Grayson County Schools: White students most represented ethnicity in 2023-24 school year

The majority of students in Grayson County schools were white in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Of the 4,393 students attending Grayson County schools, 93.8% were white. Hispanic or Latino students were the second most represented ethnicity, making up 2.7%.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Grayson County schools, representing 93.8% of the student body.

H. W. Wilkey Elementary School had the most even distribution of races among county schools, which included 90.7% white students, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino students, 3.3% multiracial students, 1% Asian students, 0.8% African American students, and 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in schools in the county dropped to 0.1% compared to the previous year.

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.