Best Public Schools in Zip Code 26041

Zip code 26041, covering the Moundsville area in West Virginia, is served by five schools within the Marshall County Schools district, including three elementary schools, one middle school, and one alternative school, with no high school located within the zip code itself.

For parents, the standout choice in this area is clearly Washington Lands Elementary School, which earns a 3-star rating and outperforms every other school in the zip code across all subjects. Its science proficiency of 50% is more than double that of Central Elementary School (19.8%) and Moundsville Middle School (19%), while its math and ELA scores hover near or above state averages. In contrast, Moundsville Middle School is the weakest traditional option, with just a 1-star rating and proficiency rates roughly 18 points below the state average in ELA. Central Elementary School sits in the middle, performing near district averages in math but lagging significantly in science. McNinch Primary School serves the youngest students, while Gateway Achievement Center is a small alternative school for just 38 students with the highest per-student spending at $28,893.

One of the most striking findings is that spending does not drive success—Washington Lands Elementary School spends the least per student ($12,356) yet achieves the best results, while Moundsville Middle School spends more and performs far worse. There is also a notable achievement cliff between elementary and middle school, with proficiency dropping roughly 18 points in math and ELA. Science is a district-wide weakness except at Washington Lands, and the absence of a high school means students must leave the area after 8th grade. Class sizes are favorable across all schools, with ratios below 13:1, so the differences in outcomes likely stem from instructional quality and school culture rather than resources.