Recently, I attended the Pritchard Committee for Academic Excellence Annual Meeting in Louisville, during which Marion County Public Schools was recognized for being named a national District on the Rise. The honor was based on this district’s academic improvement since the pandemic, as shown on the Education Scorecard -- a research project created in collaboration between Harvard University and Stanford University. While a few districts in Kentucky were included in the report, MCPS is the only district in the state that received its own case study and among 118 districts from across the nation.
Basically, that report showed that our academic progress since the pandemic has improved much more rapidly than similar districts. In fact, we’re outpacing the average Kentucky school district in nearly every academic measure. This is especially meaningful given Kentucky is 5th in reading and 8th in math growth. Our achievements have been touted by the Pritchard Committee, our Commissioner of Education, and leaders in education from across the country.
However, there’s a very odd dynamic when it comes to these types of recognitions. On the one hand, being singled out for superior academic improvement within a nationwide study is an historic achievement. Quite literally, there are school districts across America looking at the gains in Marion County Public Schools and hoping to replicate them.
On the other hand, I’m not sure that type of recognition always resonates with families here in our community. Don’t misunderstand me: this is not a criticism. Instead, parents tend to be more concerned about the achievement of their own children more so than the district at large. Or maybe how we stack up against nearby districts instead of those in other states. As a parent myself, I completely understand.
But as your superintendent, I have to say, you should feel very confident about the education your son or daughter is receiving exactly because of the improvements that led to us being highlighted in the Education Scorecard. That’s because the changes we’ve made which led to being a national District on the Rise are precisely the things that your children are experiencing in the classroom.
For example, for the case study on our district, we pointed out that we’ve made a conscious move away from too much emphasis on the use of technology, specifically Chromebooks. When Chromebooks were new, there was a novelty to them along with some obvious benefits, and this district touted our commitment to providing every student with this incredible tool. However, what’s become increasingly obvious -- whether you’re looking at hard data or anecdotal observations -- is that technology like Chromebooks are just a tool to complement solid teaching -- not its be-all, and end-all replacement.
That’s why you’ll find regular “Screen-Free Days” scheduled at our middle schools, and why our professional development sessions are focused more on connecting with students instead of connecting to the internet.
Another important decision we’ve made in MCPS is a commitment to investing in proven, high-quality curriculums, staying the course with those investments, and avoiding the trap of purchasing every shiny, new program. For example, the reading curriculum at our elementary and middle schools has continued to prove invaluable as students are not just developing reading skills, but get the added bonus of learning about history, science, or literature in the process.
Maybe the most important investment made in this district is in our people. Thanks to several improvements in our salary schedule, we’re now one of the highest paying school districts in the state and as a result we’re attracting talented teachers from across the commonwealth. Combine great teachers with district-wide emphasis on teaching and learning and the academic results will take care of themselves.
At one point during the Pritchard Committee meeting, Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher referenced the success of Marion County Public Schools and the crowd gave a resounding applause. For me, it was a touching moment. But that applause should be going to our teachers in the classroom and coming from our families because we really are giving our young people an education that stands out among districts from across the country.
Our teachers have done incredible work over the past several years and you can expect it to continue for the 2026-2027 school year.
Chris Brady
MCPS Superintendent