At a glance
Kentucky rates schools with a color and star system (five levels) on the Kentucky School Report Card, rather than a letter grade.
How this state rates schools
Kentucky assigns an overall rating shown as a color and star level: blue (very high, 5), green (high), yellow (medium), orange (low), and red (very low). It’s based on proficiency, separate academic indicators (like science/social studies/writing), growth (elementary/middle), graduation rate, readiness, English-learner progress, and climate/safety. Read the components alongside the color.
What gets measured
Under the federal ESSA law, every state rates schools using several indicators. They typically include:
- Academic achievementHow students score on state tests (proficiency in reading/ELA and math)
- Academic growth / progressHow much students improve year to year — not just where they land
- Graduation rateFor high schools (the 4-year cohort rate)
- English-learner progressHow English learners are progressing toward proficiency
- School quality / student successAn extra indicator — often attendance/chronic absenteeism, college/career readiness, or similar
Finding & reading the report card
Look up any school on the Kentucky School Report Card (kyschoolreportcard.com). Review the indicator ratings (especially growth/readiness) and the trend, not just the color.
How families should use ratings
A rating is a helpful starting point, not a verdict. Use it wisely:
- Read it in contextA school’s score reflects its students’ circumstances too, not only its quality
- Look at growth, not just scoresGrowth shows how much a school moves students — often more telling than raw proficiency
- Check the trendIs the school improving over time?
- Look past the summaryDig into the underlying data (subgroups, attendance, readiness)
- Then visitData raises questions; a visit answers them (see our guide on evaluating a school)
Tips for families
- Start on the official portalLook up your specific school, not just district averages
- Weigh growth heavilyHow much a school moves students matters as much as test scores
- Mind the contextRatings partly reflect student demographics and circumstances
- Compare a few schoolsRatings are most useful for comparison, in context
- Pair data with a visitNumbers plus a tour give the real picture
Frequently asked questions
- How does Kentucky rate schools?Kentucky uses a five-level color/star rating (blue – red) based on several indicators.
- What do the ratings measure?Test scores, growth, graduation rate, English-learner progress, and a school-quality indicator.
- Where do I look up my school?On the state’s official report-card portal (see below).
- Should I choose a school by its rating alone?No — use it as a starting point, weigh growth and context, and visit.
- What are CSI and TSI?Federal labels for schools flagged for Comprehensive or Targeted Support and Improvement.
At a glance
- FormatColor/star rating (5 levels)
- ColorsBlue (highest) – Red (lowest)
- ToolKentucky School Report Card
- Look up atkyschoolreportcard.com
Where to look it up
Look up a specific school on the official portal: