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Rock Branch Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

9^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 355 West Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 97% of West Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Rock Branch Elementary School in Nitro, WV, is a small, high-achieving public school serving 187 students in grades PK-5 as part of the highly-ranked Putnam County Schools district.

For the 2025-2026 school year, Rock Branch is ranked 9th out of 355 elementary schools in West Virginia, placing it in the 97th percentile and making it the top-performing school among its nearby competitors. This is a significant jump from its 50th-place ranking the previous year, and it reflects a pattern of resilience—the school has consistently bounced back from occasional dips to land in the top 15 over the past decade. Academically, Rock Branch leads its neighbors in both math and English Language Arts (ELA). Its all-grades math proficiency rate of 79.8% far exceeds the state average of 39.4% and outpaces nearby Scott Teays Elementary (73.7%), Cross Lanes Elementary (63.8%), and Nitro Elementary (62.7%). ELA proficiency is equally strong at 71.3%, well above the district average of 62.3% and the state average of 47.6%. What's particularly impressive is the consistency across grade levels—math proficiency stays remarkably stable, ranging from 79.3% in 3rd grade to 80.7% in 4th grade, unlike some nearby schools that show significant drops in upper grades.

The most striking differentiator is Rock Branch's performance with students from low socio-economic backgrounds: the school is ranked #1 in the entire state for its effectiveness with this subgroup. This suggests the school is exceptionally skilled at closing achievement gaps and supporting all students, not just those who arrive already prepared. The school also maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio of 10.8, and its per-student spending of $12,718 is higher than its Putnam County peers but lower than some Kanawha County Schools—indicating highly efficient use of resources. One area for potential growth is 5th-grade science, where proficiency (52.9%) is above state and district averages but shows more volatility than math and reading. Overall, Rock Branch stands out as a model of academic excellence and equity in the region.

187

Students ?

10.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,498

Per pupil spending ?

56.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4616 1st Ave
Nitro, WV 25143-1003

(304) 755-1443

District: Putnam County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.3%

African American:

5.3%

Hispanic:

3.7%

See top rated West Virginia elementary schools

Compare Rock Branch Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 61st percentile in 2016 → 97th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the West Virginia average (72% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of West Virginia elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 36 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 school72%

District avg60%

West Virginia avg44%

9^th of 355

West Virginia public elementary schools ?

Top 3%▲ up 36 pts since 2016

From top 39% (2016) to top 3% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of West Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 14Elementary Schools in the Putnam County Schools

2^nd of 55Putnam 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	93.7	9 of 355	97.5%	★★★★★
2025	79.5	50 of 355	85.9%	★★★★☆
2024	88.5	23 of 368	93.8%	★★★★★
2023	94.7	10 of 368	97.3%	★★★★★
2022	79.9	50 of 375	86.7%	★★★★☆
2021	93.0	15 of 380	96.1%	★★★★★
2019	83.2	41 of 383	89.3%	★★★★☆
2018	87.1	22 of 392	94.4%	★★★★★
2017	61.8	128 of 399	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	57.1	156 of 402	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.3	163 of 408	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	55.8	150 of 422	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	75.0	58 of 428	86.4%	★★★★☆
2012	68.2	85 of 426	80.0%	★★★★☆
2011	53.6	172 of 426	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	74.7	60 of 427	85.9%	★★★★☆
2009	58.9	158 of 420	62.4%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	35.5	61 of 98	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	90.0	12 of 300	96.0%	★★★★★
2025	68.8	68 of 302	77.5%	★★★★☆
2024	86.9	22 of 316	93.0%	★★★★★
2023	93.1	9 of 317	97.2%	★★★★★
2022	68.5	81 of 325	75.1%	★★★★☆
2021	82.4	34 of 322	89.4%	★★★★☆
2019	81.8	39 of 339	88.5%	★★★★☆
2018	77.8	44 of 366	88.0%	★★★★☆
2017	54.7	163 of 381	57.2%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	16.0	154 of 156	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	96.6	1 of 315	99.7%	★★★★★
2025	71.6	63 of 328	80.8%	★★★★☆
2024	90.7	15 of 336	95.5%	★★★★★
2023	94.1	6 of 333	98.2%	★★★★★
2022	83.7	21 of 347	93.9%	★★★★★
2021	85.7	14 of 335	95.8%	★★★★★
2018	80.8	34 of 368	90.8%	★★★★★
2017	51.9	172 of 382	55.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	89.6	13 of 303	95.7%	★★★★★
2025	96.7	3 of 305	99.0%	★★★★★
2024	89.3	18 of 325	94.5%	★★★★★
2023	95.0	7 of 322	97.8%	★★★★★
2022	88.9	16 of 330	95.2%	★★★★★
2021	96.9	5 of 333	98.5%	★★★★★
2019	81.9	40 of 338	88.2%	★★★★☆
2018	86.4	18 of 364	95.1%	★★★★★
2017	60.7	126 of 382	67.0%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2018	75.6	28 of 258	89.1%	★★★★☆
2017	49.8	150 of 377	60.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	93.1	9 of 353	97.5%	★★★★★
2025	74.5	63 of 353	82.2%	★★★★☆
2024	86.8	30 of 367	91.8%	★★★★★
2023	92.6	14 of 366	96.2%	★★★★★
2022	82.2	39 of 373	89.5%	★★★★☆
2021	93.8	10 of 376	97.3%	★★★★★
2019	80.6	49 of 373	86.9%	★★★★☆
2018	86.2	21 of 374	94.4%	★★★★★
2017	61.6	127 of 382	66.8%	★★★☆☆

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)100th percentile~ school

White (2026)97th percentile~ school

Female (2026)96th percentile~ school

Male (2026)96th percentile~ school

Special Education (2018)89th percentile-5 vs school

English Language Learner (2017)38th percentile-30 vs school

Hispanic (2017)1st percentile-67 vs school

By subject vs West Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics80%+40 vs state

English Language Arts71%+24 vs state

Science53%+18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Rock Branch 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
Rock Branch Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4616 1st Ave	Nitro	25143	Kanawha County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 755-1443	187	17	10.8	56.5%	167 (89.3%)	10 (5.3%)	7 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.6%)	93.7	9^th of 355 public elementary schools	97.5%		79.5	50^th of 355 public elementary schools	85.9%	41	79.3	80.7	79.4	79.8	69.0	77.4	67.7	71.3	52.9	$14,498	$2,813	$11,685
Poca Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2986 Charleston Rd	Poca	25159	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 755-6942	279	22	12.6	53.1%	270 (96.8%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.2%)	64.2	104^th of 355 public elementary schools	70.7%		60.6	119^th of 355 public elementary schools	66.5%	15	65.1	57.5	59.5	60.6	37.2	57.5	62.2	52.0	35.1	$12,062	$2,111	$9,951
Nitro Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1921 19th St	Nitro	25143	Kanawha County	Kanawha County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 755-2451	377	27	13.9	61.1%	308 (81.7%)	18 (4.8%)	3 (0.8%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (11.9%)	78.6	52^nd of 355 public elementary schools	85.4%		51.4	167^th of 355 public elementary schools	53.0%	115	66.0	58.0	64.9	62.7	63.8	54.9	78.4	64.4	41.7	$9,132	$1,887	$7,245
Cross Lanes Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5525 Big Tyler Rd	Charleston	25313	Kanawha County	Kanawha County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 776-2022	294	22	13.3	51.9%	217 (73.8%)	27 (9.2%)	9 (3.1%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.7%)	32 (10.9%)	66.4	91^st of 355 public elementary schools	74.4%		65.2	102^nd of 355 public elementary schools	71.3%	11	60.4	70.3	61.9	63.8	52.1	54.1	54.8	53.5	31.0	$8,827	$677	$8,151
Point Harmony Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5312 Big Tyler Rd	Cross Lanes	25313	Kanawha County	Kanawha County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 776-3482	440	28	15.7	52.2%	362 (82.3%)	24 (5.5%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	47 (10.7%)	35.4	252^nd of 355 public elementary schools	29.0%		33.7	254^th of 355 public elementary schools	28.5%	2	42.9	50.0	45.1	45.9	31.4	43.9	46.5	40.6	28.6	$8,158	$471	$7,686
Eastbrook Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2092 Bills Creek Rd	Winfield	25213	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 755-9835	255	16	15.7	38.9%	242 (94.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.1%)	75.7	60^th of 355 public elementary schools	83.1%		65.7	101^st of 355 public elementary schools	71.5%	41	62.0	61.9	60.5	61.5	48.0	61.9	72.1	60.0	44.2	$10,675	$921	$9,754
Anne Bailey Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	405 Winfield Rd	Saint Albans	25177	Kanawha County	Kanawha County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 722-0230	221	23	9.8	79.7%	185 (83.7%)	13 (5.9%)	6 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (7.7%)	50.3	174^th of 355 public elementary schools	51.0%		40.5	222^nd of 355 public elementary schools	37.5%	48	55.6	54.6	48.2	52.2	27.8	54.6	59.3	49.3	29.6	$12,079	$2,318	$9,762
Alban Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2030 Harrison Ave	Saint Albans	25177	Kanawha County	Kanawha County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 722-0234	376	27	13.9	57.4%	294 (78.2%)	29 (7.7%)	6 (1.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	43 (11.4%)	44.9	198^th of 355 public elementary schools	44.2%		23.7	307^th of 355 public elementary schools	13.5%	109	65.1	41.9	31.3	45.5	53.5	44.2	45.8	47.8	33.3	$8,913	$1,841	$7,072
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	900 Helene St	Saint Albans	25177	Kanawha County	Kanawha County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 722-0226	304	20	15.5	57.5%	249 (81.9%)	25 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.2%)	32.9	265^th of 355 public elementary schools	25.4%		50.3	170^th of 355 public elementary schools	52.1%	95	61.1	28.9	37.0	40.3	52.8	44.2	34.8	43.3	10.9	$8,186	$319	$7,868
Scott Teays Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6153 Teays Valley Rd	Scott Depot	25560	Putnam County	Putnam County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 757-7279	435	22	20.0	26.4%	392 (90.1%)	4 (0.9%)	6 (1.4%)	12 (2.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.6%)	86.4	32^nd of 355 public elementary schools	91.0%		94.8	9^th of 355 public elementary schools	97.5%	23	77.8	75.5	69.6	73.7	59.3	69.8	65.8	65.1	41.8	$8,380	$553	$7,827

Frequently Asked Questions about Rock Branch Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Rock Branch Elementary School?

Students at Rock Branch Elementary School are 89% White, 5% African American, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Rock Branch Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 187 students attended Rock Branch Elementary School.

What district is Rock Branch Elementary School in?

Putnam County Schools

Is Rock Branch Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Rock Branch Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 9^th of 355 West Virginia elementary schools.

Rate Rock Branch 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.