Metro Lex News

There were 3,237 seventh grade students enrolled in Fayette County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 6.3% less than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Edythe Jones Hayes Middle School welcomed most of the seventh grade students in the county, registering 353 students.

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

Statewide, Fayette County ranked second in enrollment numbers. It was also ranked second 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
Edythe Jones Hayes Middle School	353	31.4%	1,125
Jessie M. Clark Middle School	342	31.2%	1,097
Leestown Middle School	331	31%	1,067
Winburn Middle School	313	35.5%	882
Crawford Middle School	284	32.9%	864
Southern Middle School	278	33.3%	835
Bryan Station Middle School	270	31.3%	862
Beaumont Middle School	266	29.7%	895
Morton Middle School	262	34.3%	763
Tates Creek Middle School	251	30.1%	835
Lexington Trad Magnet School	107	31.4%	341
Scapa at Bluegrass	56	20.2%	277
Success Academy	44	10.3%	426
Carter G. Woodson Academy	43	14.9%	289
Martin L. King Academy for Excellence Alternative	36	7.9%	453
Audrey Grevious Center	1	1.9%	52