The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in English language arts. The lowest is 37% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Willis H. Justice Elementary School
Willis H. Justice Elementary School serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Winchester, Kentucky, as part of the Clark County public school system. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and operates in a community that blends a historic downtown with manufacturing and distribution employers. The school sits on Mt. Sterling Road, on the eastern side of Winchester, a city that functions as the county seat and is a short drive from Lexington.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a community where economic need is present across the school. The enrollment is spread fairly evenly across kindergarten through fourth grade, with each grade holding a similar number of students, giving the school a stable feel. The school serves only primary grades, so there is no graduation rate or high school coursework to consider, and state testing results are limited to grades three and four.
On the Kentucky Summative Assessment, proficiency rates varied by subject and grade. In reading, about half of fourth graders and a slightly smaller share of third graders met the proficiency standard. In math, performance was more uneven: fourth graders had a noticeably higher proficiency rate than third graders, where proficiency was lower. Science results for fourth grade fell between the reading and math rates. Overall, the picture is one of modest academic achievement, with reading showing relative strength and third-grade math presenting a softer spot. A parent considering the school may want to ask the district or school leadership about the specific supports in place for early math skills and how the school tracks progress for students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.
The community context matters here. Winchester has a historic downtown with an elevated sidewalk along Main Street and hosts an annual Beer Cheese Festival. Its economy includes a mix of employers like a pharmaceutical manufacturer, a utility cooperative, a dairy, and distribution centers. Home values in the area are moderately above the state average, and rental costs are notable relative to incomes. The city is growing slowly, part of the larger Lexington-Fayette metropolitan area. Families living in Winchester and the surrounding Clark County attend this elementary school before moving on to middle and high school within the district.
No data was available on program offerings such as gifted education, arts, or specialized academic tracks, nor on staff-to-student ratios or discipline rates. The civil rights and outcomes section was similarly empty. A parent exploring this school may want to contact the school directly to learn about enrichment opportunities, class sizes, and how the school supports students with varying academic needs.
Willis H. Justice Elementary is a straightforward neighborhood school serving a community with moderate economic challenges and a historic small-city setting. Its academic results suggest that while reading performance is a relative strength, math proficiency especially in the early tested grade is an area where the school is still working. Families who value a close-to-home elementary experience in a town with a distinct local identity and who are comfortable engaging with the school on academic support will find this a reasonable fit. Those seeking a school with a record of high test scores may want to look further into the specific instructional approaches used here.
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