BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County Schools posted steady academic gains on the 2025 Kentucky Summative Assessment. Every school in the district either maintained or improved its performance rating under the state’s accountability system.
The Kentucky Summative Assessment, administered annually to students in grades 3–8, 10 and 11, measures achievement in reading, mathematics, science, social studies, writing, and editing and mechanics. Kentucky assigns each school an overall color rating ranging from red (lowest) to blue (highest) based on multiple academic and climate indicators.
This year’s ratings show districtwide progress.
Inez Elementary recorded the largest improvement, moving from red to blue. Eden Elementary continued a multiyear trend of growth and advanced to green. Warfield Elementary School and Martin County High School each improved to yellow. Meanwhile, Martin County Middle School maintained its 2024 yellow rating.
“Our students and staff continue to demonstrate what’s possible when hard work, high expectations and community support come together,” Superintendent Larry James said. “Every school in our district either improved or maintained its performance from last year — that’s something to be proud of.”
Kentucky’s accountability system draws on several performance areas: Reading/Math; Science/Social Studies/Writing; Quality of School Climate and Safety Survey results; and, for high schools, Postsecondary Readiness (PSE) and Graduation Rate.
Martin County schools posted strong ratings in specific indicators. Warfield Elementary and Inez Elementary earned green in both Reading/Math and Science/Social Studies/Writing. Eden Elementary received green in Reading/Math and blue in Science/Social Studies/Writing. Martin County Middle School earned green in Science/Social Studies/Writing. Martin County High School earned green in Reading/Math and yellow in Science/Social Studies/Writing.
In the Quality of School Climate and Safety Survey, which reflects student perceptions of their learning environment, Warfield Elementary, Inez Elementary, Eden Elementary and Martin County High School received blue ratings. Martin County Middle School earned a green rating.
Detailed KSA school results will be available on each school’s Kentucky School Report Card profile once the Kentucky Department of Education releases them.