KSA 2025-26: Celebrating Progress Across CCPS
From stronger academic performance to more positive school environments, Clark County Public Schools is seeing progress across key measures of student success.
The 2025–26 Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) results released today offer a closer look at that progress and the district’s continued focus on preparing students for life after graduation.
“We know meaningful, sustainable growth takes time," said Chief Academic Officer Kelly Fithen. "Our work is not about quick fixes, but about putting effective systems in place, refining them each year, and ensuring they support continued improvement in student learning."
At the school level, Shearer Elementary stands out as a district highlight, improving by 5.2 points and moving up from Yellow to Green.
Districtwide, several key indicators have improved for the second consecutive year, reflecting continued progress in student learning.
Building Strong Foundations in Elementary School
Elementary reading and math indicators have trended upward for the second consecutive year.
At Conkwright, Justice, Shearer, and Strode Station elementary schools, combined reading and math scores increased by 2.6 points, maintaining a Green rating in that area.
While Shearer led elementaries with a Green rating, the overall CCPS elementary status remains Yellow. Students with disabilities and English Language Learners demonstrated double-digit growth in science scores.
This continued progress reflects a focused effort to strengthen classroom instruction and build consistent practices across elementary schools.
Key strategies include Kagan cooperative learning, Orton-Gillingham professional learning for elementary teachers, daily integration of foundational literacy skills, and high-quality instructional resources.
"This progress reflects our intentional efforts to strengthen instruction and build consistent practices across our classrooms," said Fithen. “We’re focused on helping teachers do what works best for students and continuing to build on what we’ve learned.”
Meaningful Gains in Middle School
Baker, RDC, and CVA/Phoenix Academy recorded a 3-point increase in their overall score, maintaining a Yellow rating.
One of the year's most notable academic gains came among students with disabilities, whose combined reading and math scores increased by an impressive 21 points, moving their rating from Red to Yellow.
Middle schools also maintained a Green rating in combined science, social studies, and writing.
Preparing High School Students for What's Next
George Rogers Clark High School postsecondary readiness maintained a Blue rating with a score of 94.5.
Students with disabilities made substantial progress, with combined reading and math scores increasing by 9.7 points.
GRC maintained a Green rating for graduation with a score of 96. The district's overall performance in this area has trended upward for the second consecutive year, reinforcing CCPS's commitment to helping students prepare for their next steps.
“Through our Portrait of a Clark County Learner," said Fithen, "we are focused on ensuring students leave CCPS with the skills, competencies, and confidence to succeed beyond high school."
Stronger School Communities
School climate indicators at both the middle and high school levels have trended upward for two consecutive years.
High school Quality of School Climate & Safety results provided another encouraging highlight, increasing by 6.1 points and moving from Green to Blue.
Middle school results increased by 1.1 points, moving from Yellow to Green.
"A positive school climate is built through relationships, trust, student belonging, and a shared commitment to creating environments where students and staff feel supported and connected," Fithen said. "This progress reflects intentional work to strengthen our school communities, and we will continue building on that foundation."
More Than a Score
Kentucky's accountability system uses Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red to communicate school performance.
These ratings draw on multiple indicators, including state assessment results, growth measures, graduation rates, and school climate surveys.
While scores and ratings help measure progress, they represent only part of the story. The work behind the numbers is essential to continued growth.
Such work is a commitment at CCPS as we continue to emphasize high-quality instruction and the professional learning required to achieve it, along with strong relationships and support.
CCPS remains committed to its Portrait of a Clark County Learner, emphasizing students’ ability to apply their learning, build meaningful relationships, and develop the skills needed to excel in school, career, and life.
"We are encouraged by the progress we are making,"Fithen said. "We recognize the work ahead, and remain committed to Growing Greatness in every CCPS student.”
SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Shearer Elementary
Improved its overall rating from Yellow to Green, with a 5.2-point overall gain.
Strode Station Elementary
Increased combined Reading and Math by 11.2 points, moving that indicator from Orange to Green.
Conkwright Elementary
Third-grade Proficient and Distinguished performance increased by 11% in Reading and 9% in Math.
Justice Elementary
Combined Reading and Math improved by 6.2 points, moving that indicator to Green.
Baker Intermediate
Students with disabilities gained 13.1 points across all content areas, while English learners gained 11.9 points in combined Reading and Math.
RDC Junior High
Students with disabilities gained 18 points in combined Reading and Math, moving from a Red to a Yellow rating.
George Rogers Clark High School
Maintained a Blue rating in postsecondary readiness, earning an indicator score of 94.5, and maintained a Green graduation rating of 96.
NOTE: The 2025–2026 results mark the final year of Kentucky’s current assessment and accountability system.
