Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 25524

Zip code 25524 in Harts, West Virginia, is served by two elementary schools—Harts Pk-8 and Hugh Dingess Elementary School—which together educate about 435 students across pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, split between the Lincoln County Schools and Logan County Schools districts.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that these two schools offer very different strengths. Harts Pk-8 is the larger school (347 students) and holds a steady 3-star rating, ranking in the 53rd percentile statewide. It performs above its district average in every subject, with particularly strong 3rd grade reading (62.9% proficient) and solid 4th and 5th grade scores. However, it shows a sharp decline in 7th grade, where only 14.7% of students are proficient in English Language Arts and 23.5% in math, suggesting the middle school transition is a challenge. In contrast, Hugh Dingess Elementary School is much smaller (88 students) and currently holds a 2-star rating, but it is improving rapidly—jumping from the 15th to the 41st percentile in just two years. Its standout subject is math, where 53.1% of students are proficient, which is 15 points higher than Harts Pk-8 and nearly 14 points above the state average. This math advantage likely stems from its smaller class sizes (8.8 students per teacher) and higher per-student spending ($15,512 vs. $13,124).

Both districts rank in the bottom third of West Virginia, but the schools themselves outperform their districts in key areas. Harts Pk-8 is the more consistent choice with better overall reading scores, while Hugh Dingess Elementary School offers a more intimate setting with exceptional math results and a clear upward trajectory. If Hugh Dingess continues its current pace of improvement, it could surpass Harts Pk-8 in overall ranking within a year or two. Parents should weigh the stability and broader grade range of Harts Pk-8 against the personalized attention and rising performance at Hugh Dingess, especially for students who excel in or need extra support with mathematics.