Enrollment Analysis: American Indian or Alaskan Native students comprised 0.4% of Highlands Middle School’s student body in 2022-23 school year

There were three American Indian or Alaskan Native students enrolled in Highlands Middle School in the 2022-23 school year, the same number as the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

Data showed that Highlands Middle School welcomed 746 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, American Indian or Alaskan Native students comprised 0.4% of the student body to be the least represented ethnicity in the school.

The school is located in Fort Thomas Independent School District with a central office in Fort Thomas.

Among the five schools in Fort Thomas Independent School District, Highlands Middle School recorded the highest enrollment of American Indian or Alaskan Native students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of three students.

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.