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B-U Middle School

Q: Is B-U Middle School a good school?

B-U Middle School ranks 102 nd of 161 West Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

102^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 161 West Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 37% of West Virginia middle schools

Summary

B-U Middle School in Buckhannon, WV, serves 718 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Upshur County Schools district, and it has shown one of the most dramatic improvement trajectories in the state over the past five years.

This school has climbed from near the bottom of West Virginia's middle school rankings (1st percentile in 2020-2021) to the upper-middle tier (37th percentile in 2025-2026)—a remarkable jump of 67 positions. When you compare it to nearby options, the progress becomes even clearer. In math, B-U Middle's proficiency rate of 32.7% nearly doubles that of Elkins Middle School (17.0%) and Philippi Middle School (16.1%). In English Language Arts, B-U Middle (39.2%) also outperforms Elkins (31.7%), Philippi (21.5%), and Robert L. Bland Middle School (29.6%). Only South Harrison Middle School, part of the higher-ranked Harrison County Schools district, consistently outperforms B-U Middle, particularly in ELA (51.8% vs. 39.2%).

There are some notable bright spots and challenges within the school. The 7th grade cohort is particularly strong, exceeding state averages in both math and ELA, while 6th and 8th grades lag behind. The school has also shown exceptional support for homeless students, ranking in the 75th percentile statewide in 2023-2024. However, special education students rank in the bottom 18% of schools, and there is a persistent gender gap, with female students outperforming males by a significant margin. The school spends $10,902 per student, which is higher than most nearby schools but lower than South Harrison's $12,158. While the school's improvement has plateaued slightly in the most recent year, B-U Middle remains a solid, clearly improving option for Buckhannon families that outperforms most of its immediate geographic neighbors.

718

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,335

Per pupil spending ?

51.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

553 Route 20 South Rd
Buckhannon, WV 26201-0017

(304) 472-1520

District: Upshur County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.7%

Hispanic:

1.4%

Two or more races:

1.1%

See top rated West Virginia middle schools

Compare B-U Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 22nd percentile in 2016 → 37th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the West Virginia average (35% vs 44% meeting standards)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg40%

West Virginia avg44%

102^nd of 161

West Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 37%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 22% (2016) to bottom 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of West Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

32^nd of 55Upshur 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	40.6	102 of 161	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.0	100 of 168	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.9	118 of 169	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.9	134 of 168	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.5	154 of 169	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.3	169 of 171	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.4	158 of 171	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	22.7	145 of 170	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	31.4	141 of 176	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	29.8	134 of 172	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	24.3	142 of 173	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	44.1	94 of 172	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	42.9	108 of 174	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	47.9	88 of 172	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	49.5	83 of 171	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	50.3	80 of 171	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	46.9	99 of 171	42.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	35.8	88 of 124	29.0%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2022	25.2	118 of 131	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.2	117 of 129	9.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	20.4	65 of 67	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	45.7	86 of 155	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.5	67 of 158	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.7	103 of 158	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.7	130 of 158	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.2	154 of 164	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.0	157 of 162	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.6	154 of 162	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.0	147 of 166	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	29.1	143 of 174	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	31.0	79 of 97	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	56.8	11 of 27	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	36.3	21 of 31	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.6	7 of 28	75.0%	★★★★☆
2023	31.9	17 of 24	29.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.8	13 of 15	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.2	10 of 13	23.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	34.5	112 of 157	28.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.5	109 of 165	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.0	124 of 164	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.6	146 of 162	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.7	156 of 162	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.4	161 of 164	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	29.4	133 of 165	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	39.0	120 of 176	31.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	36.1	106 of 156	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.9	120 of 160	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.4	126 of 165	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.3	117 of 158	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.0	140 of 161	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.6	161 of 164	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	22.1	138 of 161	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.8	137 of 164	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	34.9	131 of 176	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	29.8	94 of 107	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	31.0	104 of 125	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.1	120 of 127	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	29.1	105 of 128	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.4	105 of 132	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.1	97 of 130	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.8	132 of 142	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	34.9	135 of 174	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	40.1	103 of 161	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.7	103 of 168	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.6	121 of 169	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.5	135 of 168	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.9	155 of 168	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.7	170 of 170	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.9	159 of 168	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	22.7	145 of 167	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	31.3	140 of 176	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Homeless (2026)59th percentile+23 vs school

Female (2026)45th percentile+8 vs school

White (2026)36th percentile~ school

Male (2026)32nd percentile-5 vs school

African American (2017)29th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)29th percentile-8 vs school

Hispanic (2017)19th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)17th percentile-20 vs school

Multi-racial (2017)12th percentile-8 vs school

Disabled (2022)10th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2017)3rd percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs West Virginia (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts39%-8 vs state

Mathematics33%-7 vs state

Science26%-3 vs state

2.0

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Sunday, November 28, 2021

There are no books to take home the teachers are afraid to give homework or allow/make the students study outside of class. The lack of communication with parents/family members is astoundingly horrible. They do not pay attention to bullying, nor do they protect the racial, gender, or disabled minorities in their school. The principal hates to punish students, and doesn't seem to care about family members who want to help teach the children, and their way of life is 'just fit in instead of standing up for your beliefs.' The whole school is inept, and I've never seen such easy classes. The classes are way too easy, and the principal thinks that by grouping all of the disruptive students together that it will make classes flourish, meanwhile causing educational harm to the good students in said class. It's really not a good school Close Quote

Schools Near B-U Middle 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 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 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
B-U Middle School	Public	6-8	553 Route 20 South Rd	Buckhannon	26201	Upshur County	Upshur County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 472-1520	718	48	15.0	51.2%	694 (96.7%)	4 (0.6%)	10 (1.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.1%)	40.6	102^nd of 161 public middle schools	36.6%		40	100^th of 168 public middle schools	40.5%	2		29.2	39.5	29.4	32.7		39.1	47.4	31.4	39.2		26.5		$7,335	$713	$6,622
Robert L. Bland Middle School	Public	6-8	358 Court Ave	Weston	26452	Lewis County	Lewis County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 269-8325	503	30	17.0	56.1%	483 (96.0%)	4 (0.8%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.8%)	18.6	143^rd of 161 public middle schools	11.2%		20	148^th of 168 public middle schools	11.9%	5		24.2	24.5	18.1	22.4		29.2	26.6	33.3	29.6		22.5		$10,384	$983	$9,401
Philippi Middle School	Public	5-8	611 Cherry Hill Rd	Philippi	26416	Barbour County	Barbour County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 457-2999	244	22	11.0	55.7%	224 (91.8%)	3 (1.2%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.7%)	7	159^th of 161 public middle schools	1.2%		10	162^nd of 168 public middle schools	3.6%	3	29.9	16.3	10.2	5.6	16.1	23.9	30.2	17.0	16.7	21.5	28.4	18.5	24.0	$13,949	$6,353	$7,596
Belington Middle School	Public	5-8	469 Morgantown Pike	Belington	26250	Barbour County	Barbour County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(303) 823-1281	248	19	12.8	42.8%	240 (96.8%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.2%)	37.2	113^th of 161 public middle schools	29.8%		34.2	119^th of 168 public middle schools	29.2%	6	36.7	35.9	36.8	26.3	34.1	33.9	47.2	40.4	34.5	39.2	22.0	9.9	16.1	$9,614	$1,762	$7,851
South Harrison Middle School	Public	6-8	3003 Hawk Hwy	Lost Creek	26385	Harrison County	Harrison County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 326-7460	244	22	11.2	34.8%	238 (97.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	59.4	53^rd of 161 public middle schools	67.1%		62.7	44^th of 168 public middle schools	73.8%	9		32.3	36.9	36.5	35.5		50.0	53.6	51.4	51.8		28.4		$11,271	$914	$10,357
Elkins Middle School	Public	6-8	308 Robert E. Lee Avenue	Elkins	26241	Randolph County	Randolph County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 636-9176	615	41	15.0	41.4%	574 (93.3%)	13 (2.1%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	18 (2.9%)	15.6	149^th of 161 public middle schools	7.5%		17.5	154^th of 168 public middle schools	8.3%	5		17.5	19.4	14.1	17.0		27.1	34.9	33.2	31.7		20.5		$8,000	$756	$7,244

Frequently Asked Questions about B-U Middle School

What district is B-U Middle School in?

Upshur County Schools

What is the racial makeup of B-U Middle School?

Students at B-U Middle School are 97% White, 1% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

Is B-U Middle School a good school?

B-U Middle School ranks 102^nd of 161 West Virginia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend B-U Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 718 students attended B-U Middle School.

Rate B-U Middle 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.