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Nichols Elementary School

Q: Is Nichols Elementary School a good school?

Nichols Elementary School ranks 56 th of 355 West Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

56^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 355 West Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 84% of West Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Nichols Elementary School in Barboursville, WV, serves approximately 230 students in grades PK-5 as part of Cabell County Schools, and has earned a solid 4-star rating with a statewide ranking in the 82nd-86th percentile in recent years.

This school has some remarkable strengths that set it apart. Most notably, Nichols excels at supporting students who often face extra challenges. Special education students rank in the 91st percentile statewide (5 stars), and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds rank in the 85th percentile—both exceptional outcomes that many schools struggle to achieve. The school also shows a clear strength with male students, who consistently rank in the 89th-90th percentile, though there is a notable gap with female students who rank lower (69th percentile). Another standout feature is the school's literacy development: English Language Arts proficiency climbs dramatically from 53.6% in 3rd grade to 77.8% in 5th grade—a 24-point improvement that far exceeds state averages (51% in 5th grade). This suggests the school's reading instruction becomes increasingly effective as students move up through the grades.

Compared to nearby schools, Nichols sits comfortably in the upper-middle tier. It outperforms Milton Elementary, Ona Elementary, Altizer Elementary, and Davis Creek Elementary, while trailing the top-tier Hite Saunders Elementary (97th percentile) and Salt Rock Elementary (96th percentile). The school also operates efficiently, spending about $11,653 per student—less than several nearby schools that perform worse, including Guyandotte Elementary ($14,871 per student). While math and science scores are more modest (58% and 44% proficiency respectively), and the school hasn't recaptured its elite 2018-2019 peak (when it ranked 9th statewide), Nichols remains a strong, efficient choice for families prioritizing literacy growth and equitable support for diverse learners.

230

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,186

Per pupil spending ?

31.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3505 Erwin Rd
Barboursville, WV 25504-1805

(304) 733-3031

District: Cabell County Schools

Students who attend Nichols Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Milton Middle School
High:	Cabell Midland High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

97.0%

Two or more races:

1.7%

Hispanic:

0.9%

See top rated West Virginia elementary schools

Compare Nichols Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 76th percentile in 2016 → 84th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the West Virginia average (59% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 16% of West Virginia elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg48%

West Virginia avg44%

56^th of 355

West Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 16%▲ up 8 pts since 2016

From top 24% (2016) to top 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of West Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 18Elementary Schools in the Cabell County Schools

9^th of 55Cabell County Schools among West Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	76.7	56 of 355	84.2%	★★★★☆
2025	74.6	63 of 355	82.3%	★★★★☆
2024	77.4	62 of 368	83.2%	★★★★☆
2023	79.2	52 of 368	85.9%	★★★★☆
2022	73.3	67 of 375	82.1%	★★★★☆
2021	83.7	41 of 380	89.2%	★★★★☆
2019	92.7	9 of 383	97.7%	★★★★★
2018	82.4	40 of 392	89.8%	★★★★★
2017	86.8	28 of 399	93.0%	★★★★★
2016	67.0	96 of 402	76.1%	★★★★☆
2015	68.6	87 of 408	78.7%	★★★★☆
2014	57.9	140 of 422	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	70.2	76 of 428	82.2%	★★★★☆
2012	67.7	88 of 426	79.3%	★★★★☆
2011	70.7	74 of 426	82.6%	★★★★☆
2010	90.4	18 of 427	95.8%	★★★★★
2009	78.9	52 of 420	87.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	61.1	94 of 300	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.0	153 of 302	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	61.1	100 of 316	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.2	62 of 317	80.4%	★★★★☆
2022	69.7	77 of 325	76.3%	★★★★☆
2021	66.2	80 of 322	75.2%	★★★★☆
2019	86.1	23 of 339	93.2%	★★★★★
2018	83.8	26 of 366	92.9%	★★★★★
2017	79.4	41 of 381	89.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	70.0	49 of 315	84.4%	★★★★☆
2025	73.4	49 of 328	85.1%	★★★★☆
2024	63.9	81 of 336	75.9%	★★★★☆
2023	59.9	104 of 333	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.6	84 of 347	75.8%	★★★★☆
2021	74.0	40 of 335	88.1%	★★★★☆
2018	63.0	102 of 368	72.3%	★★★★☆
2017	89.5	14 of 382	96.3%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	79.8	36 of 303	88.1%	★★★★☆
2025	84.5	30 of 305	90.2%	★★★★★
2024	83.1	33 of 325	89.8%	★★★★★
2023	78.6	42 of 322	87.0%	★★★★☆
2022	70.9	63 of 330	80.9%	★★★★☆
2021	88.5	21 of 333	93.7%	★★★★★
2019	92.4	10 of 338	97.0%	★★★★★
2018	69.5	81 of 364	77.7%	★★★★☆
2017	70.6	73 of 382	80.9%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	64.2	45 of 218	79.4%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	77.3	15 of 171	91.2%	★★★★★
2017	78.5	23 of 377	93.9%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	75.7	62 of 353	82.4%	★★★★☆
2025	71.8	70 of 353	80.2%	★★★★☆
2024	75.3	67 of 367	81.7%	★★★★☆
2023	77.7	59 of 366	83.9%	★★★★☆
2022	71.7	70 of 373	81.2%	★★★★☆
2021	81.7	43 of 376	88.6%	★★★★☆
2019	90.0	15 of 373	96.0%	★★★★★
2018	81.2	42 of 374	88.8%	★★★★☆
2017	86.1	29 of 382	92.4%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2025)91st percentile+9 vs school

Male (2026)88th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)84th percentile~ school

White (2026)82nd percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2017)79th percentile-14 vs school

Female (2026)69th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs West Virginia (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts67%+19 vs state

Mathematics58%+19 vs state

Science44%+10 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a citizen on FaceBook
Friday, May 28, 2010

greatest school ever.... :) Close Quote

Schools Near Nichols Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				WV Assessment Mathematics (2026)				WV Assessment English Language Arts (2026)				WV Assessment Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2021)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WV Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics All Grades	WV Assessment English Language Arts 3rd Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 4th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 5th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts All Grades	WV Assessment Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Nichols Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3505 Erwin Rd	Barboursville	25504	Cabell County	Cabell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 733-3031	230	17	13.2	31.3%	223 (97.0%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.7%)	76.7	56^th of 355 public elementary schools	84.2%		74.6	63^rd of 355 public elementary schools	82.3%	7	60.7	58.6	55.6	58.1	53.6	65.5	77.8	66.7	44.4	$10,186	$445	$9,740
Ona Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2701 Elementary Dr	Ona	25545	Cabell County	Cabell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 743-7318	291	19	15.3	33.2%	280 (96.2%)	5 (1.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	56.8	143^rd of 355 public elementary schools	59.7%		68.3	88^th of 355 public elementary schools	75.2%	55	51.1	56.8	44.4	50.8	48.9	48.7	63.9	53.3	36.1	$9,118	$482	$8,635
Village Of Barboursville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	718 Central Ave	Barboursville	25504	Cabell County	Cabell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 733-3000	565	43	13.2	39.1%	507 (89.7%)	8 (1.4%)	2 (0.4%)	20 (3.5%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.1%)	81.3	44^th of 355 public elementary schools	87.6%		74.9	62^nd of 355 public elementary schools	82.5%	18	69.6	64.9	57.3	63.7	59.4	75.5	58.5	65.3	47.6	$10,148	$452	$9,696
Martha Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2000 Martha Rd	Barboursville	25504	Cabell County	Cabell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 733-3027	202	19	10.6	33.7%	197 (97.5%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	73.7	67^th of 355 public elementary schools	81.1%		71.4	74^th of 355 public elementary schools	79.2%	7	64.9	57.7	53.6	59.3	64.9	61.5	57.1	61.5	42.9	$11,749	$485	$11,264
Cox Landing Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	910 Cox Landing Road	Lesage	25537	Cabell County	Cabell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 733-3019	206	17	12.1	51.8%	197 (95.6%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)	70.5	81^st of 355 public elementary schools	77.2%		67.7	92^nd of 355 public elementary schools	74.1%	11	58.1	38.7	68.0	54.0	61.3	45.2	76.0	59.8	72.0	$11,574	$1,696	$9,878
Davis Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6330 Davis Creek Rd	Barboursville	25504	Cabell County	Cabell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 733-3024	235	15	15.6	30.9%	200 (85.1%)	8 (3.4%)	4 (1.7%)	9 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (6.0%)	63.3	108^th of 355 public elementary schools	69.6%		66.1	99^th of 355 public elementary schools	72.1%	9	64.3	73.1	34.3	55.1	53.6	69.2	51.4	57.3	31.4	$13,295	$442	$12,852
Milton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	802 Newman's Branch Rd	Milton	25541	Cabell County	Cabell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 743-7303	509	36	14.1	46.6%	474 (93.1%)	5 (1.0%)	8 (1.6%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.5%)	64.4	101^st of 355 public elementary schools	71.5%		58.8	130^th of 355 public elementary schools	63.4%	29	54.2	63.8	61.2	59.2	41.0	56.5	59.2	50.8	38.8	$13,433	$1,080	$12,353
Altizer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	250 3rd St	Huntington	25705	Cabell County	Cabell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 528-5100	207	17	12.1	53.2%	166 (80.2%)	11 (5.3%)	3 (1.4%)	4 (1.9%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (10.6%)	39.9	225^th of 355 public elementary schools	36.6%		42.5	209^th of 355 public elementary schools	41.1%	16	51.9	61.9	30.4	47.9	40.7	47.6	43.5	43.7	26.1	$12,673	$2,144	$10,530
Salt Rock Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	167 Madison Creek Rd	Salt Rock	25559	Cabell County	Cabell County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 733-3037	228	17	13.4	47.9%	218 (95.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.9%)	92.4	14^th of 355 public elementary schools	96.1%		72.1	67^th of 355 public elementary schools	81.1%	53	85.2	67.6	83.8	78.2	66.7	59.5	89.2	72.3	75.7	$9,391	$579	$8,812
Guyandotte Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	607 5th Ave	Huntington	25702	Cabell County	Cabell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 528-5128	233	20	11.6	74.0%	197 (84.5%)	7 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (12.0%)	21.3	311^th of 355 public elementary schools	12.4%		44.1	198^th of 355 public elementary schools	44.2%	113	18.8	40.6	33.3	30.8	34.4	50.0	33.3	39.6	14.8	$12,061	$2,056	$10,005

Frequently Asked Questions about Nichols Elementary School

How many students attend Nichols Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 230 students attended Nichols Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Nichols Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Nichols Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Milton Middle School
High : Cabell Midland High School

What district is Nichols Elementary School in?

Cabell County Schools

Is Nichols Elementary School a good school?

Nichols Elementary School ranks 56^th of 355 West Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Nichols Elementary School?

Students at Nichols Elementary School are 97% White, 2% Two or more races.

Rate Nichols Elementary School!

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Latest West Virginia data All new data »

2019–20 through 2024–25 school spending dataAug 24, 2026

2025–26 WV Assessment scoresAug 12, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 9, 2026

2024–25 WV Assessment scoresAug 13, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the West Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.