College/Academic Readiness

Throughout the Kenton County School District, students are provided with opportunities to increase their readiness and exemplify their proficiency through multiple measures. Beginning in 4th Grade students have their Grade Point Average (GPA) calculated and they will see how this measure is used throughout their educational career. In all grade levels, academic programs are used in collaboration with appropriate assessments to ensure that students are provided with the resources and programming necessary to work towards academic readiness. Finally, students are encouraged to participate in extra/co-curricular activities that help to enhance their understanding of core academic principals and apply the skills they have gained in a meaningful manner.

What is Grade Point Average? (GPA)

Within the KCSD, all students in grades 4-12 have their GPA tracked and reported on their school report cards and transcripts. GPA is an indication of a student's academic achievement at their school. This is calculated utilizing the final course grade students earn throughout each school year.

In a University of California study, GPA was consistently found to be one of the strongest predictors of four-year college outcomes across all academic disciplines, campuses, and freshmen cohorts. A Brown University study found that the level of courses taken by students are more predictive of college success. Career indicators emphasize the importance of making connections to the school environment through extra/co-curricular activities and regular attendance above 90%. Extra/co-curricular activities promote student achievement, engagement and better attitudes that lead to lifelong aspirations, and ultimately success, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education. Data shows school attendance is central to success. Absenteeism influences not just chances for graduating high school, but also accessing future employment.

Kentucky Academic Standards

The Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) contain the minimum required standards that all Kentucky students should have the opportunity to learn before graduating from Kentucky high schools. More information on the KAS can be found at KYstandards.org.

KCSD Common District Summative Assessments

Common District Summative Assessments evaluate student learning at the end of instructional units and measure the effectiveness of the system-wide structures to support learning throughout the Kenton County School District in comparison to grade level proficiency for each state learning standard. Common district summative assessments give data that allows teachers and administrators to:

Identify common content and school-wide skill deficits for remediation.
Identify areas of growth needed for grade/standards level mastery.
Work on strategies for improvement toward mastery of standards.
Use assessment data for remediation of specific skills or standards.
Identify students in classrooms who are significantly above/below grade level norms who may need additional support or extension.
Lead needs-based groups for specific skill deficits using assessment materials/instructional resources for reteaching and short reassessment materials to measure effectiveness.
Discuss progress of identified skills/standards and next steps.
Identify skills/students for remediation during MTSS times.
Make adjustments in scheduling to ensure staffing needs and student participation are met.

College Readiness

At each Kenton County High School, students are able to engage in high school course work that prepares them to be college ready. For students looking to earn college credits early or extend their learning, they have numerous opportunities to choose from.

Dual Credit

Each high school in the Kenton County School District is excited to offer a wide range of dual credit options for their students. Through these courses students are able to gain college credit while earning credit towards their High School diploma.

Dixie Heights Dual Credit Partnerships

Eastern Kentucky University

Gateway Community and Technical College

Northern Kentucky University

Thomas More University

Scott High School Dual Credit Partnerships

Eastern Kentucky University

Gateway Community and Technical College

Morehead State University

Northern Kentucky University

Thomas More University

Simon Kenton Dual Credit Partnerships

Eastern Kentucky University

Gateway Community and Technical College

Morehead University

Murray State University

Northern Kentucky University

Thomas More University

Young Scholars Academy

Ready to be a full-time college student in high school? Come learn about the Young Scholars Academy!

The Young Scholars Academy is a highly selective partnership between the Kenton County School District and Northern Kentucky University. A limited number of students are selected to take a full-time college course load on NKU's campus for their final two years of high school at an extremely discounted rate! Students have the opportunity to earn 60 hours of college credit and/or and associate's degree while working with a small cohort of motivated, like-minded students working toward degrees with a focus in STEM, integrated studies, supply chain, and computer science.

For more information, contact Dr. Amanda Dempsey at amanda.dempsey@kenton.kyschools.us.

Advanced Placement (AP) Options

High School students taking Advanced Placement (AP) Courses while in high school allows them to gain an advantage when entering college by earning college credit based on AP Exam scores in pre-requisite areas and explore potential college majors. This coursework is designed students to perform at a high level immediately and pursue higher level coursework at colleges and universities.

Dixie Heights High School

Art, Biology, Chemistry, US History, American Government, European History, Spanish, German, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Music Theory, Calculus AB/BC, Statistics, Comparative Politics

Scott High School

European History, American Government, Psychology

Simon Kenton High School

Studio Art, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Calculus AB/BC, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Human Geography, European History, Psychology, US History, French, Spanish, Computer Science A

College Readiness Assessments

Kenton County School's students have multiple opportunities to exemplify College Readiness through the ACT and KYOTE testing.

ACT

In the state of Kentucky, ACT, Inc. has been selected as the state assessment for Grade 11, juniors. Therefore, Grade 11 students will take a college admissions exam during state testing. In addition to the spring college admissions examination for juniors, the Kenton County School District purchases the ACT to be administered to Grade 10 students, as well. This exciting announcement will allow Kentucky public seniors two free opportunities to increase ACT scores. The primary use of the college admissions exam is to measure students' level of readiness for college in core academic content areas. Meeting benchmarks on the ACT is one-way students may demonstrate college readiness as a part of obtaining Transition Ready status.

Beyond the state use of results, the state-administered college admissions exam also benefits students, their parents and educators in several ways. Administering the college admissions exam as part of the state testing program permits students to take the exam at no cost. The exam is administered during the school day, providing equitable access for all students to participate. Additionally, many organizations that offer merit or academic scholarships will identify and award financial assistance based on scores from a college admissions exam. Kentucky benchmark scores for the ACT are as follows: English – 18; Math – 19; Reading – 20; and Science – 23.

KYOTE

The Kentucky Online Testing (KYOTE) placement testing system is a free online placement measure of preparedness for college level learning in mathematics, reading and writing. KYOTE placement exams are accepted as indicators of college readiness by all public colleges and universities in Kentucky since 2010. KYOTE is an indicator of college readiness in the Kentucky K-12 public education system. High School juniors or seniors who do not meet benchmark on the ACT can take and pass a KYOTE exam after targeted instruction to earn college readiness. Any student who meets benchmark on any one of the following assessments is considered to be college-ready: ACT reading, ACT English, ACT math, KYOTE reading, KYOTE English, or KYOTE math.

MAP Assessments

MAP Growth (provided by NWEA) is an assessment utilized to measure achievement and growth in the areas of Reading and Math in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The results of these assessments provide teachers with accurate, actionable evidence to help inform instructional strategies within their classrooms and taylored to the individual needs of all students. Additionally, The KCSD use these results to ensure that appropriate programming is in place for all students.

Prep and Prep Plus

The Prep and Prep Plus Program is a student selected program based on criteria for identification or teacher data-driven recommendation with principal approval that provides a rigorous and challenging curriculum in Language Arts and Math for students in grades 5 and above. It is intentionally outlined course by course to provide students an accelerated content program. The program is designed so students will be placed into AP (Advanced Placement) or dual credit courses at the high school level with the goal for the student to receive college/university credit before graduating from high school.

25-26 ELA Acceleration Plan

25-26 Math Acceleration Plan

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