Best Public Schools in Zip Code 26354

Zip code 26354, serving the Grafton, West Virginia area, is home to three public schools within the Taylor County Schools district, covering grades PK-12 with a combined enrollment of roughly 1,759 students. The district overall holds a 1-star rating, but individual school performance varies dramatically, making it essential for parents to look beyond the district-level summary.

For families in this area, Grafton High School is the clear standout, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 53rd percentile statewide. It is the only school performing near state averages, with a 95.2% graduation rate that exceeds the state norm and science proficiency that actually tops the state average. In contrast, Anna Jarvis Elementary School is the district's most significant concern, ranking in the bottom 3% of all West Virginia elementary schools with a 0-star rating. Its ELA proficiency of 29.5% is a staggering 18 points below the state average, and the school has shown a steady decline over three years. Taylor County Middle School sits in the middle, ranking in the 29th percentile, but it has shown the most dramatic year-over-year improvement, jumping 15 spots in the latest rankings after a significant drop the prior year.

The most troubling pattern is the decline in academic skills as students progress. ELA proficiency plummets nearly 20 points between 6th and 7th grade, and math proficiency steadily erodes from 41% in 6th grade to just 15.1% by 11th grade. This suggests the elementary school's early literacy struggles—where 4th-grade ELA proficiency is 23 points below state averages—create compounding deficits that become harder to overcome. Interestingly, per-student spending is nearly identical across all three schools (ranging from $11,037 to $11,912), indicating that funding differences do not explain the performance gaps. For parents, this means the high school offers a solid educational experience, but the feeder schools, particularly the elementary level, face systemic challenges that warrant close attention and advocacy.