Summary:
Zip code 25530, serving the Kenova, West Virginia area, is home to just one middle school, Buffalo Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 as part of Wayne County Schools.
For parents considering this school, the most important story is one of remarkable academic growth. Students arrive in 6th grade significantly behind state averages—only 14.9% are proficient in math compared to 35.4% statewide, and 36.5% are proficient in English Language Arts versus 47.4% statewide. However, by 8th grade, these same students dramatically outperform state norms: 49.4% are proficient in math (state: 34.2%) and 53.1% are proficient in ELA (state: 43.9%). This represents a 34.5 percentage point improvement in math and a 16.6 point improvement in ELA from 6th to 8th grade. The school's 8th-grade science proficiency is a standout at 48.2%, exceeding the state average by nearly 19 points and showing a 21.3 point jump from the prior year. Overall, the school's ELA scores (47.2%) are above the district average (45.7%), while its math scores (32.7%) lag the district (37%)—a gap driven entirely by the 6th-grade cohort.
The school's state ranking has slipped from the 75th percentile (4 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 64th percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026, but this decline likely reflects the low entry scores of incoming 6th graders rather than a lack of effectiveness. With a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1 and per-student spending of $11,628, Buffalo Middle School appears to have strong instructional practices in the upper grades that help students catch up and exceed state averages. The consistent grade-level progression pattern across both math and ELA suggests effective intervention programs, though the 6th-grade dip indicates a potential gap in feeder elementary preparation. For parents, this school offers a clear value-add: students who start behind leave ahead.
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