Carroll County Schools

It was hard to tell who had the most fun when the Carroll County Area Technology center hosted a Trick-or-Treat event for their neighbors at Cartmell Elementary School - the big kids or the little kids! The ATC students spent days decorating and designing a fun-filled trek through the building for the Cartmell students. (More photos on the District Facebook page.)

Hello everyone!
We are excited to share an opportunity for our community to help shape the future look of Carroll County Schools!

Below is a Google Form link featuring four potential choices for our new official district color. As we consider this change, we recognize the history, tradition and pride associated with the black and gold that have long represented our schools and community. We value that history and, just as importantly, value your input.

Please take a moment to review the choices and cast your vote using the link below. The survey will be open until Friday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m.

Your opinion matters, and we appreciate you taking the time to be part of this process!

https://forms.gle/3kwkYpd2kUnXhVtv5

Halloween was a busy time at Carroll County Schools!

Trick or treat events were held throughout schools, costumes of all types and sizes could be spotted from elementary to high school and, of course, we were so excited to see the huge turnout at the district-sponsored Trunk or Treat! It was also fun to see the Carroll County Area Technology Center students turn their school into a giant Halloween house for their neighbors at Cartmell Elementary.

The Kindergarten and Winn enrichment teams tied for first place - the Monsters Inc and Inside Out teams. They will split a $150 prize, which can be used for their classrooms. The People’s Choice award went to Kelly Tuttle’s depiction of Andy’s Room from Toy Story.

(More Trunk or Treat photos on the District Facebook page.)

Hello Panther Friends and Families! Please use thi slink to access Dr. Stephenson's newsletter.
Superintendent's Corner

Carroll County Schools is planning opportunities for families and community members to help shape how the district measures school success as changes to Kentucky’s accountability system are anticipated.
Following a review of the latest Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) results, Superintendent Dr. Robin Stephenson is planning a series of idea-sharing sessions to gather input on what stakeholders consider important when evaluating school performance. The goal is to develop a broader picture of success that reflects not only test scores but also the skills, experiences and opportunities students gain throughout their education.

“We’re going to start hosting some sessions to where we are purposely inviting in families and community members to give us feedback moving forward on what they would like to see from us,” Stephenson said. “Our kids go beyond a color rating or a number. ”

Kentucky’s changing accountability system allows districts to consider local measures, and Stephenson sees an opportunity to build on work already underway in Carroll County Schools. Through the district’s Panther Path initiative, students complete capstone projects and maintain portfolios documenting their growth as empowered learners, critical thinkers, productive collaborators and effective communicators.
Stephenson said students embraced the capstone process last year, demonstrating their learning and presenting evidence of their progress. The district hopes to build on that experience as it considers ways to recognize student growth beyond standardized testing.

“Our kids were absolutely phenomenal with capstone defense last year,” she noted.

As the district considers ways to measure success, Stephenson also wants to hear what families and community members value beyond academics. She emphasized the importance of creating schools where students feel connected and have opportunities to participate in sports, band and other extracurricular activities, while ensuring families and community members feel welcome and involved.

“We want our schools to be places where kids want to be and feel connected, where our families feel welcome and our community members know they’re welcome, too,” Stephenson said.
The latest KSA results included several positive developments:
👉All three schools increased their Proficient and Distinguished reading scores.
👉Carroll County High School earned a blue rating in postsecondary readiness, scoring 14 percentage points above the state average in that area.
👉Cartmell Elementary School, after three years as a Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) school, is no longer identified as a TSI school.
👉Cartmell Elementary and Carroll County Middle School earned a blue rating in English learner proficiency.

Stephenson acknowledged that the district still has work to do but said the results reflect steady progress and the efforts of students and staff.
“We’re making slow but steady gains across the board,” she said. “We know we have work to do, and we have a great team in place. We’ll continue to look for ways to improve.”