Is Kennedy High School a good school?

Kennedy High School ranks 56 th of 480 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Kennedy High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 691 students attended Kennedy High School.

What is the racial makeup of Kennedy High School?

Students at Kennedy High School are 86% White, 6% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 2% African American.

What schools feed into Kennedy High School?

Kennedy High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Adams Elementary Elementary : Cleveland Elementary Elementary : McKinley Elementary

Kennedy High School

Summary:

Kennedy High School is a public high school located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 685 students. The school is part of the Fergus Falls Public School District, which is ranked 192 out of 463 districts in Minnesota and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Kennedy High School consistently ranks among the top high schools in Minnesota, ranking as high as 25th out of 472 schools in the 2021-2022 school year and maintaining a 4-5 star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's proficiency rates in MCA-III assessments for Math, Reading, and Science are significantly higher than the district and state averages, indicating strong academic achievement. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, Kennedy High School had 61.64% of students proficient or better in MCA-III Reading for 10th grade, compared to 57.41% for the district and 52.22% for the state. However, the school has a predominantly white student population, with only 1.75% African American, 3.94% Hispanic, and 0.44% Asian students, which is notably different from some of the nearby schools, such as Pelican Rapids Secondary.

While Kennedy High School has maintained high graduation rates, with a 4-year graduation rate of 88.0% in the 2021-2022 school year, the school's performance for multi-racial students and special education students is not as strong, with lower rankings compared to other Minnesota high schools. This suggests the need for targeted interventions and support to ensure equitable outcomes for all students. Comparing Kennedy High School to nearby schools, such as Fergus Falls Area Learning Center and iQ Academy 9-12, highlights the significant differences in academic performance, graduation rates, and student demographics, providing valuable insights for the district and school administrators to identify areas for improvement and share best practices.

Detail:

Public 9-12

601 Randolph Ave
Fergus Falls, MN 56537-1669

(218) 998-0544

District: Fergus Falls Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
56^th of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,254

Feeder schools for Kennedy High School:

Elementary:	Adams Elementary
	Cleveland Elementary
	McKinley Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 12.1

Number of students: 691

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.8%

Two or more races:

6.4%

Hispanic:

5.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 30.8%

See top rated Minnesota high schools

Compare Kennedy High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Kennedy High School ranks better than 88.3% of high schools in Minnesota. It also ranks first among 3 ranked high schools in the Fergus Falls Public School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 83.27. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Kennedy High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Kennedy High School has the largest high school student body size in the Fergus Falls Public School District. Racial makeup is: White (85.8%), two or more races (6.4%), Hispanic (5.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 30.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Fergus Falls Public School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Kennedy High School is 12.1. 1 high schools in the Fergus Falls Public School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Kennedy High School employs 56.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kennedy High School is $21,254, which is the highest among 3 high schools in the Fergus Falls Public School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Kennedy High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Kennedy High School 56^th of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See Kennedy High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Fergus Falls Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Fergus Falls Public School District 192^nd of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Kennedy High School?

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Rank History for Kennedy High School

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Rank History for all students at Kennedy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2004	76.15	103^rd	433	76.2%
2005	80.06	55^th	452	87.8%
2006	81.41	67^th	450	85.1%
2007	77.33	106^th	463	77.1%
2008	75.98	123^rd	460	73.3%
2009	78.51	47^th	234	79.9%
2010	65.73	211^th	540	60.9%
2011	71.55	151^st	545	72.3%
2012	70.82	168^th	539	68.8%
2013	63.36	219^th	534	59.0%
2014	79.48	79^th	483	83.6%
2015	72.04	139^th	504	72.4%
2016	84.36	52^nd	489	89.4%
2017	89.53	23^rd	489	95.3%
2018	84.46	44^th	494	91.1%
2019	82.19	66^th	492	86.6%
2021	77.84	72^nd	428	83.2%
2022	88.10	25^th	472	94.7%
2023	82.97	60^th	476	87.4%
2024	83.27	56^th	480	88.3%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Kennedy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2021	21.46	43^rd	51	15.7%
2022	29.70	52^nd	74	29.7%
2024	69.36	20^th	72	72.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Kennedy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	62.25	60^th	195	69.2%
2019	67.65	49^th	220	77.7%
2021	41.89	104^th	173	39.9%
2022	70.67	41^st	214	80.8%
2023	63.52	61^st	216	71.8%
2024	39.51	144^th	221	34.8%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Kennedy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	82.85	44^th	374	88.2%
2019	69.36	104^th	370	71.9%
2021	71.96	46^th	270	83.0%
2022	90.18	10^th	312	96.8%
2023	90.00	21^st	393	94.7%
2024	75.03	72^nd	389	81.5%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Kennedy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	75.55	77^th	395	80.5%
2019	80.50	56^th	401	86.0%
2021	69.27	92^nd	339	72.9%
2022	78.56	50^th	388	87.1%
2023	80.57	55^th	396	86.1%
2024	85.06	39^th	403	90.3%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Kennedy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	84.39	31^st	398	92.2%
2019	74.64	79^th	411	80.8%
2021	78.66	55^th	351	84.3%
2022	90.42	19^th	403	95.3%
2023	77.94	65^th	398	83.7%
2024	71.45	100^th	405	75.3%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Kennedy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	77.78	65^th	414	84.3%
2019	76.01	76^th	412	81.6%
2021	74.32	66^th	364	81.9%
2022	83.69	32^nd	401	92.0%
2023	73.58	83^rd	398	79.1%
2024	72.28	85^th	402	78.9%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Kennedy High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	916	2	13	0	6	n/a	n/a	937
1989	844	2	14	0	7	n/a	n/a	867
1990	824	0	10	0	4	n/a	n/a	838
1991	822	3	12	0	3	n/a	n/a	840
1992	826	4	7	5	4	n/a	n/a	846
1993	911	0	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	914
1994	908	4	10	10	5	n/a	n/a	937
1995	1059	2	13	5	7	n/a	n/a	1086
1996	1059	2	13	5	7	n/a	n/a	1086
1997	1105	6	11	10	13	n/a	n/a	1145
1998	1139	2	10	4	12	n/a	n/a	1167
1999	1105	3	9	4	2	n/a	n/a	1123
2000	1065	5	5	5	5	n/a	n/a	1085
2001	1035	7	6	11	5	n/a	n/a	1064
2002	934	10	9	12	7	n/a	n/a	972
2003	934	10	9	12	7	n/a	n/a	972
2004	876	9	11	11	4	n/a	n/a	911
2005	844	8	9	12	4	n/a	n/a	877
2006	855	6	6	14	3	n/a	n/a	884
2007	832	16	6	8	10	n/a	n/a	872
2008	850	9	6	7	6	n/a	n/a	878
2009	794	13	11	9	13	n/a	n/a	840
2010	1267	40	16	22	15	n/a	n/a	1360
2011	1248	34	13	27	15	0	12	1349
2012	1161	29	9	23	10	0	20	1252
2013	1139	36	6	19	8	0	25	1233
2014	1100	31	6	28	7	0	27	1199
2015	1075	35	4	28	5	0	33	1180
2016	603	17	2	16	4	0	15	657
2017	591	18	1	18	4	0	19	651
2018	551	19	1	14	4	0	24	613
2019	549	19	2	14	5	0	26	615
2020	561	14	2	14	2	1	33	627
2021	566	9	3	17	1	1	41	638
2022	586	10	2	23	1	1	46	669
2023	599	12	3	27	2	0	42	685
2024	593	12	4	35	3	0	44	691

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Kennedy High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	937	60.6	15.4	6.6
1989	867	51.4	16.8	5.9
1990	838	49.7	16.8	8.2
1991	840	51.0	16.4	11
1992	846	50.2	16.8	9.2
1993	914	52.2	17.5	28.3
1994	937	54.6	17.2	10.9
1995	1086	61.4	17.7	10.3
1996	1086	61.4	17.7	10.3
1997	1145	63.8	17.9	8.9
1998	1167	n/a	0.0	6.9
1999	1123	74.5	15.1	6.6
2000	1085	59.1	18.4	10.8
2001	1064	51.1	20.8	8.4
2002	972	53.5	18.2	10.2
2003	972	53.5	18.2	10.2
2004	911	53.9	16.9	12.2
2005	877	54.0	16.2	11.9
2006	884	51.4	17.2	14.3
2007	872	48.0	18.2	16.6
2008	878	47.7	18.4	16.9
2009	840	41.0	20.5	19.3
2010	1360	72.1	18.8	22
2011	1349	76.6	17.6	21.9
2012	1252	74.6	16.7	22.7
2013	1233	71.3	17.2	23.4
2014	1199	69.7	17.1	25.4
2015	1180	68.0	17.3	26.1
2016	657	67.0	9.8	20.1
2017	651	64.2	10.1	21.4
2018	613	61.7	9.9	22
2019	615	62.6	9.8	25.2
2020	627	62.8	9.9	24.2
2021	638	59.2	10.7	19.6
2022	669	54.5	12.2	17
2023	685	54.2	12.6	33.1
2024	691	56.8	12.1	30.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Kennedy High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	937	60.6	15.4	6.6
1989	867	51.4	16.8	5.9
1990	838	49.7	16.8	8.2
1991	840	51.0	16.4	11
1992	846	50.2	16.8	9.2
1993	914	52.2	17.5	28.3
1994	937	54.6	17.2	10.9
1995	1086	61.4	17.7	10.3
1996	1086	61.4	17.7	10.3
1997	1145	63.8	17.9	8.9
1998	1167	n/a	0.0	6.9
1999	1123	74.5	15.1	6.6
2000	1085	59.1	18.4	10.8
2001	1064	51.1	20.8	8.4
2002	972	53.5	18.2	10.2
2003	972	53.5	18.2	10.2
2004	911	53.9	16.9	12.2
2005	877	54.0	16.2	11.9
2006	884	51.4	17.2	14.3
2007	872	48.0	18.2	16.6
2008	878	47.7	18.4	16.9
2009	840	41.0	20.5	19.3
2010	1360	72.1	18.8	22
2011	1349	76.6	17.6	21.9
2012	1252	74.6	16.7	22.7
2013	1233	71.3	17.2	23.4
2014	1199	69.7	17.1	25.4
2015	1180	68.0	17.3	26.1
2016	657	67.0	9.8	20.1
2017	651	64.2	10.1	21.4
2018	613	61.7	9.9	22
2019	615	62.6	9.8	25.2
2020	627	62.8	9.9	24.2
2021	638	59.2	10.7	19.6
2022	669	54.5	12.2	17
2023	685	54.2	12.6	33.1
2024	691	56.8	12.1	30.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Kennedy High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$21,254

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Kennedy High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 66^th of 492 High schools	Ranks 60^th of 476 High schools	0.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade Reading (Kennedy High School)	71.4	62.4	9.1%
10th Grade Reading (Fergus Falls Public School District)	63.8	59.4	4.4%
10th Grade Reading (Minnesota)	60.4	51.7	8.7%
11th Grade Math (Kennedy High School)	50.7	44.6	6.1%
11th Grade Math (Fergus Falls Public School District)	39.5	34.7	4.8%
11th Grade Math (Minnesota)	45	36	9%
End of Course Science (Kennedy High School)	68.7	51.8	16.8%
End of Course Science (Fergus Falls Public School District)	59.3	43.8	15.5%
End of Course Science (Minnesota)	54.4	41.8	12.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	615	685	11.4%
African American	19	12	36.8%
American Indian	5	2	60%
Asian	2	3	50%
Hispanic	14	27	92.9%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	549	599	9.1%
Two or More Races	26	42	61.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	25.2%	33.1%	7.9%

Schools Near Kennedy High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCA-III Math (2024)				MCA-III Reading (2024)				MCA-III Science (2024)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading 10th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science 8th Grade	MCA-III Science End of Course	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
Kennedy High School	Public	9-12	601 Randolph Ave	Fergus Falls	56537	Otter Tail County	Fergus Falls Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 998-0544	691	57	12.1	30.8%	593 (85.8%)	12 (1.7%)	35 (5.1%)	4 (0.6%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (6.4%)	83.3	56^th of 480 public high schools	88.3%		83	60^th of 476 public high schools	87.4%	4			42.9	42.9			61.6	61.6		56.6	56.6	$21,254
Fergus Falls Area Learning Center	Public	5-12	340 Friberg Ave	Fergus Falls	56537	Otter Tail County	Fergus Falls Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 998-0544	89	6	16.1	65.2%	65 (73.0%)	4 (4.5%)	7 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (10.1%)	15.2	414^th of 480 public high schools	13.8%		34	344^th of 476 public high schools	27.7%	70			12.5	12.5			29.4	29.4		10.0	10.0	$11,105
iQ Academy 9-12	Public, Virtual	9-12	340 Friberg Ave	Fergus Falls	56537	Otter Tail County	Fergus Falls Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(218) 998-0544	255	22	11.5	45.5%	176 (69.0%)	20 (7.8%)	23 (9.0%)	3 (1.2%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (12.2%)	41.1	307^th of 480 public high schools	36.0%		34.1	342^nd of 476 public high schools	28.2%	35			3.6	3.6			52.5	52.5		32.3	32.3	$9,815
Underwood Secondary	Public	5-12	100 Southern Ave E	Underwood	56586	Otter Tail County	Underwood Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 826-6101	287	17	16.6	37.3%	260 (90.6%)	3 (1.0%)	9 (3.1%)	4 (1.4%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.8%)	72.1	129^th of 480 public high schools	73.1%		40.8	308^th of 476 public high schools	35.3%	179	36.4	50.0	37.7	41.5	38.6	48.0	64.4	50.4	30.0	39.5	34.4	$11,603
Battle Lake Secondary	Public	7-12	402 Summit St W	Battle Lake	56515	Otter Tail County	Battle Lake Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 864-5215	188	13	14.2	42.0%	167 (88.8%)	1 (0.5%)	12 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.3%)	84.6	48^th of 480 public high schools	90.0%		85.9	50^th of 476 public high schools	89.5%	2	50.0	45.7	33.3	43.5	46.7	52.8	71.0	56.7	28.6	64.5	45.5	$12,379
Rothsay Secondary	Public	7-12	2040 County Road 52	Rothsay	56579	Wilkin County	Rothsay Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 867-2116	133	8	16.3	35.3%	123 (92.5%)	2 (1.5%)	7 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53	242^nd of 480 public high schools	49.6%		91.9	21^st of 476 public high schools	95.6%	221	45.0	61.1	55.0	53.5	50.0	16.7	46.7	39.7	5.6	26.7	18.8	$13,338
Ashby Secondary	Public	7-12	300 Birch Ave	Ashby	56309	Grant County	Ashby Public School District	No	No	No	No	(218) 747-2257	141	11	13.3	36.9%	132 (93.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	3 (2.1%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.1%)	22.6	381^st of 480 public high schools	20.6%		56	219^th of 476 public high schools	54.0%	162	66.7	63.0	15.8	50.8	57.1	40.7	29.2	41.7	25.9	25.0	25.5	$12,455
Pelican Rapids Secondary	Public	7-12	310 S Broadway	Pelican Rapids	56572	Otter Tail County	Pelican Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(218) 863-5910	400	28	14.3	56.5%	202 (50.5%)	36 (9.0%)	132 (33.0%)	6 (1.5%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.8%)	43.1	295^th of 480 public high schools	38.5%		39.2	315^th of 476 public high schools	33.8%	20	37.3	44.1	17.2	32.7	56.9	50.9	48.4	51.7	27.1	33.9	30.5	$14,018
Pelican Rapids Alt Learning Center	Public	9-12	310 S Broadway	Pelican Rapids	56572	Otter Tail County	Pelican Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(218) 863-5910	0	0	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)												$5,460

Kennedy High School

Kennedy High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Fergus Falls Public School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Kennedy High School

Rank History for all students at Kennedy High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Kennedy High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Kennedy High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Kennedy High School

Rank History for Female students at Kennedy High School

Rank History for Male students at Kennedy High School

Rank History for White students at Kennedy High School

Enrollment information for Kennedy High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Kennedy High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Kennedy High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Kennedy High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Kennedy High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Kennedy High School