Best Public Schools in Cowen, WV

There is just one school in Cowen, West Virginia: Glade Elementary School, a PK-6 school with 328 students operating within the Webster County Schools district, which ranks near the bottom of all West Virginia districts.

Glade Elementary is a school on an upward trajectory. Its state ranking improved dramatically from the 17th percentile (294th out of 355) in 2024-2025 to the 30th percentile (247th out of 355) in 2025-2026, earning a 2-star rating after consecutive 1-star years. The school consistently outperforms its district in every subject, with math proficiency at 35.4% (10.9 points above the district's 24.5%) and ELA at 43.3% (1.8 points above the district). While still slightly below state averages in most areas, the school is closing the gap—particularly in math, where it now trails the state by just 4 points. The 4th grade class is the clear standout, achieving 56.4% proficiency in ELA (6.8 points above the state average) and 48.7% in math (nearly matching the state). However, 3rd grade shows concerning weakness, with only 27.5% ELA proficiency (17.1 points below state) and 35% math proficiency (19.4 points below state). There's also a notable 5th grade math dip to 25.5% proficiency, a 23.2-point drop from 4th grade, though 5th grade science scores sit right at the state average.

With a student-teacher ratio of 15.1:1 and per-student spending of $11,427, the school operates with modest resources yet achieves near-state-average results in several metrics. The positive momentum in rankings, combined with pockets of excellence like the 4th grade cohort, suggests effective instructional practices that could be leveraged to address the 3rd grade ELA and 5th grade math challenges. For parents, Glade Elementary represents a school that, despite its district's low statewide standing, is improving and showing it can compete with state averages in key areas.