The majority of students in Bourbon County’s school districts were white in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Of the 3,741 students attending schools in Bourbon County’s school districts, 68.6% were white. Hispanic or Latino students constituted the second-largest ethnic group in the county, accounting for 18.5%.
In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Bourbon County’s school districts, representing 70.7% of the student body.
Paris Independent School District had the most even distribution of races among county districts, which included 51.4% white students, 18.3% African American students, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino students, 12.3% multiracial students, and 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native students.
In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in school districts in the county dropped to 2.8% compared to the previous year.
The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Bourbon County.
Despite ongoing efforts to address educational disparities, Kentucky’s achievement gaps persist. In the 2024 eighth-grade reading assessments, for example, Black students scored 24 points lower than their white peers, while Hispanic students were 19 points behind. In mathematics, the gaps were even more pronounced: Black students lagged by 29 points and Hispanic students by 19 points compared to white students. These disparities have remained relatively unchanged since 2000, highlighting the need for continued focus on equity in education.
| District | Most Prevalent | Percent of Total Student Body | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon County School District | White | 74% | 2,848 |
| Paris Independent School District | White | 51.4% | 893 |
