The Kentucky Department of Education released its annual ratings on Oct. 22, 2026. The color scale runs from red, the lowest rating, through orange, yellow and green to blue, the highest.

JCPS and Trimble County each received orange ratings for elementary, middle and high schools. Cloverport Independent was the only area district with a red rating, receiving it at the elementary level; its middle and high schools were rated orange.

The ratings follow a state report card showing that most JCPS students remain below proficiency in reading and math, despite small gains. At least 62% of students scored below proficient in reading at every school level, while at least 69% fell short in math.

Oldham County received green ratings for elementary and middle schools and blue for high school. Anchorage Independent also scored among the region’s top districts, with a green elementary rating and blue middle-school rating.

Several districts received yellow across all three levels: Bullitt, Meade, LaRue and Shelby counties, and Bardstown Independent. Breckinridge County earned green ratings at every level. Other results varied by grade span: Henry County’s ratings ranged from orange for elementary to green for high school, while Eminence Independent received blue for high school after orange and yellow ratings at its lower levels.

The state’s ratings consider factors including student performance on tests and academic improvement. Districts differ in size and face different challenges, which can affect results; the color ratings alone do not explain the causes of performance gaps or the resources available to students.