W.Va. School Summative Assessment Scores Released
Northern Panhandle test scores remain relatively stable
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WHEELING -- Northern Panhandle school districts’ assessment scores remained relatively stable last year, according to data released Tuesday by the West Virginia Department of Education. Meanwhile, those scores followed a familiar path, showing stronger results through the elementary school years before dipping as students reached middle and high school.
West Virginia school districts’ summative assessment scores were made public Tuesday. The scores came from testing in third through eighth grades and 11th grade. Students were tested in math and reading in all seven grades, with science testing added in fifth, eighth and 11th grades.
Students are considered proficient when they meet or exceed standards set by the state. Statewide, 48% of students were proficient in reading, while 39% were proficient in math and 29% were proficient in science during the 2025-26 school year. The year before, 48% were proficient in reading, 38% in math and 30% in science.
Ohio County students performed better than state averages last year, with 58% proficient in reading, 48% in math and 35% in science. Those numbers were, for the most part, slightly lower than in 2024-25, when 59% were proficient in reading, 50% in math and 34% in science.
Broken down by grade, 63% of third graders were proficient in math and 54% in reading. Among fourth graders, 63% were proficient in math and 60% in reading. Of fifth graders, 58% were proficient in math, 68% in reading and 42% in science. Among sixth graders, 38% were proficient in math and 59% in reading. Seventh graders posted proficiency rates of 44% in math and 52% in reading. Among eighth graders, 38% were proficient in math, 56% in reading and 32% in science. Of 11th graders, 32% were proficient in math, 54% in reading and 29% in science.
In the 2024-25 school year, 66% of third graders were proficient in math and 59% in reading. Among fourth graders, 69% were proficient in math and 65% in reading. Of fifth graders, 58% were proficient in math, 64% in reading and 37% in science. Among sixth graders, 37% were proficient in math and 54% in reading. Seventh graders posted proficiency rates of 45% in math and 55% in reading. Among eighth graders, 43% were proficient in math, 54% in reading and 30% in science. Of 11th graders, 27% were proficient in math, 60% in reading and 34% in science.
Marshall County students’ scores fell closer to state averages in 2025-26. There, 46% of all students were proficient in reading, 41% in math and 29% in science. In 2024-25, 46% of students were proficient in reading, 37% in math and 27% in science.
By grade, 55% of third graders were proficient in math and 51% in reading. Among fourth graders, 45% were proficient in math and 47% in reading. Of fifth graders, 43% were proficient in math, 47% in reading and 27% in science. Among sixth graders, 31% were proficient in math and 43% in reading. Seventh graders posted proficiency rates of 41% in math and 43% in reading. Among eighth graders, 43% were proficient in math, 36% in reading and 28% in science. Of 11th graders, 26% were proficient in math, 57% in reading and 32% in science.
In 2024-25, 52% of third graders were proficient in math and 43% in reading. Among fourth graders, 54% were proficient in math and 56% in reading. Of fifth graders, 37% were proficient in math, 44% in reading and 25% in science. Among sixth graders, 31% were proficient in math and 39% in reading. Seventh graders posted proficiency rates of 29% in math and 35% in reading. Among eighth graders, 36% were proficient in math, 41% in reading and 25% in science. Of 11th graders, 21% were proficient in math, 64% in reading and 31% in science.
Elsewhere around the Northern Panhandle, in Hancock County, 55% of all students last year were proficient in reading, with 51% in math and 32% in science, compared to two years ago when 52% were proficient in reading, with 50% in math and 34% in science. In Brooke County, 46% of all students last year were proficient in reading, with 42% in math and 31% in science, compared to two years ago, when 47% of all students were proficient in reading, 39% in math and 33% in science.
In Wetzel County, 44% of all students last year were proficient in reading with 41% in math and 26% in science, compared to two years ago when 42% of students were proficient in reading with 35% in math and 25% in science. In Tyler County, 49% of all students last year were proficient in reading, with 47% in math and 33% in science, compared to two years ago, when 47% of all students were proficient in reading with 45% in math and 36% in science.