Summary:
Zip code 26347 in Flemington, West Virginia, is served by two public elementary schools—West Taylor Elementary School and Flemington Elementary School—both part of the Taylor County Schools district, which ranks in the bottom half of West Virginia districts.
These two schools could not be more different in performance. West Taylor Elementary is a clear standout, earning a 4-star rating for three straight years and ranking among the top 20% of all West Virginia elementary schools. Its math proficiency is 62.8% and ELA is 60.6%, both more than 20 points above district and state averages. In contrast, Flemington Elementary has fallen from a 2-star to a 1-star rating, dropping from the 47th to the 10th percentile in just two years. Its math proficiency is just 29.3% and ELA is 39.0%, well below state averages. The gap is starkest in 3rd grade math, where West Taylor posts 72.7% proficiency versus Flemington’s 30.0%.
Perhaps the most surprising finding is the spending paradox: Flemington Elementary spends about $3,100 more per student than West Taylor Elementary, yet achieves far worse results. Flemington also has a slightly better student-teacher ratio (12.1:1 vs. 13.2:1), but smaller size and more money haven’t translated into academic success. There is one bright spot: Flemington’s 4th grade ELA score (47.6%) nearly matches the state average, suggesting a possible effective teacher or program worth replicating. For parents, the choice is clear—West Taylor is the high-performing option, while Flemington is struggling and trending downward, despite receiving more resources per student.
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