Middle Schools in Kanawha County Schools

The 12 middle schools in Kanawha County Schools, serving grades 6-8 (with Sissonville including 5th grade) in the Charleston, WV area, show a wide range of academic performance, from a top-10 statewide standout to a school ranking near the bottom, with enrollment varying from 227 to 740 students.

For parents, the standout choice is John Adams Middle School, which ranks 8th in the state (95th percentile) with a 5-star rating and leads the district in math (51.8% proficient) and ELA (62.5% proficient), despite having the lowest per-student spending ($10,986) and the highest student-teacher ratio (17.8:1). A strong alternative is Andrew Jackson Middle School, a consistent 4-star school ranking 24th statewide, with exceptional 8th-grade math scores (57.1%). Hayes Middle School is the most improved, jumping 31 spots to 51st place. On the other end, West Side Middle School is a major concern, ranking 158th out of 161 schools with a 0-star rating and the lowest scores in every subject (e.g., 14.8% math proficiency), despite spending the most per student ($15,134). Other mid-tier options include Elkview Middle School (61st) and Sissonville Middle School, while South Charleston Middle School and Du Pont Middle School have declined in rankings.

District-wide, math and ELA proficiency slightly exceed state averages, but science is a clear weakness (27.8% vs. 29.3% state). The achievement gap is stark—a 37-point difference in math between the top and bottom schools. Notably, higher spending does not correlate with better results, and larger schools like John Adams and Elkview tend to outperform smaller ones like East Bank Middle School and McKinley Middle School. Many schools also show a "middle school slide" in ELA, with 8th-grade scores dropping, and Horace Mann Middle School shows a concerning decline in math from 6th to 8th grade. For parents, focusing on the specific school's grade-level trends is key, as performance varies significantly within each building.