SE Bluegrass News

There were 65 Hispanic or Latino students enrolled in Berea Independent School District schools in the 2022-23 school year, 25.3% less than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Data showed that Berea Independent School District welcomed 1,202 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, Hispanic or Latino students comprised 5.4% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the district.

Berea Independent School District roughly covers three schools within Madison County and has a main office in Berea.

Among the three schools in Berea Independent School District, Berea Community High School recorded the highest enrollment of Hispanic or Latino students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 29 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.

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.

Year	Total District Enrollment	Total Hispanic or Latino Students	Hispanic or Latino %
2022-23	1,202	65	5.4%
2021-22	1,283	87	6.8%
2020-21	1,305	79	6.1%
2019-20	1,245	87	7%