Summary:
Zip code 26167 is home to just one school, Short Line School, a public PK-8 school in the Wetzel County Schools district serving 364 students in a rural setting.
For parents considering this area, Short Line School presents a mixed picture that essentially functions as two different schools under one roof. The elementary grades (PK-5) are a clear strength, with math and English language arts proficiency rates that often exceed state averages—for example, 3rd-grade math hits 60.6% proficiency versus 54.4% statewide, and 4th-grade ELA reaches 55.9% compared to 49.6% statewide. However, the middle school years (6-8) tell a very different story, with a dramatic "cliff" in performance. Sixth-grade math proficiency plummets to just 14.3% against a 35.4% state average, and 6th-grade ELA sits at 25% versus 47.4% statewide. The one bright spot in middle school is 8th-grade math, which actually outperforms both the district (27.5%) and state (34.2%) at 40% proficiency, suggesting a possible standout teacher or targeted intervention at that level.
The school's overall proficiency rates are below state averages in all three core subjects—math (38% vs. 39.4% state), ELA (41.2% vs. 47.6% state), and science (23% vs. 29.3% state)—despite a high per-pupil spending of $19,449 and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.2. State rankings have been volatile, swinging from the 42nd percentile in 2023-2024 to 13th in 2024-2025, then rebounding to 35th in 2025-2026, making single-year rankings unreliable. The school's unique PK-8 structure offers continuity for younger students, but any improvement efforts should focus heavily on the middle school experience, where the gap between this school and the state is most pronounced.
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