Education in Kentucky
Education in Kentucky includes element-
ary school (kindergarten through fifth grade
in most areas), middle school (or junior high,
sixth grade through eighth grade in most loc-
ations), high school (ninth through twelfth
grade in most locations), and postsecondary
institutions. Most Kentucky schools and col-
leges are accredited through the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Education in Kentucky suffers from the
same negative stigma as many other South-
ern states. Some statistics, such as ranking
47th in the nation in percentage of residents
with a bachelor’s degree[1] and an adult illit-
eracy rate of about 40%[2], seem to justify
the stereotype, while others, such as ranking
14th in educational affordability[1], 25th in
K-12 attrition[3], and being named the 31st
smartest state using a formula by author
Morgan Quitno[4] (ahead of western states
like California, Nevada, Arizona and New
Mexico) suggest that the stereotype may be
overblown.
In
fact, Lexington, Kentucky
ranks 10th among US cities in percent of pop-
ulation with college degree or higher[5].
Whatever the case, due to a number of re-
forms beginning in 1990, most studies agree
that Kentucky is making progress in the area
of education.
K-12
The Kentucky Board of Education is respons-
ible for the development, coordination, and
implementation of K-12 education in each of
the commonwealth’s 174 school districts.[6]
In 2003-2004, Kentucky’s public schools en-
rolled 656,503 students, with another 12,170
being home schooled.[7]
The Kentucky Commonwealth
Diploma
In order to motivate Kentucky high schoolers
to take a more demanding curriculum, the
Kentucky Board of Education began award-
ing the Commonwealth Diploma in 1987. The
Commonwealth curriculum requires that the
student
take
four Advanced Placement
courses (one English, one science or math,
one foreign language, and one elective) and
sit for the Advanced Placement exam in at
least three of the four areas. Students whose
combined scores on any three Advanced