A study says JCPS could close 8 underperforming schools. Here's where

In a recent national study, eight Jefferson County Public Schools were identified as candidates for closures, based on the schools' low enrollments and poor academic performances.

The study, conducted by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, identified nearly 500 schools across the country that were both under enrolled and chronically low-achieving, based on each state's standardized test scores.

The study, published in September, acknowledges that forcing students to switch schools can be harmful but highlights potential positives in terms of educational opportunities and financial stability of the overall district.

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Closing a school, the study states, "is beneficial when displaced students land in better alternatives. And of course, the primary purpose of most closures isn’t just to help this generation of students. It’s to ensure that innumerable future generations are well-served. That’s because keeping under enrolled schools on life support is expensive in both dollar and educational terms."

Schools the study identified as candidates for closure each received the "Comprehensive Support and Improvement" designation by the state and lost at least 20% of their students between the 2019-20 and 2022-23 school years.

The authors of the study, however, warned against labeling these as bad schools simply for being included in the list.

"Frankly, we’re not fans of how some states designate their CSI schools, relying heavily on proficiency rates rather than year-over-year student-level growth," such as Kentucky, the study stated. "There might be some schools on the list with very low test scores but strong year-to-year growth. We would consider those good schools, not bad schools."

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Additionally, the study warned that authors were not able to evaluate if there are high-quality alternatives available to families if their schools were to close.

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The study used data enrollment published by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Here is what we know about the JCPS schools identified in the study.

Breckinridge-Franklin Elementary

Located in Irish Hill, Breckinridge-Franklin saw its enrollment decline by nearly 40% in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, though it has largely rebounded.

In the fall before the pandemic, the school enrolled 425 students. But by the 2022-23 school year, it had just 266 students.

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This year, though, the school's enrollment is back up to 405 students, which is 85% of its building's capacity. The school's principal associated the rise in enrollment with the district's new student assignment plan, which put the school in the Choice Zone, meaning families in the area now have the choice to attend Breckinridge-Franklin rather than attending a school further away from home.

The Choice Zone is comprised of 13 schools in or around Louisville's West End that serve a high rate of economically disadvantaged students, a demographic that nationally faces more barriers to academic success.

Along with the increased enrollment, Breckinridge-Franklin has seen positive academic growth. Though it earned the CSI designation in 2019-20, its overall student performance increased enough to move out of the designation in 2022-23.

Of its students, 26% were proficient readers and 21% were proficient in math, according to the latest test results — the highest rates of all schools on this list.

Byck Elementary

Prior to the pandemic, Byck's enrollment was just under 400. In the years since, it has hovered around 280.

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The study noted the Russell neighborhood school enrolled 373 students in the fall of 2019 but had lost 23% by fall 2022. Today, its students occupy just 66% of its building's capacity.

The school was designated as a CSI school in 2019-20 and has yet to improve proficiency rates well enough to move off that list. The school's latest test scores show 15% of students were proficient readers and 13% were proficient in math.

Byck is also in the district's Choice Zone, which means it began receiving additional support last year, including increased funding and hiring priority.

Engelhard Elementary

The Old Louisville elementary school served about 350 students going into the pandemic but saw its enrollment dip by 21% in its aftermath.

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Today the school serves 264 students, which represents about 62% of the building's capacity. It too is a Choice Zone school and was also designated a CSI school in 2019-2020. It still retains that designation.

Test scores show 7% of Engelhard's students were proficient readers last year, while math proficiency rates were not high enough to measure.

J.F. Kennedy Elementary

Much like Breckinridge-Franklin, Kennedy saw an enrollment decline in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic but has continued to see more students return in the years since.

In fall 2019, the school — located in the Park Duvalle neighborhood — had more than 550 students. But by fall 2022, it had lost about 130 students, or 23%. This year, though, the school has largely rebounded with nearly 500 students, making it one of about three dozen overcrowded schools in the district.

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Kennedy is also a part of the Choice Zone, though unlike the previous two, it has benefitted from increased interest from families who are opting to send their children to Kennedy rather than an option farther away.

Despite the enrollment jump and Choice Zone supports, the school has not yet seen enough performance growth to lose its CSI designation, which it has had since 2019-20.

Test scores show 13% of Kennedy students were proficient readers last year, while math proficiency rates were not high enough to measure.

McFerran Academy

In fall 2019, the Park Hill neighborhood school had just over 900 students. By fall 2022, it had fewer than 700 students, a decrease of about 24%. Now, the school has less than 500 students. It is among the district's most under-utilized buildings — operating at 46% capacity — despite being in the Choice Zone.

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Academically, the latest test scores show 8% of students were reading proficiently and 6% were proficient in math. The school has been on the CSI list since 2018.

Fredrick Law Olmsted Academy North

Located in the Iroquois neighborhood, Olmsted Academy North was the only JCPS school identified in the study that is not an elementary school.

The study noted the school lost a significant number of students. However, losing some students was necessary due to overcrowding.

In fall 2019, the school had about 660 students, though its building's capacity is 644. Post-pandemic, the school saw its enrollment fall below capacity, and it has continued to shrink.

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In fall 2022, Olmsted North had 510 students. Today it has 475, which is about 74% of its capacity.

The school has been on the CSI list every year since 2018-19. Test scores show 11% of students were reading proficient last year and 13% were math proficient.

Shelby Academy

Shelby Academy in the Shelby Park neighborhood was also overcrowded before the pandemic but has lost far more students than necessary in its wake.

In fall 2019, the school was bursting at its seams with 766 students in a building that would ideally serve 638. By fall 2022, it had lost 41% of those students, serving 449.

Now, the school is even smaller with just under 300 students, falling under the 50% capacity mark.

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It, too, has been a CSI school since 2018-19. Of its students, 13% were proficient readers and 14% were math proficient last year.

Young Elementary

Young Elementary in the Shawnee neighborhood is the district's most under-utilized building, even after moving into a smaller school this year.

The magnet school has experienced a declining enrollment for the past several years, but it saw another big drop this year when the district quit providing transportation to its students, who are largely economically disadvantaged.

Going into the pandemic, Young was serving about 340 students. By fall 2022, it had 209. Now, it has just 100 students.

Like Breckinridge-Franklin, Young has seen an improvement in academic achievement. It was first labeled a CSI school in 2019-20, but student performance increased enough to move out of that designation in 2022-23. Test scores show 19% of students were reading proficient last year and 9% were proficient in math.

Contact Krista Johnson at kjohnson3@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: JCPS could close 8 low-performing schools, study says

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