At McCracken County Public Schools we serve nearly 7,000 students, a quarter of all students in the Jackson Purchase. We’re committed to preparing each one of them for successful, fulfilling futures in their choice of college or career.
MCPS includes 11 schools: Hendron-Lone Oak, Lone Oak, and Reidland Elementary schools (K-3rd); Concord and Heath Elementary schools (K-5th); Lone Oak and Reidland Intermediate schools (4-5th); Lone Oak, Heath, and Reidland Middle schools (6-8th); and McCracken County High School.
MCPS has its own 5-STAR-rated, school-based preschool program with classrooms in every elementary school, giving our youngest students the best start possible. McCracken County Preschool is a state-funded, half-day program with morning and afternoon classes, 128 days a year. Our preschool classrooms use forward-thinking and strength-based approaches to prepare children for kindergarten — not only academically, but socially and emotionally, too. McCracken Preschool is also proud to be a Kentucky Center for Autism training site.
Building on the work of our preschool, our elementary and intermediate schools help students build solid foundations in reading, math, science and technology, while also offering enriching opportunities in the creative arts, from theatre to orchestra and so much in between. Four of our elementary schools — Heath, Hendron-Lone Oak, Lone Oak, and Reidland Elementary — earned the highest ranking of five stars in the state’s accountability system, with Reidland earning the second-highest ranking of any elementary school statewide.
McCracken County middle schools help students continue to develop foundational skills in reading, math and science, while also preparing them for more advanced coursework at the high school level. Students can take introductory foreign language courses and even earn high school credit in Spanish, as well as in Algebra and Geometry. English and Language Arts classes engage students in problem-solving and critical thinking, and visual and performing arts — including drama, dance, choir, band, orchestra, visual arts, and speech — serve to expand students’ minds and nurture their creativity.
McCracken County High School is the epitome of our district’s motto, “One vision, endless opportunities.” It’s a place where every student has a chance to find their “thing.” MCHS offers 26 Advanced Placement (AP) courses, 17 dual-credit courses, and 13 career certifications. Students can graduate with up to two years of college credit and/or vocational certifications to jump-start fulfilling lives and careers.
MCHS Fine Arts Opportunities
MCHS students can take their pick of classes to explore their creative interests, including: dance, theater, music (including choir and voice, music theory, piano, guitar, orchestra, symphonic band, jazz band, and marching band), and fine arts (general arts, drawing and painting, sculpture and ceramics, jewelry and metalsmithing, and advanced studio art). MCHS also features a 780-seat performing arts hall, a band room with four soundproof practice rooms, one ensemble practice room, flexible space for dance and orchestra, a vocal music room with risers, and 2-D and 3-D visual art studios.
MCHS Project Lead the Way
MCHS offers PLTW, a rigorous program that includes two STEM-focused pathways: Engineering and Biomedical Sciences. Students can earn four hours of college credit from the University of Kentucky College of Engineering upon completion of the PLTW Engineering pathway, as well as from select colleges throughout the state.
MCHS Career Pathways & Certifications
Career pathways at MCHS help students better understand their potential career options, what employers in their chosen field expect, and what skills and experiences are needed to enter the career of their choice. Current career pathways include: Animal Science, Ag Power, Environmental Science, Horticulture, Biomedical Science, Electrical Engineering, E-Commerce, Accounting, Admin Support, Consumer & Family Management, Early Childhood, Culinary & Food Services, Allied Health, Pre-Nursing, Dental Assisting, Cinematography and Video Productions, Network Security.
Several pathways also result in industry certifications to make students more marketable in their chosen career field. Certifications include: Microsoft Office Specialist, Comp TIA A+, Adobe Certified Associate, Certified Cisco Network Administrator (CCNA), Microsoft Technology Associate in Networking Fundamentals, Microsoft Technology Associate in HTML 5, TestOut PC Pro, First Aid/CPR/BLS, Medicaid Nursing Assistant, Orientation to Child Care Careers, Commonwealth Child Care Credential, Child Development Associate, and ServSafe Food Manager.
The Community Scholarship Program
Every MCHS student has the opportunity to earn two years tuition at West Kentucky Community and Technical College, thanks to the Community Scholarship Program and the Paducah Rotary Club. To qualify for the program, students must graduate with a GPA of at least 2.5 and a 95 percent attendance rate, have no major discipline violations, and complete college orientation activities during their senior year.
McCracken County Schools Vision StatementOne Vision….Endless OpportunitiesMcCracken County Schools Mission StatementMcCracken County School District serves our community through excellence in education.