Summary:
Gallipolis Ferry, West Virginia, is served by a single public school, Beale Elementary School, which educates students from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade within the Mason County Schools district.
For parents considering this area, the most important takeaway is that Beale Elementary presents a mixed academic profile. The school currently holds a 2-star state rating and ranks in the 31st percentile statewide, placing it in the bottom third of West Virginia elementary schools. Its overall performance is a tale of two subjects: in Mathematics, 44% of students are proficient, which actually surpasses both the district (34.5%) and state (39.4%) averages. However, in English Language Arts, only 37.9% of students are proficient, significantly trailing the district (44.3%) and state (47.6%) averages. This clear dichotomy suggests that while math instruction is a relative strength, literacy is a critical area needing improvement.
The most intriguing finding is a dramatic "6th grade effect." In both Math (51.9% proficient) and ELA (55.6% proficient), 6th graders at Beale are the top performers in the entire district, a stark contrast to the lower grades. For example, 4th grade ELA proficiency is just 28%, and 5th grade Science proficiency is a concerning 21.1%, well below the state average of 34.6%. This spike in 6th grade warrants investigation, as replicating its success could benefit other grades. Notably, the school enjoys a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.1:1 and spends $13,931 per student, yet overall performance remains below average. This resource paradox suggests the challenge lies not in funding, but in the effectiveness of instructional strategies and programs, particularly in literacy and science for the middle elementary years.
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