Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 25177

Zip code 25177 in Saint Albans, West Virginia, is served by two public middle schools—Hayes Middle School and McKinley Middle School—both part of the Kanawha County Schools district, which ranks in the top half of the state.

For parents comparing the two, McKinley Middle School stands out as the stronger overall performer. It holds a 4-star rating and ranks 43rd in the state, while Hayes Middle School holds a 3-star rating and ranks 51st. McKinley also shows a clear upward trajectory, improving from 55th place two years ago to its current position. Academically, McKinley outperforms Hayes in 7th and 8th grade math by notable margins (44.6% vs. 34.9% and 48.8% vs. 43.6%, respectively), and it maintains a much better student-teacher ratio of 12.7:1 compared to Hayes' 17.1:1. However, Hayes Middle School has its own strengths—it excels in 6th grade math (42.1% proficiency, above both district and state averages) and serves a larger student body of 464 students, nearly double McKinley's 255. Both schools perform at or above state averages in 6th and 7th grade English Language Arts, though both see a significant drop in 8th grade ELA.

One of the most interesting findings is the grade-level performance paradox in math: Hayes starts strong with 6th graders but declines, while McKinley struggles in 6th grade but dramatically improves by 8th grade. Both schools share a systemic weakness in 8th grade science, with proficiency rates of 30.4% (Hayes) and 25.0% (McKinley), the latter falling well below state averages. McKinley spends slightly more per student ($12,358 vs. $11,934), and its smaller class sizes may be contributing to its better upper-grade outcomes. While Hayes has remained consistently rated at 3 stars, McKinley's recent rise to 4 stars suggests the gap between these two schools may continue to widen, making McKinley the more compelling choice for families prioritizing math achievement and individualized attention.