Summary:
Zip code 25854, encompassing the Hico, West Virginia area, is home to exactly one high school: Midland Trail High, which serves grades 6 through 12 with a total enrollment of 618 students within the Fayette County Schools district.
Midland Trail High has shown remarkable improvement, jumping from the 25th percentile to the 50th percentile in state rankings over the past year—a gain of 31 positions that elevated it from a 1-star to a 3-star rating. The school's standout metric is its graduation rate of 95.6%, which exceeds both the district (92.1%) and state (92.8%) averages. English Language Arts is the school's strongest subject, with an all-grades proficiency rate of 46.9%, nearly matching the state average of 47.6% and surpassing the district's 42.9%. However, significant challenges remain in mathematics (24.1% proficiency vs. 39.4% statewide) and science (19.3% vs. 29.3% statewide). The 7th grade cohort is particularly noteworthy, outperforming state averages in both math (37.1% vs. 36.7%) and ELA (54.3% vs. 45.9%), though this strength does not carry into 8th grade, where scores drop sharply across all subjects.
For parents, this school offers a strong graduation outcome and improving academic trajectory, but the math and science gaps warrant attention. The school outperforms its district in ELA and 7th-grade math but lags in overall math and science. With a student-teacher ratio of 17.6 and per-student spending of $12,373, resources are moderate. The disconnect between below-average test scores and a high graduation rate suggests students are meeting graduation requirements despite not reaching proficiency benchmarks on standardized assessments. The recent ranking improvement indicates positive momentum, though targeted support in math and science—particularly in 6th and 8th grades—could help close the achievement gaps.
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