In Jefferson County Public Schools (Louisville, KY), behavior challenges and trauma-related stress were taking a serious toll on students and staff. Before CharacterStrong, one school reported over 430 disciplinary referrals in a single year, more referrals than students enrolled.
After implementing CharacterStrong with fidelity, the results were clear:
52% decrease in disciplinary referrals (436 down to 217 in one year)
Stronger culture of respect and collaboration among students
Engaging, developmentally appropriate lessons that worked across elementary, middle, and high school
With 96,000 students and diverse needs, JCPS vetted more than 40 programs before choosing CharacterStrong for its user-friendly, relatable, and trauma-informed approach. The impact speaks for itself: safer classrooms, healthier relationships, and meaningful skill-building for life.
Across the district, chronic absenteeism dropped by 5%, that’s nearly 4,800 students showing up more consistently. In addition, a district-wide survey revealed increases in students reporting that they feel secure, want to be at school, see their school as a safe and caring place, and feel a sense of belonging in their community.
See the full JCPS story and explore what’s possible in our case study below.