Best Public Schools in Zip Code 26178

Summary:

The 26178 zip code is home to a single exceptional elementary school, Smithville Elementary, which serves grades PK-4 and is part of the Ritchie County Schools district. Smithville Elementary is a standout school, consistently ranking 1st or 2nd out of all West Virginia elementary schools and maintaining a perfect 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past three years.

The school's academic performance is truly exceptional, with proficiency rates on state assessments significantly exceeding both district and state averages, often reaching over 90% proficiency in mathematics and English language arts. This high level of achievement is likely supported by the school's small student population of just 94 students and a low student-teacher ratio of 10.4 to 1, allowing for more individualized attention and support. Additionally, Smithville Elementary's per-student spending of $16,848 is higher than the state average, suggesting a strong investment in resources and programs.

Overall, Smithville Elementary stands out as a shining example of educational excellence, providing an exceptional learning experience for its students. The school's consistent top rankings, outstanding test scores, and 5-star rating from SchoolDigger indicate that it is one of the top-performing elementary schools not just in the 26178 zip code, but in the entire state of West Virginia. Understanding the factors that contribute to Smithville Elementary's success could provide valuable insights for other schools and districts looking to improve their academic outcomes.

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WV Assessment Mathematics (2025)		WV Assessment English Language Arts (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WV Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 3rd Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Smithville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	157 Main Street	Smithville	26178	Ritchie County	Ritchie County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(304) 477-3273	90	9	10.0		85 (94.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.3%)	99.6	1^st of 355 public elementary schools	99.7%		98.8	2^nd of 368 public elementary schools	99.5%	1	100.0	100.0	80.0	92.3	$16,848	$2,826	$14,022

Cities Near Zip Code 26178

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Smithville	1.26 mi	1	1^st
Grantsville	8.18 mi	2	59^th
Harrisville	10.17 mi	1	62^nd
Ellenboro	13.49 mi	2	95^th
Glenville	15.18 mi	3	112^th

See the top WV West Virginia cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the West Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.