary School	59	16.4%	360