There were 11 African American students enrolled in Owen County schools in the 2023-24 school year, a 15.4% decrease from the 13 African American students in the previous school year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Data showed that Owen County welcomed a total of 1,842 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 0.6% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the county.
Among the three schools in Owen County, Owen County Elementary/Primary School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of six students, making up 0.8% of the school’s total student body.
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.
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.
| School name | % of African American Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Owen County Elementary/Primary School | 0.8% | 767 |
| Maurice Bowling Middle School | 0.6% | 489 |
| Owen County High School | 0.3% | 586 |