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School superintendents across the Northern Panhandle say they are proud of their students' success and aim to help them improve in all their subjects, including those tested by the state of West Virginia.
The West Virginia Department of Education recently released its latest 2025-26 testing data to the public on the core subjects of math, science and reading.
HANCOCK COUNTY
Kristin Bissett, assessment director for Hancock County Schools, expressed pride in the school district's recent test scores.
"Overall, we are thrilled," she said. "When you look at overall proficiency, we were second overall in math this year, and fifth in (reading). We are definitely thrilled with our scores in the lower grades."
Among elementary schools in Hancock County, New Manchester Elementary's overall proficiency placed them fifth among the state's 327 public elementary schools. Weirton Elementary was eighth; and Allison Elementary, 21st.
Scores at Weir and Oak Glen high schools this year, meanwhile, were below expectations, and school administrators weren't satisfied with them.
"No one is (happy with their high school scores)," Bissett said. "The whole state has seen a decrease in high school scores. There also has been a drop nationwide. There are definitely areas in which we need to improve. High school scores is one of those areas."
She agrees that many 11th graders taking the SAT as an assessment aren't college bound, and may not have been taught many of the items on the test. But those students do well on professional certification tests in their areas, Bissett continued. About 70% of students taking the tests while in high school pass them.
"We will continue to work at the high school level to provide intervention and quality instruction. A lot of students who will never do well on the SAT because they just don’t take classes to prepare them for that," she said.
Bissett said administrators plan to have a huge push on intervention at the high school level, and "to meet students where they are."
"Our college-bound students do care," she said. "We encourage the others to do the best they can, but it is difficult to keep them motivated on the test."
Bissett added that increasing overall proficiency numbers is typically the main objective of standardized testing.
"We're not always looking at where we fall, but if we are showing growth every year," she explained. "Hancock County this year actually increased overall proficiency in math by 3%, and by about 1% in (reading).
"Our goal isn't always just to move our numbers up. It is to move up the number of students who are proficient."
BROOKE COUNTY
Brooke County Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Crooks said his district has started using the M3T initiative to improve math scores. He said it is a professional development tool that uses teachers to train other teachers on the best math teaching practices.
Regarding reading, Crooks said there was a dip in the score compared to last year. He said a newer multi-tiered system of support should start addressing this issue. He said the Success For All reading initiative will also begin to address reading scores.
"What gets us is with the kids is reading stamina. A lot of times passages are long. The kids have to focus on stamina and be able to understand it. And from what I understand, there was more poetry in the test leading to more reading," he said.
Crooks also believes that students should be able to retake parts of the test if they fail.
"Starting with the Third Grade Success Act, you can't retake it if you don't pass it. I think it would be beneficial for everyone if they had the opportunity to retake the test," Crooks said. "Other states do that. Think about it; if you fail your driver's license test you have another opportunity to study and retake it. If you fail your CPR test, they let you take it again. ... Teachers can retake tests. Why not the general summative test? You get one shot. It's high-stakes testing."
He noted if one or two students do not pass a test it also brings down the entire county's scores.
Crooks noted there were also two "bright spots" with the third and fourth grade tests. The middle school also saw growth.
"Eighth grade had a 9% jump from last year in math," he said.
Crooks said the district has been getting new systems of support in place. If they keep the systems in place, making the help consistent for students and teachers, improvements will be seen.
"We will start to see that major impact once we get that fully implemented," he said. "The teachers are working hard and the students are working hard. We need to keep providing support for the kids."
Crooks said regarding attendance the district is striving to reach at least a 95% attendance rate. The Community in Schools program is being implemented to help with that endeavor.
"That's a focus for us as well," he said.
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.
The first day of classes for Brooke students is Aug. 20.
OHIO COUNTY
It looks like most all elementary students in Ohio County Schools are considered proficient in math, reading and science. The school district also ranks among the top three in West Virginia in 11th-grade math scores and among the top 15 in 11th-grade reading scores, according to school officials.
Wheeling Park High School ranks as the 10th-highest-achieving school in West Virginia in math. This comes after WPHS improved its school-wide math proficiency from 27% to 32%, results indicate. Those in 11th grade take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) used for college admission, while students at other levels take the WVGSA.
School district administrators have had the results of the testing ever since students took the assessment in May, explained Ashlea Minch, the new director of assessment and federal programs for Ohio County Schools.
"We're happy to be making progress," she said. "We know we will never be where we want to be, but we are showing growth. And some of our schools scored the best they ever have."
Every grade level in Ohio County Schools achieved higher proficiency standards than the statewide average. Across West Virginia, results show a 48% proficiency achievement for students in reading; a 39% achievement in math; and a 29% achievement in science.
Ohio County results, meanwhile, show students at an overall 58% proficiency in reading; 48% in math; and 35% in science.
Middle Creek and Steenrod elementaries achieved a 70% proficiency or higher in both math and reading. Ohio County Schools ranks among the top 10 counties in the state in both math and reading for grades 3, 4, and 5, school district officials noted.
But the first thing that jumps out in the elementary school results is the lower number of students at the other end not meeting proficiency standards on the test. A look at the results shows that at most of the Ohio County elementary schools fewer than just 10% of students failed to meet standards.
"Ohio County Schools has an extremely low number of students in the 'Does Not Meet Proficiency' category. While some students may not yet be counted in the overall 'Meets Proficiency' percentage, this measure reflects meaningful progress in learning and improved outcomes for students across our schools," according to a statement released by the school district.
Where there was a fall was at Ritchie Elementary School, which traditionally scores among the top elementary schools in the state. Reading scores at the school fell from 74% proficiency to 53%; math scores from 65% to 44%; and science scores, from 46% to 17%.
Past years saw some Ritchie students take an alternative assessment as opposed to the WVGSA, Minch explained.
"Some of those kids who had taken the alternative assessment had to take the GSA this year," she said. "While they may have been able to achieve before on the alternative assessment, many may not have have related to the GSA."
Many of the former Ritchie students who scored well in the past are now at Wheeling Middle School, which saw gains in their assessment scores this year. The school jumped from a 59% proficiency in reading to a 65%; from 36% to 40% in math; and from 11% to 31% in science.
Middle Creek Elementary also showed some strong improvements. Students there jumped from 66% proficiency to 78% proficiency in math, and from 67% to 70% in reading. There was a drop in science from 36% to 32%.
Minch said she and other administrators have spent the summer examining the data, "finding the holes and coming up with a plan for the school year."
She added the school district has a lot of different choices when it comes to curriculum and intervention for students.
"We will look at scores that did very well, and compare them to those who scored low," Minch explained.
While WPHS 11th graders may have done well on the SAT test that serves as the standardized assessment, 11th grade scores across West Virginia are not strong. Education experts believe the scores are affected by the fact the test is a college entrance exam, and many students who aren't college bound never were taught the information in their classes.
They add other older students just aren't inspired by the test and have no motivation to take it.
Minch said educators in Ohio County Schools are going to spend time this year impressing upon students the SAT is part of their professional development, and they will work with individual students with hopes of inspiring them to "be the best they can be."
"Overall, I think high school scores will always be something that disappoints," she continued. "We will take those disappointments and focus on the next year. Hopefully, we will be celebrating next year."
Superintendent Kim Miller noted this year's test scores show the school district is growing academically, "and that is what we like to see."
"We're proud of the work teachers have done," she said. "There is a lot to celebrate, and we are honing in on the areas that need attention. We own those as well. We will continue to do what is best for our kids."
MARSHALL COUNTY
In Marshall County Schools, 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.
Marshall County Schools Superintendent Shelby Haines said her district has already been reviewing the data it received this summer with its teachers and administrators.
“We have worked this summer analyzing the strengths and weaknesses at each school and at each grade level across the county,” Haines said. “While test scores have been embargoed to the public, we have had access to those to work with this summer and prepare for the upcoming school year.
“We always like test scores to be better; however, in areas of reading and math Marshall County Schools does show a positive trajectory. If you look at results from 2021 across the county in reading and math, we have increased performance in both areas each year."
By grade in Marshall County, 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.
TYLER COUNTY
In Tyler County Schools, Superintendent Shane Highley said there has been improvement, but there is still work to be done.
"Overall, I am proud of the progress our students and staff have made, while also recognizing that we have more work to do. The increase in proficiency in reading from 47% to 49% and in math from 45% to 47% is encouraging. At the same time, we saw a decrease in science from 36% to 33%, and we have to be honest about that and determine what we can do differently to improve," he said.
"I don’t believe test scores tell the entire story of a school system, but they are an important piece of information. They give us an opportunity to celebrate areas where we are making progress and, more importantly, identify areas where we need to improve.
"I want to emphasize that these results are a reflection of the tremendous amount of hard work being done every day by the entire Tyler County Schools staff. Our teachers, administrators, service personnel, counselors, coaches and support staff all play a role in helping our students succeed. I am proud of the commitment they show to our kids every day."
Highley said the assessment data is used as a tool to make better decisions regarding educating students.
"We look at the results at the county, school, grade-level and student levels to identify strengths and areas of need. We don’t simply look at a percentage and move on. We want to understand the 'why' behind the numbers," he said.
"Our principals and teachers use this information to identify standards where students may need additional instruction or support. It helps us determine where professional development may be needed, where instructional practices can be strengthened and where individual students may need additional intervention.
"We also look at multiple sources of information -- not just the state assessment -- including classroom performance, i-Ready data, attendance, student growth and other indicators. The goal is to get a complete picture of how our students are doing."
Highly added that to improve as a district teachers and administrators must have high expectations for all students.
"We believe our kids are capable of achieving at high levels, and we have to provide them with the instruction, support and opportunities necessary to get there," he said.
"We continue to focus on strong classroom instruction, standards-aligned teaching, intervention for students who need additional support and professional development for our staff. We also have to make sure we are addressing the whole child. Attendance, student engagement, mental health and involvement in extracurricular activities all have an impact on a student’s ability to be successful academically.
"Most importantly, we have to work together. One of the things I believe strongly about Tyler County Schools is that we are all rowing the boat in the same direction. Teachers, principals, central office staff, parents, community members and our Board all have an important role to play. When everyone is working toward the same goal, our students benefit.
"Our goal is not simply to raise a test score. Our goal is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, confidence and opportunities they need to be successful after they leave Tyler County Schools."
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.
WETZEL COUNTY
Wetzel County Schools Superintendent Cassie Porter said the district's students rank No. 2 in the state in third grade math and No. 15 third grade reading.
"These results are something our entire county should be proud of," Porter said. "When our students rank No. 2 in the entire state in Grade 3 Mathematics, that is a tremendous accomplishment. It represents countless hours of instruction, learning, preparation, encouragement, and support. Most importantly, it represents our students and what they are capable of achieving."
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.
"Our students deserve tremendous credit for their hard work and determination. Our teachers and school staff deserve recognition for the expertise, dedication, and care they bring to their classrooms every day," she said. "Our families and communities also play an important role in supporting student success. This is a team achievement, and it is a moment worth celebrating."
Porter said the district will continue to work toward improving students' learning and test scores.
"These results are not the finish line," she said. "They are the motivation to keep moving forward. We will celebrate this success while continuing to look for ways to grow, improve, and provide every student in Wetzel County with the opportunities they deserve.
"Wetzel County Schools is proud of our students. Proud of our educators. Proud of our schools. And proud of the community that continues to believe in the future of our children."