Summary:
Zip code 24817 is home to a single elementary school, Bradshaw Elementary School, which serves grades PK-5 within the McDowell County Schools district in West Virginia.
For parents considering this area, Bradshaw Elementary is the only option, and its academic performance is a critical factor to understand. The school currently ranks in the 3rd percentile statewide, placing it 346th out of 355 elementary schools in West Virginia. This means that 97% of schools in the state outperform it. Proficiency rates are roughly half of the state average in both Mathematics (25.6% vs. 39.4%) and English Language Arts (25.6% vs. 47.6%). The gaps are most dramatic in the early grades—for example, only 21.1% of 3rd graders are proficient in math compared to 54.4% statewide, and just 15.8% are proficient in ELA versus 44.6% statewide. This suggests that foundational skills are a significant area of concern for younger students.
However, there are some encouraging signs within the data. Proficiency improves as students progress: math proficiency rises from 21.1% in 3rd grade to 34.6% in 5th grade, and ELA proficiency climbs from 15.8% to 34.6% over the same period. This upward trend suggests the school may be adding value over time, even if students start behind. Additionally, 5th-grade science proficiency (30.8%) is much closer to the state average (34.6%) than any other subject, indicating a relative strength. The school also benefits from a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.2 and spends a substantial $13,953 per student. Despite these resources, outcomes remain low, which points to external challenges common in the region. It is also worth noting that the school's ranking has declined over the past three years, from the 9th percentile to the 3rd percentile, meaning other schools are improving at a faster pace.
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