West Pennyroyal News

The majority of students in Simpson County's only school district were white in the 2022-23 school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Of the 3,301 students attending schools in Simpson County's only school district, 77.4% were white. African American students constituted the second-largest ethnic group in the county's school district, accounting for 10.8%.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Simpson County's only school district, representing 76.7% of the student body.

The Simpson County student population also comprised 5.7% multiracial students, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino students, 0.9% Asian students, and 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native students.

In the 2022-23 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county increased by 0.9% 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.

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.

District	Most Prevalent	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Simpson County School District	White	77.4	3,301