K-12 Schools in Lexington

PUBLIC EDUCATION:
Kentucky’s commitment to education over the last 25-plus years has made it a model for the nation. The catch phrase, “Education Pays,” has been embraced throughout the region. Kentucky has made major strides in teacher pay, student testing, teacher training, and administration. The Fayette County Public School (FCPS) system is no exception. The district continues to set high standards for education, with students consistently scoring above state and national averages on both the SAT and ACT. A majority of high school graduates in Fayette County attend college. FCPS is consistently listed among the nation’s best for cities of Lexington’s size. With 71 schools and other academic and alternative programs, as well as roughly 41,600 students and 5,000 employees, the district is governed by a five-member school board, with each person elected to a four-year term.

Public School Registration

Kentucky law requires youths between 6 and 18 years old to attend school, and the birthday cutoff to enroll in kindergarten is age 5 on or before August 1. Also, families may apply for preschool if their child turns 4 on or before August 1 and is income-eligible. Three- and 4-year-olds who have a special need may also apply for the Fayette County Preschool Program year-round. Students will be enrolled at the school where they are zoned based on residential address. Once FCPS receives all the required documents, your school will confirm your child’s enrollment. To find out more about the enrollment process and requirements, or to see what school zone within which you are located, visit www.fcps.net/registration.

FCPS Preschool Program

The Fayette County Preschool Program is the state-mandated preschool offering in Fayette County Public Schools. The district supports and follows the goals of the Kentucky Early Childhood Standards. The learning environment is skillfully planned by certified teachers using the philosophy of the Creative Curriculum to ensure a high quality, developmentally appropriate education for all young children. Preschool is not offered in every elementary school; therefore, our staff places children based on their districted area of town (by child care or home address), space at a school site, available buses, etc. Applications are accepted year-round, and children are placed throughout the year based on classroom space. To view the requirements or begin the online application process, visit www.fcps.net/preschool.

Magnet Programs

There are also a variety of magnet schools and programs available in the Fayette County Public Schools District, such as the Rise STEM Academy for Girls and others. Visit www.fcps.net/magnet for more information.

Specialized Academic Programs

Certain academic programs offer specialized education within a school or are freestanding sites, such as pre-engineering programs, Spanish Immersion, arts and others. Find out more on-line at www.fcps.net/specialized.

PRIVATE EDUCATION:
For parents seeking other alternatives for their children’s education, Lexington offers many quality private and parochial schools, many of which have found success in sports with state championships and academics with high test scores. Overall, private and parochial school enrollment numbers have seen a strong surge in recent years. Tuition and admission requirements vary, so be sure to contact individual schools for more detailed information. Click here to view Commerce Lexington Inc. Member Private and Parochial Schools.