Summary:
Zip code 25702 in Huntington, West Virginia, is home to 2 elementary schools—Highlawn Elementary School and Guyandotte Elementary School—both serving grades PK-5 within the highly ranked Cabell County Schools district (ranked #7 out of 54 districts in West Virginia). Combined, these schools enroll 549 students, with Highlawn being the larger school at 316 students compared to Guyandotte’s 233.
When comparing the two, Highlawn Elementary School generally outperforms Guyandotte Elementary School in overall proficiency, posting 36.4% in math and 45.3% in ELA versus Guyandotte’s 30.8% and 39.6%, respectively. Highlawn also shows a clear strength in 3rd grade math (52.3% proficiency, nearly matching the state average) and 5th grade ELA (52.5%, above the state average). However, Highlawn’s performance drops sharply by 5th grade math (26.8%), while Guyandotte shows the opposite trend—struggling in 3rd grade math (18.8%) but improving to 40.6% by 4th grade. Guyandotte does have a lower student-teacher ratio (11.6:1 vs. 14.3:1) and higher per-student spending ($14,871 vs. $13,883), yet these resources have not translated into better academic results.
Both schools significantly underperform their district and state averages in nearly every subject and grade level, with the widest gap in 4th grade math (Highlawn trails the district by 26.8 points). Science is a critical weakness, especially at Guyandotte Elementary School, where 5th grade science proficiency fell from 35.3% to just 14.8%—nearly 20 points below the state average. Ranking volatility is also notable: Guyandotte dropped 113 positions in state rankings (from 198th to 311th), while Highlawn improved 61 positions (from 334th to 273rd). For parents, this means Highlawn offers stronger early-grade instruction and more consistent outcomes, while Guyandotte’s smaller classes and higher spending have not yet yielded comparable academic gains.
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