(Harlan, Ky.) – Harlan Independent School District is celebrating outstanding results following the release of the 2026 Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) and school accountability ratings. The results highlight continued academic excellence throughout the district, with Harlan High School earning the state's highest performance rating of Blue, Harlan Elementary School receiving a Green rating, and Harlan Middle School earning a Yellow rating while demonstrating improvement over the previous year.
The Kentucky Department of Education released the 2025–2026 assessment and accountability results on October 15. Kentucky's accountability system evaluates schools across several measures of student success, including academic achievement, school climate and safety, graduation rates, and postsecondary readiness. Schools receive overall performance ratings ranging from Blue, the highest, to Red, the lowest.
Superintendent Jennifer Parsons praised the collective efforts of students, educators, administrators, support staff, and families throughout the district.
“I am incredibly proud of our entire school community—students, teachers, support staff, administrators, and families—for these results. It takes everyone working together each day with a common goal—the students we serve. Sustaining this level of excellence takes a dedicated team united by a commitment to helping all students achieve more each year. Each of our schools increased in its overall rating, and our high school achieved the highest rating. Our small district has a proud tradition of outstanding achievement, reflecting what students can accomplish when encouragement and high expectations guide their learning.”
Harlan High School Continues Tradition of Academic Excellence
Harlan High School continued its longstanding tradition of academic excellence, earning the highest overall performance rating of Blue and ranking 24th among Kentucky's 228 public high schools.
The high school earned Blue ratings in Reading, Mathematics, Science/Social Studies/Combined Writing, and the Quality of School Climate and Safety Survey.
Several individual assessment results placed Harlan High School among the highest-performing schools in Kentucky. The school's Reading performance ranked 11th statewide, placing it among the top 4.8% of Kentucky high schools. Its combined Reading and Mathematics indicator ranked 14th in the state, while Science/Social Studies/Combined Writing ranked 20th. The school's Combined Writing results, assessed in 11th grade, were particularly impressive, ranking fourth statewide.
Harlan High School Principal Mike Bolton emphasized that these accomplishments reflect a strong school culture built on high expectations, quality instruction, and a shared commitment to student success.
“Harlan High School has a proud tradition of providing a high-quality education, with consistently strong results reflecting the dedication of our teachers, support staff, and students. We credit this success to the instruction that begins at Sunshine Preschool and grows through every school in our district, with each playing an essential role in preparing students for high school. We will continue to set high expectations, meet students where they are, and provide the support they need to excel while celebrating their progress along the way. I am incredibly proud of our school and everyone who contributes to its success.”
Harlan Elementary School Demonstrates Strong Academic Performance
Harlan Elementary School earned an overall performance rating of Green, achieving an index score of 81.8, just 1.2 points shy of the state's highest performance category of Blue.
Elementary students exceeded state averages in Reading, Mathematics, and Science across the assessed third- and fourth-grade subjects. The school also earned Blue ratings on the Quality of School Climate and Safety Survey, reflecting a positive learning environment for students.
Reading and Science were particularly strong areas of achievement. The school's Reading index score of 89.3 was nearly 20 points higher than the state average, with 69.5% of students in grades three and four scoring Proficient or Distinguished.
Fourth-grade Science results continued to demonstrate exceptional performance. No students scored at the Novice level, while 60% achieved Proficient or Distinguished scores.
Harlan Elementary School Principal Tara Posey credited these accomplishments to the dedication of teachers, students, and families working together to support academic success.
“These scores reflect the hard work and dedication of students and staff that happen every day in our classrooms. I am extremely proud of our consistency and even more excited about where we are headed. Our students deserve our very best every day, and we remain committed to providing nothing less.”
Posey also emphasized the important role consistent school attendance plays in student achievement and the strong partnership between families and educators.
“I also want to commend our families for recognizing the importance of consistent school attendance, beginning in kindergarten and continuing throughout their child's educational journey. Each day a child is present at school is another opportunity to learn, grow, and benefit from the expertise of dedicated educators who continually refine their practice. Strong schools are built through partnerships between families and educators, and these results reflect that shared commitment.”
Harlan Middle School Shows Continued Academic Improvement
Harlan Middle School demonstrated academic growth in the 2026 assessment results, improving its overall index score to 59.7. While the school maintained an overall Yellow performance rating, improvements in several academic areas reflect the ongoing efforts of students and educators.
Middle school students exceeded state average index scores in Reading, Science, and the Quality of School Climate and Safety Survey. The school also surpassed state averages in the percentage of students scoring Proficient or Distinguished in Reading across grades five through seven and in seventh-grade Science.
Harlan Middle School Principal Dr. Andrew Williams expressed encouragement over the improvements while emphasizing the school's continued commitment to strengthening student achievement across all academic areas.
“We are encouraged by the improvement in Reading and Science in our assessment results. Our teachers and students have worked hard, and I'm proud to see that work reflected in these areas. We also know there is more work to do, and we're committed to helping our students improve across all content areas. We've already begun strengthening that work this year, which will push each student toward achievement at the highest level. We have the best staff around, and I'm thankful to work alongside them as we continue to strengthen the results for our students.”
Building on a Tradition of Excellence
Across all three schools, the assessment results reflect Harlan Independent School District's continued commitment to providing students with a high-quality education. From early childhood education through high school graduation, the district remains focused on building strong academic foundations, encouraging student growth, and preparing every student for future success.
Looking ahead, Superintendent Parsons emphasized the importance of celebrating the district's accomplishments while maintaining a commitment to continued growth and improvement.
“We proudly celebrate our students' and schools' accomplishments and want every student and family to understand the significance of sustaining this level of success in a small district like ours. We also recognize that there are areas where we can improve, and our team is committed to helping every student grow as we build on our strengths and address areas where additional support is needed. We are striving for even stronger results across the district in 2027.”
Complete assessment results and school accountability ratings are available through the Kentucky Department of Education's School Report Card Dashboard at https://reportcard.kyschools.us/.