Northern Kentucky high school students posted some of the highest scores in the Commonwealth on the statewide Kentucky Core Content Test, which was administered in April.

        Local high school students, as part of a multi-county Region 4, had the best scores in the 2002 Commonwealth Accountability Testing System or virtually tied for first place in Kentucky in every one of the eight subject areas tested. The high-stakes scores are used to judge Kentucky schools, which must reach the proficiency mark — 100 on a 140-point scale — by 2014.

        “The schools, the administrators and the students are obviously doing something right in Northern Kentucky, but every school's probably doing a different something right,” said Lisa Gross, spokeswoman for the Kentucky Department of Education.

        Officials in Northern Kentucky school districts that performed well on the statewide test say that parental support helped motivate students to do well. High-performing schools and districts also had teachers and administrators who were willing to learn new teaching strategies and curriculums and tailor them to their individual students.

        “The fact that we've been able to experience success at a level equal to districts across the state that are from a higher socioeconomic setting than ours speaks volumes about the commitment of our students and families to education and the work ethic of our staff,” said Gene Kirchner, an assistant superintendent for Walton-Verona Schools. “You have to create an atmosphere or a culture where there are high expectations.”

        Soon after the advent of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) a decade ago, Walton-Verona's parents and staff jointly decided “to raise the bar” for students, Mr. Kirchner said.

        For example, at the high school eight years ago, the district changed everything from how instructional time was allotted to the number of credits needed to graduate.

        As a result, the high school's academic index under the new state accountability system rose from the 30s to the current 84.4.

        In an accomplishment that may be unparalleled in Kentucky, Walton-Verona has exceeded its assessment goals at every grade level in every biennium since the advent of KERA, Mr. Kirchner said.

        For the past four years, the rural middle-class school district also has had no dropouts.

        Fort Thomas Independent Schools, the other Northern Kentucky school district to boast some Pace Setter schools — those ranked in the top 5 percent of Kentucky's schools — also shares in that “culture for success,” said John Williamson, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning.

        “We have a community that values education, where parents send their children to school to learn,” he said. “We also have a very knowledgeable faculty who knows what to teach and when to teach it. And we have some really caring leaders in our district who encourage teachers to do these things.”

        During the past four years, Fort Thomas has been realigning its curriculum, making sure that it covers all of the content that the state holds students accountable for before they are tested on it, Mr. Williamson said.

        In the Boone County district, the fastest-growing district in Northern Kentucky, nearly all the schools met or exceeded their goals during the latest testing cycle.

        “Our children come from good families in a supportive community,” said Superintendent Bryan Blavatt. “Our community and our board of education have been committed to improving student performance for a period of time. Everybody has to believe that all children can learn.”

        The district is providing more training for its teachers, especially in new learning strategies and curriculums, and it encourages individual schools to adapt programs that work best for their students, Mr. Blavatt said.

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