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Oakvale School

Q: Is Oakvale School a good school?

Oakvale School ranks in the bottom 5.6% of West Virginia elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Oakvale School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 168 students attended Oakvale School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Oakvale School?

Students at Oakvale School are 89% White, 4% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

Q: What schools do graduates of Oakvale School attend?

Students who attend Oakvale School usually go on to attend: Middle : Pikeview Middle School High : Pikeview High School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

335^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 355 West Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 6% of West Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Oakvale School is a small elementary school in Princeton, WV, serving 168 students in grades PK-5 within the Mercer County Schools district. While the school offers a favorable student-teacher ratio of 10.8:1 and spends about $13,545 per student, its academic performance has declined dramatically over the past two years, dropping from the 57th percentile statewide in 2023-2024 to the 6th percentile in 2025-2026.

The most urgent concern is in the early grades. Only 15.4% of 3rd graders are proficient in English Language Arts, and just 23.1% are proficient in math—both less than half the district averages. This is a critical red flag because 3rd grade is when students transition from learning to read to reading to learn. The school also saw a stunning collapse in 5th grade science, falling from 42.4% proficiency in 2023-2024 to just 8% in 2025-2026. Interestingly, scores improve somewhat by 4th and 5th grade, suggesting students who stay at Oakvale may make progress, but the 3rd grade cohort appears to be entering with significant gaps or experiencing ineffective instruction in the foundational years.

What makes this decline especially notable is that nearby schools in the same district are thriving. Athens Elementary School, just 6.5 miles away, ranks in the 88th percentile with math and ELA proficiency rates more than double Oakvale's. Sun Valley Elementary School and Glenwood School (K-8) also significantly outperform Oakvale, despite having larger class sizes and lower per-student spending. Even Spanishburg, which has nearly the same enrollment, posts much higher math proficiency. This suggests that Oakvale's challenges aren't about resources or demographics—they point to deeper issues with curriculum and instructional quality that need urgent attention.

168

Students ?

10.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,537

Per pupil spending ?

56.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2503 Goodwins Chapel Rd
Princeton, WV 24739-4484

(304) 898-2541

District: Mercer County Schools

Students who attend Oakvale School usually attend:

Middle:	Pikeview Middle School
High:	Pikeview High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.7%

Hispanic:

3.6%

Two or more races:

3.6%

See top rated West Virginia elementary schools

Compare Oakvale School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 63rd percentile in 2016 → 6th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the West Virginia average (24% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 57 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school24%

District avg37%

West Virginia avg41%

335^th of 355

West Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 6%▼ down 58 pts since 2016

From top 37% (2016) to bottom 6% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of West Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 12Elementary Schools in the Mercer County Schools

32^nd of 54Mercer 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	15.7	335 of 355	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	32.6	257 of 355	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	53.8	159 of 368	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.5	232 of 368	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.6	259 of 375	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.1	258 of 380	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.2	292 of 383	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.2	282 of 392	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	48.4	215 of 399	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	58.5	148 of 402	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	41.8	258 of 408	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	41.3	267 of 422	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	45.6	237 of 428	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	14.4	409 of 426	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	32.1	327 of 426	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	24.1	385 of 427	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	15.4	405 of 420	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	2.4	300 of 300	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	13.7	292 of 302	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	55.7	126 of 316	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.3	198 of 317	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.6	288 of 325	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.3	264 of 322	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.3	339 of 366	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	51.8	178 of 381	53.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	29.6	264 of 314	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	46.8	173 of 328	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.5	75 of 336	77.7%	★★★★☆
2023	52.9	142 of 333	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.8	164 of 347	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.9	135 of 335	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.0	228 of 368	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	53.3	165 of 382	56.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	24.6	250 of 298	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.9	239 of 305	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	67.2	77 of 325	76.3%	★★★★☆
2023	50.3	143 of 322	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.5	120 of 330	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.2	173 of 333	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.4	182 of 338	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.6	135 of 364	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	50.3	186 of 382	51.3%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	50.8	145 of 377	61.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	18.8	325 of 352	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	35.1	247 of 353	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.4	125 of 367	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	36.1	254 of 366	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.3	278 of 373	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	38.4	239 of 376	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.4	280 of 373	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.0	290 of 374	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	48.5	200 of 382	47.6%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2017)62nd percentile+15 vs school

Male (2026)16th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)16th percentile+10 vs school

White (2026)8th percentile~ school

Female (2026)<1st percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs West Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics32%-7 vs state

English Language Arts32%-16 vs state

Science8%-27 vs state

5.0

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Schools Near Oakvale 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 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
Oakvale School	Public	PK, KG-5	2503 Goodwins Chapel Rd	Princeton	24739	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 898-2541	168	16	10.8	56.7%	149 (88.7%)	4 (2.4%)	6 (3.6%)	3 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.6%)	15.7	335^th of 355 public elementary schools	5.6%		32.6	257^th of 355 public elementary schools	27.6%	78	23.1	33.3	40.0				32.1	15.4	40.0	40.0				32.1	8.0			$14,537	$2,199	$12,337
Melrose Elementary School	Public	K-5	2121 Athens Rd	Princeton	24739	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 425-3757	239	15	15.9	42.8%	210 (87.9%)	4 (1.7%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (8.8%)	64.6	98^th of 355 public elementary schools	72.4%		61.9	112^th of 355 public elementary schools	68.5%	14	63.6	42.9	67.6				58.6	47.7	40.0	70.3				52.6	48.7			$9,779	$1,159	$8,620
Athens Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	205 S State Street	Athens	24712	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 384-9229	233	19	12.5	44.8%	216 (92.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.4%)	82	41^st of 355 public elementary schools	88.5%		91.5	14^th of 355 public elementary schools	96.1%	27	73.5	72.7	62.5				69.2	55.9	60.6	67.5				61.7	42.5			$11,880	$2,070	$9,810
Straley Elementary School	Public	3-5	810 Straley Ave	Princeton	24740	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 425-3173	172	14	12.7	74.1%	134 (77.9%)	13 (7.6%)	2 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (12.2%)	48.9	180^th of 355 public elementary schools	49.3%		56.1	144^th of 355 public elementary schools	59.4%	36	74.1	43.4	51.7				56.8	50.0	45.3	44.8				46.8	22.8			$12,308	$2,880	$9,427
Princeton Primary School	Public	K-2	180 Tiger Dr	Princeton	24739	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 487-3904	448	37	12.1	66.9%	340 (75.9%)	31 (6.9%)	10 (2.2%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (14.1%)								(n/a)																		$13,572	$1,813	$11,759
Mercer Elementary	Public	3-5	1200 Mercer St	Princeton	24740	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 425-3160	258	21	12.5	58.5%	205 (79.5%)	18 (7.0%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (12.4%)	31.7	271^st of 355 public elementary schools	23.7%		20.8	316^th of 355 public elementary schools	11.0%	45	33.3	40.7	21.6				32.3	27.8	46.9	55.4				42.1	37.8			$11,492	$2,550	$8,942
Sun Valley Elementary School	Public	K-5	5281 Hinton Road	Lerona	25971	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 384-7441	117	8	14.6	35.0%	113 (96.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.6%)	66.2	92^nd of 355 public elementary schools	74.1%		79.3	51^st of 355 public elementary schools	85.6%	41	28.6	63.6	66.7				50.0	28.6	63.6	83.3				56.0	55.6			$11,630	$1,698	$9,933
Mountain Valley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	977 Blue Prince Rd	Bluefield	24701	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 324-7316	273	25	10.9	73.6%	219 (80.2%)	16 (5.9%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (12.5%)	50.9	173^rd of 355 public elementary schools	51.3%		30.1	276^th of 355 public elementary schools	22.3%	103	48.0	46.0	50.0				47.9	36.0	54.1	55.9				50.0	41.2			$13,868	$2,949	$10,919
Glenwood School (K-8)	Public	K-8	1734 Glenwood Park Rd	Princeton	24739	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 425-5970	614	46	13.3	49.7%	544 (88.6%)	27 (4.4%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.0%)	74.5	64^th of 355 public elementary schools	82.0%		61.2	116^th of 355 public elementary schools	67.3%	52	68.8	57.1	59.7	45.2	36.1	64.6	55.4	50.0	58.0	68.1	48.4	50.7	56.1	55.3	52.8	40.2	46.1	$10,851	$1,827	$9,024
Spanishburg	Public	PK, KG-5	8544 Beckley Road	Spanishburg	25922	Mercer County	Mercer County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 425-5854	159	15	10.9	50.5%	151 (95.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.0%)	32.7	267^th of 355 public elementary schools	24.8%		24.5	306^th of 355 public elementary schools	13.8%	39	52.2	46.7	25.0				40.3	26.1	53.3	41.7				38.7	29.2			$16,798	$2,775	$14,023

Frequently Asked Questions about Oakvale School

How many students attend Oakvale School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 168 students attended Oakvale School.

What is the racial makeup of Oakvale School?

Students at Oakvale School are 89% White, 4% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Oakvale School attend?

Students who attend Oakvale School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Pikeview Middle School
High : Pikeview High School

What district is Oakvale School in?

Mercer County Schools

Is Oakvale School a good school?

Oakvale School ranks in the bottom 5.6% of West Virginia elementary schools.

Rate Oakvale 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.