The Kentucky Department of Education has released the 2025-2026 assessment and accountability results.

The state accountability system uses the Kentucky Summative Assessment and other tools to measure performance on six indicators: reading and math; science, social studies, and writing; English learner progress; quality of school climate/safety; postsecondary readiness; and graduation rate. Each indicator is evaluated on Status in 2025-2026 and Change from the previous year.

Kentucky is in the final year of the current assessment and accountability system. The General Assembly authorized changes that will take effect beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. This year’s public release of data is not affected by the upcoming changes.

Ratings are reported using a color-coded system to communicate performance, from highest to lowest: Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red.

Here is a summary of Hopkins County Schools’ key results:

Elementary Schools maintained an overall Yellow rating with an overall score of 66.1. The highest score was obtained by Hanson Elementary School. HES received a Green rating with an overall score of 82.7. All other HCS elementary schools received Yellow ratings. As a district, elementary schools were Green in Reading and Math and Blue in Quality of School Climate and Safety. The trend shows a consistent high performance in content areas with slight fluctuations in performance levels from year to year.

Middle Schools received an overall rating of Yellow with a score of 60.8. James Madison received an overall rating of Green with a score of 66.7. All other HCS middle schools received Yellow ratings. The district was Green in Science, Social Studies and Writing and Quality of School Climate and Safety. The schools show a gradual improvement in the percentage of students earning Proficient or Distinguished over the past four years.

High Schools registered an overall score of 67.2 and a Yellow rating. Madisonville North Hopkins received a Green rating with a score of 73.8. Hopkins County Central received a Yellow rating, which is an improvement from last year’s Orange rating. District high schools were green in Science, Social Studies and Writing and Postsecondary Readiness and Blue in Quality of School Climate and Safety. A continued improvement has been seen in postsecondary readiness. While Hopkins County Central HS achieved significant growth in scores, the school remains identified as needing Targeted Support and Improvement for students with disabilities.

Positive Notes

• The district elementary, middle school, and high school average scores are above the state average in numerous areas. Elementary scores top the state in overall score; Reading and Math; and Quality of School Climate and Safety. HCS middle schools scored above the statewide average in the overall score; Science, Social Studies & Writing; and Quality of School Climate and Safety. The district high school scores topped the state average in Science, Social Studies, and Writing; Quality of School Climate and Safety; and Graduation Rate.
• Assessment scores are up in every subject area at both Browning Springs Middle School and Hopkins County Central High School.
• Gains were noted in both social studies and writing at nine of our schools. Scores also increased in science at eight schools.
• Several schools that were Yellow overall received higher marks in the individual areas. West Broadway Elementary was Green in Reading and Math and Science, Social Studies and Writing, and Blue in Quality of School Climate and Safety. Both Jesse Stuart Elementary and Browning Springs Middle were Green in all three of those areas. Pride Elementary was Green in Reading and Math and Blue in Quality of School Climate and Safety. Hopkins County Central was Green in Quality of School Climate and Safety, Postsecondary Readiness, and Graduation Rate.  

Targets for Improvement

• Focus on Reading Foundations and fidelity implementation of High-Quality Instructional Resources that are aligned with state academic standards.
• Adoption of high quality instructional resources for math this year in our high schools.
• Continued refinement of Multi-Tiered System of Supports, a framework used to identify students who are struggling and to intervene quickly.
• Increased participation in Early College and Dual Credit courses in the high schools.
• Implementation of Reading and Math Improvement Plans for students in kindergarten through 3rd grade who score below proficient.
• Continued expansion of Kagan Cooperative Learning Strategies to increase students’ active engagement in the classroom.

Statement from Superintendent Dr. Damon Fleming: "These results reflect the dedication and perseverance of our educators and students across the district. While we are proud to see our schools outperforming the state average in critical areas like reading, math, and school safety, we recognize that our work is far from finished. As Kentucky prepares for upcoming changes to its accountability model, Hopkins County remains committed to strengthening reading foundations, expanding dual-credit opportunities, and providing targeted support so every student has the tools to succeed." 

More details can be found below and in the media briefing packet on the KDE Communications webpage.