Summary:
Zip code 26170, encompassing the Saint Marys, WV area, is home to just one high school, St. Marys High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 as part of the Pleasants County Schools district.
For parents considering this area, St. Marys High School is a small institution with 309 students and a favorable 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio, which supports personalized attention. The school’s most recent academic data (2025-2026) shows it outperforming the state average in all three core subjects: English Language Arts (63.9% proficient vs. 51.2% statewide), Science (31.9% vs. 23.6%), and Math (22.2% vs. 20.6%). English Language Arts is a clear strength, with the largest gap above the state average. The school also boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate, matching its district and exceeding the state’s 92.8%. However, parents should note significant year-over-year volatility. In the prior year (2024-2025), the school was below state averages in every subject and ranked in the 37th percentile statewide. By 2025-2026, it jumped to the 86th percentile (15th out of 105 schools). This dramatic swing—a 55-position change in ranking and 10+ point improvements in every subject—could reflect a genuine instructional turnaround, a change in the student cohort, or a shift in testing conditions. Given the small student body, a single class of high or low performers can heavily skew results.
One notable gap in the data is the missing free/reduced lunch percentage, which makes it difficult to contextualize performance based on socioeconomic factors. Additionally, the school’s per-student spending of $15,034 (from 2018-2019) is the most recent figure available. While the 100% graduation rate is commendable, the school’s lower ranking in 2024-2025 suggests that state rankings weigh test scores more heavily than graduation outcomes. Overall, St. Marys High School currently demonstrates strong academic performance, particularly in ELA, but families should be aware of its ranking instability and consider the small cohort effect when interpreting year-to-year changes.
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