Jackson Purchase News

There were 13 American Indian or Alaska Native students enrolled in McCracken County School District schools in the 2022-23 school year, 13.3% less than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Data showed that McCracken County School District welcomed 7,653 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, American Indian or Alaska Native students comprised 0.2% of the student body to be the least represented ethnicity in the district.

McCracken County School District roughly covers 13 schools within McCracken County and has a main office in Paducah.

Among the 13 schools in McCracken County School District, McCracken County High School recorded the highest enrollment of American Indian or Alaska Native students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of five 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.

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.

Year	Total District Enrollment	Total American Indian or Alaska Native Students	American Indian or Alaska Native %
2022-23	7,653	13	0.2%
2021-22	7,531	15	0.2%
2020-21	7,490	16	0.2%
2019-20	7,745	17	0.2%