Harts Pk-8

Harts Pk-8 is a mid-sized public school in Harts, WV, serving 347 students in grades PK-8 within the Lincoln County Schools district. Despite its district ranking in the bottom third of West Virginia, Harts Pk-8 stands out as a clear bright spot, holding a 3-star rating and ranking in the 53rd percentile statewide—a remarkable climb from just the 15th percentile a decade ago.

The school's most defining strength is its exceptional work with students facing economic challenges. Harts Pk-8 ranks in the 67th percentile for its low socio-economic status students, outperforming its overall school ranking by 14 points. Even more impressive, the school ranks 2nd out of 17 schools statewide for its support of homeless students, earning a 5-star rating. This supportive culture extends to early grades, where 3rd-grade ELA proficiency hits 62.9%—nearly 30 points above the district average and 18 points above the state. When compared to nearby schools, Harts Pk-8 far exceeds Duval Pk-8 (2nd percentile), Verdunville Elementary (8th percentile), and Holden Central Elementary (0th percentile) in overall performance. With a student-teacher ratio of 11.7 and mid-range per-student spending of $13,124, the school uses its resources efficiently to achieve results that rival or beat schools spending significantly more.

However, Harts Pk-8 faces notable challenges. Performance with special education students ranks critically low at the 14th percentile, and there's a significant gender gap—female students rank in the 59th percentile while males sit at just the 39th. The school also experiences a sharp "middle school slump," with 7th-grade math (23.5%) and ELA (14.7%) proficiency rates far below the strong early-grade scores. For parents, this means Harts Pk-8 offers an exceptionally supportive environment for younger students and those facing economic hardship, but families with older children or students needing special education services may want to investigate those specific programs more closely.