NKY high schools make gains in math, reading and career readiness, but challenges remain

Northern Kentucky high schoolers outpaced peers across the commonwealth in improving math and reading scores and preparedness for life after graduation in the 2025-26 school year.  

Of any metric on Kentucky school report cards released recently, Northern Kentucky high schools saw the largest leap in “postsecondary readiness scores,” which measure the number of seniors who, in addition to a diploma, demonstrate another layer of readiness to work or continue education after high school. 

That measurement includes things like passing college admission exams, obtaining dual credit hours or industry-recognized certifications, licensures or credentials and more. The region’s improved scores even outpaced statewide progress. 

Northern Kentucky high schools didn’t see big improvements on most other metrics, except for a slight outpacing of statewide progress on math and reading scores. 

Of all metrics, the region’s high schools saw the biggest decline in English language learner progress. 

Postsecondary readiness a high point for NKY high schools

Northern Kentucky high schools’ improvement in postsecondary readiness stood out, even for schools that saw declines or remained behind in other academic areas. 

On average, Northern Kentucky high schools improved postsecondary readiness scores by 5.9 points, the biggest improvement jump of any of the six report card metrics. Postsecondary readiness improved by 4 points across the commonwealth. 

Dayton High School, Ludlow High School and Dixie Heights High School in Kenton County saw the three highest postsecondary readiness scores in the region last year. 

Dayton, along with Bellevue High School, saw the biggest jumps in postsecondary readiness in 2025-26 from the prior year, both improving by 20.7 points. 

Lloyd High School in Erlanger saw the third-best improvement of 15.7 points. 

Lloyd Principal Mike Key said the leap demonstrates a commitment to growing postsecondary readiness over time, rather than any one change made last year. In recent years, the school has coordinated a team of senior-year teachers to continue pushing students to prepare for exploring options for life after high school, he said.

Dayton Superintendent Rick Wolf said his district’s team begins working with students on postsecondary readiness as early as tenth grade. He said the school’s small size, often with graduating classes of around 60 students, also helps ensure no student slips between the cracks. 

Ludlow Superintendent Jason Steffen lauded his district’s team and said Ludlow’s physical proximity to off-campus postsecondary options — at Gateway Community & Technical College and the Enzweiler Building Institute — also helps connect students with those opportunities.

NKY high schools outpace statewide progress on reading, math

On average, Northern Kentucky’s high schools improved math and reading scores more than schools throughout the commonwealth, keeping the region’s scores ahead of the state average. 

In Kentucky, math and reading skills are measured in tenth grade during end-of-year assessments called summative assessments. 

Northern Kentucky high schools had average reading and math scores of 67.7 compared to 61.5 throughout the commonwealth. On average, the region also saw those scores improve by 1 point, compared with a 0.1 point improvement statewide. 

NKY high school English language-learner progress declines dramatically

Progress toward proficiency for English language learners at Northern Kentucky high schools dropped the most dramatically last year, declining on average by 10.7 points compared to a statewide decline of 4.2 points.

That metric reflects only seven of the region’s 17 high schools with enough English language learners to require measuring their progress on state report cards. Newport High School joined that group during the 2025-26 year.

English language learner progress is measured by improvement on annual exams, with the goal of proficiency within five years. Students are assessed after their second year as an English language learner.

See a table of Northern Kentucky high schools’ English language progress below.