SE Bluegrass News

There were 1,037 seventh grade students enrolled in Madison County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 6.2% less than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Madison Middle School welcomed most of the seventh grade students in the county, registering 230 students.

Within Madison County schools, the highest student population was found in eighth grade, with the smallest class sizes seen in preschool.

Statewide, Madison County ranked eighth in enrollment numbers. It was also ranked eighth the year before.

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.

School	# of 7th Grade Students Enrolled	% of Student Body	Total Enrollment
Madison Middle School	230	31.3%	735
Clark Moores Middle School	183	30.6%	598
Foley Middle School	170	35.4%	480
Farristown Middle School	160	32.1%	499
B. Michael Caudill Middle School	146	28.7%	508
Berea Community Middle School	78	30.4%	257
Model High School	59	14.2%	415
Bellevue Transitional School	9	14.1%	64
Madison County Day Treatment	2	4.3%	46