Schools in Zip Code 26206

Zip code 26206 in Cowen, West Virginia, is served by a single school, Glade Elementary School, which educates students from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade with an enrollment of 328 students.

As the only school in this rural area, Glade Elementary School is the sole educational option for local families, and it stands out for its positive momentum despite being part of Webster County Schools, a district ranked 53rd out of 54 in West Virginia. The school has improved its state ranking from the 21st percentile in 2023-2024 to the 30th percentile in 2025-2026, and its star rating has increased from 1 to 2 stars. Notably, Glade Elementary outperforms its district average in most subjects, particularly in Mathematics where 35.4% of students are proficient compared to the district's 24.5%. The school's 4th grade is a clear standout, with 56.4% proficiency in English Language Arts (exceeding the state average of 49.6%) and 48.7% in Mathematics (nearly matching the state average of 49.2%). This represents a dramatic improvement over 3rd grade scores, which lag significantly behind state averages in both subjects.

While the school shows promise, there is considerable variability across grade levels. Fifth grade Mathematics is a concern at 25.5% proficiency versus the 44% state average, while 6th grade Mathematics (35.3%) closely aligns with the state average (35.4%). Science scores in 5th grade jumped 8 points in one year to 34.7%, now matching the state average. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1:1 and per-student spending of $11,427, the school appears reasonably resourced. As the community's central institution, Glade Elementary School's improving performance is a point of pride for Cowen and suggests effective strategies that could benefit the wider district.