There were 12 African American students enrolled in Estill County schools in the 2023-24 school year, a 14.3% decrease from the 14 African American students in the previous school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Data showed that Estill County welcomed a total of 2,270 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 0.5% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the county.
Among the six schools in Estill County, three schools recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of three 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.
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 name | % of African American Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Estill Springs Elementary School | 0.4% | 501 |
| Estill County Middle School | 0.7% | 426 |
| Estill County High School | 0.4% | 678 |
| South Irvine Early Learning Center | 0.6% | 155 |
| West Irvine Elementary School | 0.6% | 510 |