Summary:
Metz, West Virginia, is served by a single school, Long Drain School, a PK-8 elementary school within the Wetzel County Schools district, which enrolls 204 students and offers a notably favorable 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio.
For parents, the most striking story here is Long Drain’s dramatic turnaround. After ranking in the bottom 3% of West Virginia schools (0 stars) in 2024-2025, the school jumped 127 positions to the 38th percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026—a remarkable single-year improvement that suggests recent instructional changes or targeted interventions are taking effect. However, the school still faces clear academic challenges. Overall proficiency lags state averages in every subject: math sits at 38.5% (vs. 39.4% statewide), English Language Arts at 34.6% (vs. 47.6%), and science at just 18.8% (vs. 29.3%). The most concerning pattern is a steep decline as students advance: 3rd grade math proficiency is an impressive 73.3%, but by 7th grade it drops to 21.4%, and 7th grade ELA proficiency is a very low 14.3%—more than 31 points below the state average. This suggests the school excels at early elementary instruction but struggles to sustain momentum through middle grades.
On the positive side, the school spends a substantial $21,704 per student and maintains an excellent student-teacher ratio, meaning children likely receive strong individual attention. The recent ranking improvement may indicate these resources are beginning to pay off, though the persistent gaps in upper-grade performance and science proficiency remain urgent priorities. Parents should note that no test data is available for 6th and 8th grades, and socioeconomic data is missing, limiting a full picture. Ultimately, Long Drain is a school in transition—showing real promise but with significant work ahead, especially in ELA and upper-grade subjects. Whether this improvement is sustainable will be the key question for families considering this school.
Thank you for your feedback!