Summary:
Fayette County Schools in West Virginia is home to two high schools—Oak Hill High (grades 9-12, 1,057 students) and Midland Trail High (grades 6-12, 618 students)—serving a combined 1,675 students in a rural Appalachian setting.
Both schools have made remarkable, synchronized progress in the latest state rankings. Oak Hill High jumped from 71st to 40th in the state (62nd percentile), while Midland Trail High climbed from 83rd to 52nd (50th percentile)—each improving by 31 positions and now earning 3-star ratings. Oak Hill holds the higher absolute ranking, but Midland Trail boasts the stronger graduation rate at 95.6% versus Oak Hill’s 90.6%, both near or above the state average of 92.8%. In 11th-grade testing, the schools are closely matched: Oak Hill edges ahead in math (21.3% vs. 19.8% proficient) and science (23.9% vs. 20.8%), while ELA proficiency is nearly identical (47.4% vs. 46.9%). Both schools significantly outperform in ELA compared to math and science, a pattern consistent with state trends.
Midland Trail’s unique 6-12 configuration reveals a notable "middle school dip"—its 7th graders excel (37.1% math proficiency, well above district and state averages), but scores plummet by 8th grade and remain low through 11th grade. This suggests the middle school portion is a strength that could be leveraged to improve high school outcomes. Meanwhile, the district overall ranks in the bottom third of West Virginia (33rd percentile), despite both high schools performing at or above the state median—implying that lower-performing elementary and middle schools may be dragging down the district’s ranking. With nearly identical per-student spending (~$12,400-$12,500), Midland Trail offers slightly better cost efficiency given its higher graduation rate. For parents, both schools are improving and provide solid options, with Oak Hill leading in test scores and Midland Trail excelling in graduation outcomes and middle school academics.
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