Summary:
Zip code 26261, encompassing the small rural community of Richwood, WV, is served by a single elementary school, Cherry River Elementary School, which educates students in grades PK-5 within the Nicholas County Schools district.
For parents considering this area, Cherry River Elementary School offers a notably small and intimate learning environment with just 152 students and a favorable 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio. However, the school is currently facing significant academic challenges. Its state ranking has plummeted dramatically, falling from the 34th percentile in the 2024-2025 school year to the 4th percentile in 2025-2026, a drop of over 100 positions. Overall proficiency rates are well below state averages, particularly in English Language Arts, where only 22.5% of students are proficient compared to the state's 47.6%. The most alarming data point is in 3rd grade, where just 6.7% of students are proficient in ELA and 13.3% in math, indicating a critical early literacy crisis. Science scores in 5th grade also collapsed, dropping from 41.7% proficiency to just 9.1% in a single year.
Despite these struggles, there is a bright spot: 4th-grade students are performing exceptionally well, with 60.9% proficiency in math—actually exceeding both district and state averages. This "4th grade anomaly" suggests that success is achievable within the school and points to either a particularly strong teacher, a capable cohort, or effective targeted interventions at that grade level. With per-student spending of $13,801 and small class sizes, the school has the resources to improve. The primary takeaway for parents is that while the school provides a caring, small-school atmosphere, incoming students, especially those entering 3rd grade, may need additional academic support, and the school's recent downward trajectory warrants close monitoring.
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