Schools in Zip Code 25174

Zip code 25174 in Rock Creek, West Virginia, is served by a single school, Marsh Fork Elementary, a small rural school educating 152 students in grades PK-5 as part of Raleigh County Schools.

For families considering this area, Marsh Fork Elementary offers a close-knit environment with a favorable 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio and per-student spending of $14,371, suggesting adequate resources for individualized attention. However, the school's academic performance presents significant concerns. Its state ranking has declined over three years, dropping from the 31st percentile (2 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 25th percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026. The most pressing issue is English Language Arts, where only 37.3% of students are proficient—10.3 points below the state average and 15.6 points below the district average. Mathematics is comparatively stronger at 41.8% proficiency, slightly above the state's 39.4% but still below the district's 42.7%. Science proficiency in 5th grade is also weak at 27.3%, trailing both state and district averages.

A particularly striking pattern emerges in 4th grade, where proficiency rates plummet dramatically: math drops to 32% and ELA to just 24%, compared to 3rd-grade scores of 55% and 45% respectively. This 28.4-point ELA gap versus the district suggests a challenging transition or grade-specific instructional issue, though 5th-grade scores show partial recovery. While the school belongs to a strong district—Raleigh County Schools ranks in the top 26% of West Virginia districts—Marsh Fork consistently underperforms its peers, indicating it may not be fully benefiting from district initiatives. With its small enrollment, individual cohorts can heavily skew results, but the declining trajectory and 1-star rating signal that families should closely examine literacy support and the 4th-grade experience when considering this school.