North Kentucky News

There were 1,690 second grade students enrolled in Boone County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 1.3% less than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Longbranch Elementary School welcomed most of the second grade students in the county, registering 152 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 2nd Grade Students Enrolled	% of Student Body	Total Enrollment
Longbranch Elementary School	152	16.6%	914
Walton-Verona Elementary School	149	19.8%	751
Ockerman Elementary School	135	15.6%	865
Erpenbeck Elementary School	117	15.7%	746
Thornwilde Elementary School	117	17.4%	672
Shirley Mann Elementary School	114	15.4%	740
Burlington Elementary School	109	14.7%	743
Steeplechase Elementary School	107	17.5%	612
New Haven Elementary School	105	14.3%	735
Chester Goodridge Elementary School	103	15%	688
Florence Elementary School	102	15.7%	650
A. M. Yealey Elementary School	101	15.2%	665
Hillard Collins Elementary School	83	14.9%	558
Stephens Elementary School	83	12.8%	649
North Pointe Elementary School	71	15.8%	449
Charles H. Kelly Elementary School	42	16.9%	248