Elizabethtown Times

There were 1,468 seventh grade students enrolled in Hardin County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 0.1% more than the previous year, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

East Hardin Middle School welcomed most of the seventh grade students in the county, registering 294 students.

Within Hardin County schools, the highest student population was found in ninth grade, with the smallest class sizes seen in preschool.

Statewide, Hardin County ranked sixth in enrollment numbers. It was also ranked sixth the year before.

Kentucky is in the midst of a statewide teacher shortage as turnover rates spiked to 10.9% in 2023, up from an 8.9% nine-year average. This issue is more prominent in schools with more low-income and minority students.

Data also shows that between 2019 and 2023, there was an increase of 260% in the number of available teaching posts in Kentucky schools. This often leads to larger class sizes, combining programs, and retaining staff despite potential negative impacts on teacher working conditions.

School	# of 7th Grade Students Enrolled	% of Student Body	Total Enrollment
East Hardin Middle School	294	35.3%	833
James T. Alton Middle School	217	29.9%	726
North Middle School	216	32.8%	658
Bluegrass Middle School	211	31.6%	667
West Hardin Middle School	194	34.3%	566
Talton K. Stone Middle School	188	32.2%	583
Lincoln Trail Behavioral Health Systems	70	10.8%	646
College View Campus	67	8.2%	818
Valley View Education Center	4	5%	80
Hardin County Day Treatment Center	4	14.3%	28
Spectrum Care Academy	3	30%	10