The Eminence Independent Schools district was failing less than a decade ago. Enrollment was declining, and test scores and morale were plummeting in the small, rural, Title 1 district in Eminence, Kentucky. To save the district and the town, Buddy Berry, the superintendent, initiated sweeping changes that were identified by the students themselves.
With community buy-in, the district built a 30,000-square-foot technology-focused building with eight makerspaces to foster personalized learning, made time for students to design and solve real-world problems, and developed an early college program to prepare students for college. The district also adopted a “surprise and delight” culture—focusing on ways to boost student and staff morale. The district’s efforts paid off: Graduation rates and college persistence rates have increased, and enrollment has doubled.
- Achieved 100% College and/or Career Readiness by Kentucky state standards for 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.
- 99.5% of early college program participants are either on track to earn a college degree or have already done so.
- Selected to attend the 2014 ConnectED to the Future Convening at the White House.