Summary:
In zip code 25064, there is exactly one middle school, Dunbar Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 and is part of the Kanawha County Schools district, a 3-star district ranked 22nd out of 54 in West Virginia.
For parents considering Dunbar Middle School, the most important takeaway is that this is a school showing clear signs of improvement, though it still trails state averages in core subjects. The school has climbed from a 1-star rating (27th percentile) in 2023-2024 to a 2-star rating (34th percentile) in 2025-2026, with a notable jump to the 47th percentile in 2024-2025. With 325 students and a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 11.6, the school offers a relatively personalized learning environment. However, test scores reveal uneven performance. In Mathematics, only 33.7% of students are proficient, which is 5.7 points below the state average, though 7th graders actually outperform both the district and state in this subject. English Language Arts proficiency stands at 41.1%, about 6.5 points below the state, with the gap widening as students progress from 6th to 8th grade. The most concerning area is 8th-grade Science, where just 18% of students are proficient—a striking 11.3 points below the state average and a persistent issue from the prior year.
While the school has made meaningful progress from its lowest point, parents should be aware that significant work remains, particularly in Science and upper-grade ELA. The school's overall ranking places it in the middle of the pack statewide, and its district is rated above average. However, the data lacks important context like free/reduced lunch percentages, and spending figures are outdated, so parents may want to visit the school or speak with staff to get a fuller picture of the learning environment and any targeted interventions being used to address the achievement gaps.
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