Owsley County schools offer Kentucky Kingdom trip for summer learning

Students in grades 6-12 must complete 500 reading minutes, 80 reading lessons and 70% or higher mastery in Reading IXL, then do the same in math with 500 minutes, 80 lessons and 70% or higher mastery in Math IXL to qualify for a Kentucky Kingdom trip when school resumes. For Owsley County families, the reward turns summer work into a concrete payoff for kids who may have fewer enrichment options close to home.

Owsley County Schools posted the Summer Learning Adventure requirements on June 1, tying the trip to measurable academic progress rather than optional busywork. The district said students had to complete all reading and math requirements to be eligible, a setup that gives parents a clear checklist to follow over the break and gives students a goal they can see at the end of the summer.

The district is using the same approach with younger students, but through a separate Summer Learning Adventure for K-5 that runs from May 27 through July 31, 2026. In that post, Owsley County Schools said it is not holding traditional summer school this year because of low enrollment. That makes the online learning push more than a summer enrichment idea; it is the district’s main way to keep students engaged between school years.

That emphasis matches state guidance from the Kentucky Department of Education, which describes summer programs as a way to help districts fight summer learning loss and to give families support with reading, math, food and library resources. In Owsley County, the need is visible in the district’s posted proficiency data. Reading proficiency is listed at 32% for grades 6-8 and 40% for grades 9-12, while math proficiency stands at 27% for grades 6-8 and 12% for grades 9-12.

Kentucky Kingdom also adds an educational angle to the incentive. Its School Groups and Education In Motion program includes STEM-focused activities, project-based learning and outdoor classroom experiences, making the trip more than a day of rides for students who meet the benchmark. The district headquarters is listed at 14 Old HWY 11 in Booneville, and the summer push is being carried out across Owsley County Schools as a way to keep students connected to learning, accountability and a reward that feels worth the work.