North Kentucky News

There were 1,680 kindergarten students enrolled in Boone County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 0.2% more than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Ockerman Elementary School welcomed most of the kindergarten students in the county, registering 147 students.

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

Statewide, Boone County ranked fifth in enrollment numbers. It was also ranked fifth 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 Kindergarten Students Enrolled	% of Student Body	Total Enrollment
Ockerman Elementary School	147	17%	865
Walton-Verona Elementary School	143	19%	751
Longbranch Elementary School	141	15.4%	914
Erpenbeck Elementary School	113	15.1%	746
Chester Goodridge Elementary School	112	16.3%	688
A. M. Yealey Elementary School	111	16.7%	665
Florence Elementary School	110	16.9%	650
Shirley Mann Elementary School	108	14.6%	740
New Haven Elementary School	107	14.6%	735
Burlington Elementary School	106	14.3%	743
Thornwilde Elementary School	97	14.4%	672
Hillard Collins Elementary School	88	15.8%	558
Stephens Elementary School	87	13.4%	649
North Pointe Elementary School	81	18%	449
Steeplechase Elementary School	79	12.9%	612
Charles H. Kelly Elementary School	50	20.2%	248