Clark County Preschool earns prestigious 5-Star rating

Clark County Preschool Staff 2025-26

Clark County Preschool has received a 5-Star rating, the highest possible recognition from the Kentucky Department of Education.

The 5-STAR designation marks a significant achievement and spotlights our district’s strong commitment to offering the best in early childhood education.

“You're not going to find a district administration team that is as invested into early childhood education as is Clark County,” said Jillian Blanton, Director of Early Learning. “It’s an honor to work for a district that values and really understands the importance of early childhood education and preventing gaps before they ever occur.”

The 5-Star honor is yet another feather in the cap of our amazing new Preschool, which opened to much fanfare in February.

KDE All Stars Rating System New This Year

KDE’s All STARS quality rating and improvement system, new this year, reflects excellence across four domains: family and community engagement, classroom and instructional quality, staff qualifications and professional development, and administrative and leadership practices.

Notably, the evaluation is not optional; it is required for every preschool program in Kentucky.

Clark County Preschool was selected for the first cohort to undergo the evaluation, which required intense preparation, staff training, and detailed evidence submission. “We're part of the very first cohort to go through this,” Ms. Blanton said, emphasizing the school’s role as a pioneer in the new statewide system.

When the ratings were finally released, later than expected, the moment was unforgettable. “My staff was asking the first week of August, what is our rating, what is our rating, and I'm like, I don't have it yet.” Then the email came. “We are super excited,” she said. “Everyone in our building shares this honor equally.”

Outstanding staff is key to success

At the heart of the preschool’s success is a dedicated staff—74 strong—who work tirelessly each day to support the school’s 300 students across 19 classrooms.

“This program is what it is because of the staff,” Ms. Blanton said. “That doesn't mean just the teachers and instructional assistants. That is the food service team, our custodians, our support staff. Everybody in this building is why this program is a five-star program.”

Despite the demanding work schedule—7:00 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. with minimal breaks—teachers remain fully committed to the students. “Some days are physically hard, mentally hard, but they all come in every day ready to build up our students,” Ms. Blanton said.

Learning communities enhance experience

An innovative “learning community” model has further enhanced the experience for both students and staff. Named after Kentucky’s natural landmarks—The Lake, The Forest, The Gorge, and The Bluegrass—these groups build identity, camaraderie, and independence through things like team dances and T-shirts.

Beyond fun and creativity lies an unshakable focus on child development and equity. “We are focused on preventing gaps,” Ms. Blanton said. “If we can master those social-emotional skills from six weeks to five years old, then think about how easy those other components are going to come.”

That prevention-focused mindset starts early—sometimes as young as six weeks old. Through the district’s Cardinals Nest daycare, even infants are introduced to early childhood experiences like storytime, music, and center-based play. “We are getting students at six weeks old in our district through graduation. I mean, it's awesome. It's magnificent, it's incredible.”

Free extensive services offered

Clark County Preschool also stands apart for the extensive services it provides at no cost to families. The school has two speech therapists, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, a vision impairment teacher, and a hearing impairment teacher.

Even more impressive is that every Preschool teacher is dual certified in regular and special education.

All students receive individualized screening upon entry, ensuring those who need extra support are identified early.

Ms. Blanton closed with a powerful reflection on what makes Clark County Preschool shine: “This building is magnificent and it's beautiful, but truly what happens inside this building is the greatness; what’s magnificent is what’s taking place inside these walls.”

As Kentucky explores the path toward universal preschool, Clark County stands ready as both a model and an inspiration.