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Union Elementary School

Q: Is Union Elementary School a good school?

Union Elementary School ranks 210 th of 355 West Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

210^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 355 West Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 41% of West Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Union Elementary School in Buckhannon, WV, is a PK-5 school serving 242 students as part of the Upshur County Schools district. The school is in the middle of a remarkable turnaround, climbing from the 2nd percentile statewide in 2021-2022 to the 41st percentile in 2025-2026—a dramatic 133-position jump in just one year that makes it the fastest-improving elementary school in the district.

The school's standout strength is its exceptional support for special education students, who ranked in the 67th percentile statewide in 2025-2026—a remarkable achievement given that many schools struggle in this area. This represents a dramatic improvement from the 9th percentile just a few years ago. Union Elementary also exceeds district and state averages in mathematics, with 44.9% proficiency compared to the district's 36.3%. However, a significant gender gap exists: female students perform strongly (67th percentile) while male students lag considerably (12th percentile), a disparity that has widened over time. The school also shows a notable grade-level pattern, with 4th graders outperforming 3rd graders significantly in both math and reading, suggesting early literacy interventions may be needed.

Compared to its district peers, Union Elementary sits in the middle of the pack—behind French Creek Elementary (67th percentile), Buckhannon Academy Elementary School (65th), and Rock Cave Elementary (68th), but ahead of Hodgesville Elementary (10th) and Tennerton Elementary (31st). The school spends slightly less per student ($10,914) than several peers yet achieves comparable results, suggesting efficient resource use. While students from low socioeconomic backgrounds remain a challenge (28th percentile), the school's upward trajectory—including improving science scores that now nearly match the state average—indicates continued progress ahead.

242

Students ?

14.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,920

Per pupil spending ?

52.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

481 Heavner Grove Rd
Buckhannon, WV 26201-4859

(304) 472-1394

District: Upshur County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

99.2%

Hispanic:

0.4%

Two or more races:

0.4%

See top rated West Virginia elementary schools

Compare Union Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 26th percentile in 2016 → 41st in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 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 school43%

District avg40%

West Virginia avg44%

210^th of 355

West Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 41%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 26% (2016) to bottom 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of West Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 7Elementary Schools in the Upshur County Schools

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	43.2	210 of 355	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	23.1	310 of 355	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.3	321 of 368	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.4	343 of 368	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.3	367 of 375	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	24.7	322 of 380	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.3	239 of 383	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.2	279 of 392	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	40.3	258 of 399	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	32.0	297 of 402	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	34.3	305 of 408	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	44.7	241 of 422	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	48.6	209 of 428	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	57.8	146 of 426	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	72.1	64 of 426	85.0%	★★★★☆
2010	78.3	50 of 427	88.3%	★★★★☆
2009	80.2	47 of 420	88.8%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	20.3	156 of 187	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	60.6	99 of 300	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.4	209 of 302	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	17.7	290 of 316	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.1	284 of 317	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.0	308 of 325	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	27.2	265 of 322	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.0	224 of 339	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.1	222 of 366	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	46.2	217 of 381	43.0%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	49.5	71 of 156	54.5%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2023	66.3	6 of 21	71.4%	★★★★☆
2022	26.9	6 of 6	0.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.7	6 of 10	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.7	12 of 16	25.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	35.6	226 of 315	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	10.6	321 of 328	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.9	325 of 336	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.1	308 of 333	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.0	344 of 347	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	26.6	295 of 335	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.7	291 of 368	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	45.4	212 of 382	44.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	22.7	265 of 303	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.6	281 of 305	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	27.4	262 of 325	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.5	308 of 322	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.4	316 of 330	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	25.3	279 of 333	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	42.8	195 of 338	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.9	286 of 364	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	37.2	261 of 382	31.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	55.6	55 of 165	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.6	57 of 185	69.2%	★★★★☆
2018	23.2	235 of 258	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	30.1	315 of 377	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	42.7	208 of 353	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	22.4	312 of 353	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.3	326 of 367	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.5	347 of 366	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.2	366 of 373	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	24.0	326 of 376	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.3	229 of 373	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.2	268 of 374	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	40.3	250 of 382	34.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Homeless (2023)71st percentile+65 vs school

Female (2026)67th percentile+26 vs school

Special Education (2026)67th percentile+26 vs school

Hispanic (2017)54th percentile+19 vs school

White (2026)41st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)28th percentile-13 vs school

African American (2017)17th percentile-19 vs school

Male (2026)13th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs West Virginia (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts46%~ state avg

Mathematics45%+6 vs state

Science34%~ state avg

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a student
Monday, October 2, 2017

i use to go there and when i did i loved it! it's my favorite school out of all my schools! Close Quote

by a teacher
Friday, August 3, 2012

Union is a nurturing, inviting environment for parents, students, staff and community! It is a school where children are taught to be respectable, good citizens. Dr. Stankus has high expectations for her school and it's members, both big and small! Union is a family and any child would be lucky to attend. Close Quote

Schools Near Union Elementary School

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Ranking:

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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
Union Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	481 Heavner Grove Rd	Buckhannon	26201	Upshur County	Upshur County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 472-1394	242	17	14.2	52.3%	240 (99.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	43.2	210^th of 355 public elementary schools	40.8%		23.1	310^th of 355 public elementary schools	12.7%	100	47.1	52.0	38.5	44.9	32.4	53.9	51.3	45.5	34.2	$9,920	$501	$9,419
Washington District Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5078 Tallmansville Rd	Buckhannon	26201	Upshur County	Upshur County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 472-6599	113	9	12.5	50.0%	112 (99.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	45.2	196^th of 355 public elementary schools	44.8%		29.3	279^th of 355 public elementary schools	21.4%	83	35.7	52.9	47.1	45.8	35.7	52.9	41.2	43.8	47.1	$11,796	$1,043	$10,753
Buckhannon Academy Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	16 College Ave	Buckhannon	26201	Upshur County	Upshur County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 472-3310	487	34	14.3	67.9%	460 (94.5%)	6 (1.2%)	7 (1.4%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	59.4	126^th of 355 public elementary schools	64.5%		48.5	177^th of 355 public elementary schools	50.1%	51	54.4	59.5	41.7	52.5	50.0	57.3	55.0	54.2	38.3	$9,970	$749	$9,222
Tennerton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	167 Gawthrop Rd	Buckhannon	26201	Upshur County	Upshur County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 472-1278	289	16	18.2	48.9%	283 (97.9%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	36.4	245^th of 355 public elementary schools	31.0%		55.7	147^th of 355 public elementary schools	58.6%	98	41.0	42.6	46.3	43.3	30.8	42.6	46.3	40.2	39.0	$7,511	$614	$6,897
Hodgesville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	918 Teter Rd	Buckhannon	26201	Upshur County	Upshur County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 472-3212	151	10	15.6	67.1%	150 (99.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	19.6	318^th of 355 public elementary schools	10.4%		9.9	343^rd of 355 public elementary schools	3.4%	25	33.3	12.5	21.7	23.3	42.9	25.0	47.8	40.0	26.1	$9,174	$541	$8,632
French Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7619 Route 20 South Rd	French Creek	26218	Upshur County	Upshur County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 924-6381	205	17	12.0	48.5%	203 (99.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	60.8	118^th of 355 public elementary schools	66.8%		54.8	153^rd of 355 public elementary schools	56.9%	35	59.4	65.9	43.3	57.3	46.9	65.9	46.7	54.4	36.7	$11,283	$903	$10,379
Junior Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	49 West 1st Street	Junior	26275	Barbour County	Barbour County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 823-1200	111	8	14.0	53.9%	109 (98.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	42.2	212^th of 355 public elementary schools	40.3%		49.6	171^st of 355 public elementary schools	51.8%	41	50.0	53.9		51.7	25.0	53.9		37.9		$15,566	$1,770	$13,796
Coalton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	278 Broadway Ave	Coalton	26257	Randolph County	Randolph County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 636-9164	156	12	13.5	48.6%	152 (97.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.6%)	6.3	353^rd of 355 public elementary schools	0.6%		19.6	322^nd of 355 public elementary schools	9.3%	31	18.2	36.8	2.9	16.0	22.7	26.3	20.6	22.7	11.8	$11,501	$2,870	$8,631
Rock Cave Elementary	Public	K-5	12292 Route 20 South Rd	Rock Cave	26234	Upshur County	Upshur County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 924-6969	112	10	11.5	63.1%	108 (96.4%)	2 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	62.3	113^th of 355 public elementary schools	68.2%		46.9	185^th of 355 public elementary schools	47.9%	72	75.0	90.0	50.0	70.6	58.3	70.0	25.0	50.0	16.7	$14,739	$2,106	$12,633
Belington Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	471 Morgantown Pike	Belington	26250	Barbour County	Barbour County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 823-1411	280	21	13.3	49.3%	276 (98.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	36	248^th of 355 public elementary schools	30.1%		22.8	311^th of 355 public elementary schools	12.4%	63	53.9	48.8		51.6	37.7	35.0		36.6		$11,718	$1,888	$9,830

Frequently Asked Questions about Union Elementary School

How many students attend Union Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 242 students attended Union Elementary School.

Is Union Elementary School a good school?

Union Elementary School ranks 210^th of 355 West Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Union Elementary School in?

Upshur County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Union Elementary School?

Students at Union Elementary School are 99% White.

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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.