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HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – State accountability data for Christian County Public Schools has been released, providing a snapshot of student performance and accountability scores across the district. The 2025-26 data shows that Indian Hills Elementary School has the highest overall index in the district, categorized as “green” with an index of 70.4.
The school has also shown the most improvement, increasing from 63.8 the previous year. South Christian Elementary School held the top rank last year, according to previous Christian County Now reports.
“We are proud of what our schools accomplished last year, and to see the work reflected in the data,” said CCPS Superintendent Chris Bentzel.
What the scores mean for CCPS, challenges with accountability model
These assessments include the “change factor,” a color-coded accountability measure that district leaders said has contributed to a yo-yo effect in some school ratings.
The system is designed to reward continued improvement from year to year but it can also have a negative effect on good scores. For example, if a grade level performs well but does not improve upon the test scores from the prior year, its accountability rating will decline.
CCPS leaders said a new accountability model is expected next year that will provide a clearer picture of student performance without what they have described as a doubling effect from growth measures. The rankings for the current accountability system are red, orange, yellow, green, and blue, with red being the lowest and blue being the highest.
Elementary school rankings in Christian County
Sinking Fork Elementary School was among the district’s top performing schools, receiving a “blue” rating for their quality of school climate and safety survey with an index of 91.4. The school also achieved the highest score in reading/math with a “green” rating with a score of 72.6.
Indian Hills received a “blue” rating for their English learner progress with an index of 80.6. Freedom Elementary was one of the lowest ranked schools, receiving an “orange” rating with an overall score of 43.
The combined rating for CCPS Elementary Schools is “yellow” with a score of 61.1. Elementary schools earned “green” ratings in reading/math and english learners progress, with a “yellow” rating for science/social studies/writing. The combine school climate and safety rating was “orange,” with a score of 74.5.
Superintendent Chris Bentzel said Indian Hills, along with Sinking Fork and Christian County Middle School have shown what “steady progress looks like.”
Middle and high school data highlights
Christian County Middle School earned a “yellow” rating and an overall index of 61. CCPS leadership said Christian County Middle has shown “continuous improvement” each year of accountability since 2022. The school has also received “green” ratings in reading/math, science/social studies/writing, and school climate and safety.
Hopkinsville Middle School received an “orange” rating with an overall score of 46.3. The combined rating for both CCPS middle schools are “yellow” with a score of 55.3 and a “blue” rating for their English learner progress with a score of 62.9.
Both CCPS high schools both achieved a “yellow” rating with an overall combined score of 65.5 for last school year’s scores. Both schools maintained a “very high blue” rating in post-secondary readiness with a score of 115.6 and a green rating for graduation with a score of 95.9.
For reading/math and science/social studies/writing, Christian County High School received an “orange rating. The school achieved a “green” rating in school climate with a score of 61.4. Hopkinsville High School earned a “yellow” rating in reading/math, english learners progress, and school climate. The school achieved a “green” rating in science/social studies/writing with a score of 55.6.
District ranking, continued improvement
CCPS leadership said last year included significant distractions as the district worked to close its two traditional high schools and transition students to Christian County High School. District leaders said they are looking to continue improving in all areas for the high schools and plan to continue utilizing high quality instructional materials.
For the first time, the district earned a “yellow” rating across every grade level. Additionally, the district has no CSI (Comprehensive School Improvement) schools and has reduced the number of TSI (Targeted School Improvement) schools for the fourth year in a row.
“Having all three levels in yellow in the same year is a first for us, and four years without a CSI school tells us the foundation is solid. Credit goes to our teachers, our principals, and a Board that invests in good instruction. We’re ready to keep going,” said Bentzel.
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