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Emerson Elementary School

Q: Is Emerson Elementary School a good school?

Emerson Elementary School ranks 192 nd of 355 West Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

192^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 355 West Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 46% of West Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Emerson Elementary School in Parkersburg, WV, serves 361 students in grades PK-5 as part of the highly regarded Wood County Schools district, which ranks 6th out of 54 districts in the state. After several years of strong performance (consistently ranking in the 85th-87th percentile from 2018-2023), the school has recently experienced a significant decline, dropping to the 46th percentile for the 2025-2026 school year.

The most striking trend at Emerson is a dramatic gender gap in test scores. While male students continue to perform well (ranking in the 74th percentile statewide), female students have plummeted to the 12th percentile — a 62-point difference that is unique among nearby schools. The school also saw a sharp decline among students from low-income backgrounds, who fell from the 70th percentile to the 29th percentile in just one year. These drops suggest systemic challenges rather than isolated issues. However, there are bright spots: 5th-grade science scores (44.4% proficiency) exceed both district and state averages, and the school has historically been effective with special education students, ranking in the 84th percentile as recently as 2023-2024.

Compared to its neighbors, Emerson's situation is mixed. Criss Elementary School, just 1.26 miles away, ranks in the 99th percentile with nearly double Emerson's ELA proficiency. Meanwhile, Madison Elementary School has experienced a similar decline, suggesting possible neighborhood-level factors. Interestingly, Emerson's per-student spending ($12,715) is lower than several lower-performing schools like Franklin Elementary Center ($16,495) and Jefferson Elementary Center ($17,103), yet higher than top-performing Criss ($11,672). The school's math proficiency (46.8%) nearly matches the district average, but ELA scores lag significantly behind. With male students still performing well and science remaining a strength, Emerson has foundations to build upon — but the recent declines in female and low-income student performance warrant immediate attention from school leadership.

361

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,447

Per pupil spending ?

56.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1605 36th St
Parkersburg, WV 26104-1939

(304) 420-9528

District: Wood County Schools

Students who attend Emerson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Jackson Middle School
High:	Parkersburg High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.1%

Two or more races:

3.3%

Hispanic:

1.9%

See top rated West Virginia elementary schools

Compare Emerson Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 65th percentile in 2016 → 46th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 19 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg50%

West Virginia avg44%

192^nd of 355

West Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 46%▼ down 19 pts since 2016

From top 35% (2016) to bottom 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of West Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 15Elementary Schools in the Wood County Schools

7^th of 55Wood 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	45.4	192 of 355	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	59.3	125 of 355	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.8	129 of 368	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.2	48 of 368	87.0%	★★★★☆
2022	78.6	54 of 375	85.6%	★★★★☆
2021	79.9	49 of 380	87.1%	★★★★☆
2019	78.4	56 of 383	85.4%	★★★★☆
2018	49.7	193 of 392	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.6	222 of 399	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	59.5	140 of 402	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	56.0	160 of 408	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	66.8	90 of 422	78.7%	★★★★☆
2013	59.0	146 of 428	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	62.5	119 of 426	72.1%	★★★★☆
2011	53.5	174 of 426	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	47.1	225 of 427	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	33.5	323 of 420	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	30.6	145 of 187	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2022	68.4	27 of 154	82.5%	★★★★☆
2021	70.8	21 of 146	85.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	25.2	264 of 300	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	50.8	145 of 302	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.1	137 of 316	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.4	69 of 317	78.2%	★★★★☆
2022	67.1	85 of 325	73.8%	★★★★☆
2021	82.3	36 of 322	88.8%	★★★★☆
2019	82.8	37 of 339	89.1%	★★★★☆
2018	54.7	149 of 366	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	39.8	261 of 381	31.5%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	51.7	60 of 156	61.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	35.9	225 of 315	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	62.8	92 of 328	72.0%	★★★★☆
2024	60.8	100 of 336	70.2%	★★★★☆
2023	87.4	20 of 333	94.0%	★★★★★
2022	87.6	15 of 347	95.7%	★★★★★
2021	85.9	13 of 335	96.1%	★★★★★
2018	45.2	218 of 368	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	51.7	173 of 382	54.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	67.3	81 of 303	73.3%	★★★★☆
2025	64.5	90 of 305	70.5%	★★★★☆
2024	62.9	94 of 325	71.1%	★★★★☆
2023	80.4	35 of 322	89.1%	★★★★☆
2022	82.8	29 of 330	91.2%	★★★★★
2021	70.0	68 of 333	79.6%	★★★★☆
2019	71.2	77 of 338	77.2%	★★★★☆
2018	43.6	206 of 364	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	52.5	178 of 382	53.4%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2017	58.0	70 of 218	67.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	48.4	75 of 165	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.5	55 of 171	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	73.3	29 of 183	84.2%	★★★★☆
2023	80.3	23 of 180	87.2%	★★★★☆
2019	85.5	18 of 185	90.3%	★★★★★
2018	66.0	51 of 258	80.2%	★★★★☆
2017	33.3	286 of 377	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	West Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	41.6	214 of 353	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	58.1	132 of 353	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.6	137 of 367	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.2	46 of 366	87.4%	★★★★☆
2022	78.2	56 of 373	85.0%	★★★★☆
2021	78.5	52 of 376	86.2%	★★★★☆
2019	78.4	54 of 373	85.5%	★★★★☆
2018	51.5	170 of 374	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.0	216 of 382	43.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Disabled (2022)82nd percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)73rd percentile+27 vs school

Multi-racial (2017)68th percentile+24 vs school

Hispanic (2017)62nd percentile+17 vs school

Special Education (2026)55th percentile+9 vs school

White (2026)39th percentile-7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)29th percentile-17 vs school

African American (2017)22nd percentile-22 vs school

Female (2026)12th percentile-34 vs school

By subject vs West Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics47%+7 vs state

Science44%+10 vs state

English Language Arts44%-3 vs state

4.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, June 14, 2021

Helpful, kind, and highly academic Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, November 5, 2017

My son loves Kindergarten. The staff really cares about the students. He is so excited to go to school every day. I hear him singing his songs he sings for learning all the time. Close Quote

Schools Near Emerson 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
Emerson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1605 36th St	Parkersburg	26104	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 420-9528	361	30	12.0	56.8%	336 (93.1%)	2 (0.6%)	7 (1.9%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.3%)	45.4	192^nd of 355 public elementary schools	45.9%		59.3	125^th of 355 public elementary schools	64.8%	67	47.1	49.2	44.4	46.8	34.6	45.8	50.8	44.3	44.4	$12,447	$2,233	$10,214
Madison Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1426 32nd St	Parkersburg	26104	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 420-9563	264	22	12.0	61.3%	231 (87.5%)	5 (1.9%)	14 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.3%)	24.3	301^st of 355 public elementary schools	15.2%		61.1	117^th of 355 public elementary schools	67.0%	184	37.5	43.2	36.1	39.3	31.3	40.9	41.7	38.4	22.2	$12,739	$1,644	$11,094
Criss Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2800 22nd St	Parkersburg	26101	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 420-9522	267	18	14.8	48.6%	239 (89.5%)	2 (0.7%)	6 (2.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.1%)	96.2	5^th of 355 public elementary schools	98.6%		95	7^th of 355 public elementary schools	98.0%	2	77.5	72.2	79.9	77.5	75.0	77.8	87.1	80.4	72.6	$9,356	$699	$8,656
Jefferson Elementary Center	Public	PK, KG-5	1103 Plum St	Parkersburg	26101	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 420-9554	475	56	8.4	81.3%	406 (85.5%)	18 (3.8%)	15 (3.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (7.2%)	26.8	289^th of 355 public elementary schools	18.6%		42.8	207^th of 355 public elementary schools	41.7%	82	35.9	44.4	24.7	35.1	28.3	39.5	53.3	41.7	28.6	$15,293	$3,116	$12,177
Neale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2305 Grand Central Ave	Vienna	26105	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 420-9587	357	27	13.2	49.6%	293 (82.1%)	12 (3.4%)	18 (5.0%)	7 (2.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.0%)	64.3	103^rd of 355 public elementary schools	71.0%		86.3	28^th of 355 public elementary schools	92.1%	75	66.7	48.4	73.2	60.5	45.2	45.3	61.0	49.7	41.5	$10,513	$1,344	$9,169
Vienna Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	700 41st St	Vienna	26105	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 420-9648	288	20	14.4	41.7%	268 (93.1%)	4 (1.4%)	2 (0.7%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.1%)	75.3	61^st of 355 public elementary schools	82.8%		66.9	93^rd of 355 public elementary schools	73.8%	32	63.9	78.1	39.2	61.2	52.8	73.2	71.0	67.2	41.6	$10,134	$315	$9,819
Franklin Elementary Center	Public	PK, KG-5	1511 Division Street Ext	Parkersburg	26101	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 420-9534	262	30	8.7	79.0%	238 (90.8%)	3 (1.1%)	13 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.1%)	21.4	309^th of 355 public elementary schools	13.0%		32.6	256^th of 355 public elementary schools	27.9%	53	40.0	30.0	34.3	34.6	28.6	30.0	42.9	33.6	31.4	$16,055	$2,828	$13,227
Martin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1301 Hillcrest St	Parkersburg	26101	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 420-9625	250	28	8.9	60.7%	222 (88.8%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (2.0%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (7.2%)	41.8	215^th of 355 public elementary schools	39.4%		54.1	158^th of 355 public elementary schools	55.5%	57	59.6	48.7	43.6	50.4	40.4	48.7	43.6	44.0	23.6	$16,622	$2,336	$14,286
Gihon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2000 Belmont Rd	Parkersburg	26101	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 420-9539	261	20	13.0	46.5%	244 (93.5%)	4 (1.5%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.4%)	71.8	75^th of 355 public elementary schools	78.9%		80	47^th of 355 public elementary schools	86.8%	28	61.5	56.4	65.2	60.4	56.4	53.9	65.2	57.4	39.1	$12,087	$1,453	$10,635
Greenmont Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	209 58th St	Vienna	26105	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 420-9544	229	16	14.3	28.3%	213 (93.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	5 (2.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.5%)	95.3	8^th of 355 public elementary schools	97.7%		96.2	6^th of 355 public elementary schools	98.3%	2	92.6	80.0	68.4	79.1	77.8	77.5	76.3	77.1	52.6	$12,865	$502	$12,364

Frequently Asked Questions about Emerson Elementary School

Is Emerson Elementary School a good school?

Emerson Elementary School ranks 192^nd of 355 West Virginia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Emerson Elementary School?

Students at Emerson Elementary School are 93% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

How many students attend Emerson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 361 students attended Emerson Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Emerson Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Emerson Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Jackson Middle School
High : Parkersburg High School

What district is Emerson Elementary School in?

Wood County Schools

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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.