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Big Otter Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

24^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 355 West Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 93% of West Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Big Otter Elementary School is a small, rural school in Duck, WV, serving 184 students from Pre-K through 5th grade as part of Clay County Schools. This school has become a standout academic performer, earning a 5-star rating and ranking 24th out of 355 elementary schools statewide—a remarkable climb from its 2-star ranking just five years ago.

What truly sets Big Otter apart is its exceptional performance across every subject and grade level. In the most recent school year, 73.9% of students scored proficient in math, compared to just 34% for the district and 39.4% statewide. English Language Arts proficiency reached 68.2%, well above the state average of 47.6%. These strong results are consistent from 3rd through 5th grade, with 4th graders hitting an impressive 80% math proficiency. Perhaps most notably, Big Otter ranks 7th in the entire state for its effectiveness with economically disadvantaged students—a testament to the school's ability to help every child succeed regardless of background. The school also achieved a dramatic improvement in male student performance, jumping from the 55th to the 95th percentile in a single year.

The contrast with nearby schools makes Big Otter's success even more striking. Just 9 miles away, Clay Elementary School ranks 266th statewide with math proficiency nearly half of Big Otter's. Even the next best nearby school, Sutton Elementary School, trails by 17 percentage points in math. Big Otter achieves these results with a favorable 13:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending that is actually lower than several neighboring schools. For parents seeking a school where children consistently outperform state averages and where dedicated teaching makes a real difference, Big Otter Elementary is an exceptional choice.

184

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,419

Per pupil spending ?

58.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

59 Ossia Rd
Duck, WV 25063-8500

(304) 286-3111

District: Clay County Schools

Students who attend Big Otter Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Clay Middle School
High:	Clay County High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.7%

Two or more races:

2.7%

Hispanic:

1.1%

See top rated West Virginia elementary schools

Compare Big Otter Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 82nd percentile in 2016 → 93rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the West Virginia average (64% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 7% of West Virginia elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 11 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 school64%

District avg41%

West Virginia avg41%

24^th of 355

West Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 7%▲ up 11 pts since 2016

From top 18% (2016) to top 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of West Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2Elementary Schools in the Clay County Schools

19^th of 54Clay 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	89.2	24 of 355	93.2%	★★★★★
2025	71.4	75 of 355	78.9%	★★★★☆
2024	71.7	76 of 368	79.3%	★★★★☆
2023	55.9	144 of 368	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.2	168 of 375	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	42.0	217 of 380	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.8	110 of 383	71.3%	★★★★☆
2018	67.8	108 of 392	72.4%	★★★★☆
2017	64.9	117 of 399	70.7%	★★★★☆
2016	72.9	73 of 402	81.8%	★★★★☆
2015	91.2	16 of 408	96.1%	★★★★★
2014	69.2	82 of 422	80.6%	★★★★☆
2013	66.4	96 of 428	77.6%	★★★★☆
2012	65.4	101 of 426	76.3%	★★★★☆
2011	75.1	54 of 426	87.3%	★★★★☆
2010	66.7	96 of 427	77.5%	★★★★☆
2009	47.5	234 of 420	44.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2022	14.8	153 of 154	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	86.5	24 of 300	92.0%	★★★★★
2025	78.0	40 of 302	86.8%	★★★★☆
2024	79.2	35 of 316	88.9%	★★★★☆
2023	44.6	177 of 317	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.6	118 of 325	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.7	152 of 322	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.8	228 of 339	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.4	230 of 366	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	43.8	235 of 381	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	74.2	4 of 21	81.0%	★★★★☆
2019	68.4	3 of 16	81.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	92.3	7 of 314	97.8%	★★★★★
2025	65.8	84 of 328	74.4%	★★★★☆
2024	71.0	58 of 336	82.7%	★★★★☆
2023	53.3	139 of 333	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.9	153 of 347	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.2	187 of 335	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	74.2	54 of 368	85.3%	★★★★☆
2017	69.6	84 of 382	78.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	85.0	15 of 298	95.0%	★★★★★
2025	54.7	138 of 305	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.8	120 of 325	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.2	179 of 322	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.5	203 of 330	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.6	177 of 333	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	83.8	29 of 338	91.4%	★★★★★
2018	83.4	33 of 364	90.9%	★★★★★
2017	78.8	46 of 382	88.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2019	47.8	78 of 185	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.4	88 of 258	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	52.0	134 of 377	64.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	88.3	25 of 352	92.9%	★★★★★
2025	70.7	78 of 353	77.9%	★★★★☆
2024	67.8	92 of 367	74.9%	★★★★☆
2023	52.0	158 of 366	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.1	168 of 373	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.9	219 of 376	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.9	116 of 373	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.6	109 of 374	70.9%	★★★★☆
2017	63.3	118 of 382	69.1%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)98th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)95th percentile~ school

White (2026)93rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)92nd percentile~ school

Homeless (2023)81st percentile+20 vs school

Special Education (2019)58th percentile-13 vs school

Disabled (2022)1st percentile-55 vs school

By subject vs West Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics74%+34 vs state

English Language Arts68%+21 vs state

Science48%+14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Big Otter 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 (2019)
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	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 6th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 8th 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 6th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 7th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 8th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts All Grades	WV Assessment Science 5th Grade	WV Assessment Science 8th Grade	WV Assessment Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Big Otter Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	59 Ossia Rd	Duck	25063	Clay County	Clay County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 286-3111	184	14	13.2		176 (95.7%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	89.2	24^th of 355 public elementary schools	93.2%		71.4	75^th of 355 public elementary schools	78.9%	51	77.3	80.0	64.5				73.9	77.3	62.9	67.7				68.2	48.4			$12,419	$1,895	$10,524
Clay Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	219 Church Street	Clay	25043	Clay County	Clay County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 587-4276	431	35	12.3		422 (97.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	32.8	266^th of 355 public elementary schools	25.1%		31.9	265^th of 355 public elementary schools	25.4%	1	47.4	38.6	29.1				37.4	29.0	44.3	50.9				42.9	36.4			$13,896	$2,945	$10,951
Frametown Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	65 Jeanie Ellis Dr	Frametown	26623	Braxton County	Braxton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 364-5526	146	10	14.6		145 (99.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	65	97^th of 355 public elementary schools	72.7%		55.1	152^nd of 355 public elementary schools	57.2%	55	52.4	66.7	43.8				54.6	42.9	72.2	50.0				54.6	56.3			$12,714	$2,583	$10,132
Geary Elementary/Middle School	Public	PK, KG-8	9538 Clay Rd	Left Hand	25251	Roane County	Roane County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 565-3721	200	20	10.0		192 (96.0%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.5%)	22.9	306^th of 355 public elementary schools	13.8%		27.5	292^nd of 355 public elementary schools	17.7%	14	42.1	35.3	29.4	23.1	14.0	40.9	32.4	52.6	35.3	41.2	23.1	35.1	50.0	41.2	17.7	36.4	28.2	$12,582	$2,068	$10,513
Arnoldsburg School	Public	PK, KG-4	90 Spring Run Rd	Arnoldsburg	25234	Calhoun County	Calhoun County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 655-8616	139	16	8.6		135 (97.1%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	48.4	181^st of 355 public elementary schools	49.0%		57.1	140^th of 355 public elementary schools	60.6%	41	41.9	59.1					49.1	35.5	59.1					45.3				$13,117	$2,934	$10,184
Davis Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	113 5th St	Gassaway	26624	Braxton County	Braxton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 364-5291	147	12	12.2		142 (96.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.0%)	31.6	272^nd of 355 public elementary schools	23.4%		35.5	244^th of 355 public elementary schools	31.3%	28	44.4	25.0	34.6				35.0	38.9	56.3	38.5				43.3	30.8			$12,061	$2,504	$9,557
Birch River Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	379 Birch River Rd	Birch River	26610	Nicholas County	Nicholas County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 649-2651	64	7	9.1		64 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							38.5							53.9				$14,690	$2,923	$11,767
Little Birch Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	55 Little Birch Rd	Sutton	26601	Braxton County	Braxton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 765-2042	83	10	8.7		75 (90.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.8%)	54.2	157^th of 355 public elementary schools	55.8%		49.4	173^rd of 355 public elementary schools	51.3%	16		54.6	46.2				48.5		54.6	53.9				51.5	30.8			$13,595	$2,771	$10,823
Sutton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	288 N Hill Rd	Sutton	26601	Braxton County	Braxton County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 765-5202	166	11	15.0		161 (97.0%)	2 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	67.5	86^th of 355 public elementary schools	75.8%		80.9	45^th of 355 public elementary schools	87.3%	41	76.2	42.3	56.0				56.9	42.9	53.9	68.0				55.6	48.0			$12,543	$3,463	$9,080

Frequently Asked Questions about Big Otter Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Big Otter Elementary School?

Students at Big Otter Elementary School are 96% White, 3% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

What district is Big Otter Elementary School in?

Clay County Schools

What schools do graduates of Big Otter Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Big Otter Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Clay Middle School
High : Clay County High School

Is Big Otter Elementary School a good school?

Yes. Big Otter Elementary School ranks in the top 6.8% of West Virginia elementary schools.

How many students attend Big Otter Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 184 students attended Big Otter Elementary School.

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Latest West Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 WV Assessment scoresNewAug 12, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 9, 2026

2024–25 WV Assessment scoresAug 13, 2025

2023–24 graduation ratesMay 8, 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.