Best High Schools in Zip Code 26416

Zip code 26416, encompassing the Philippi, WV area, is served by a single public high school, Philip Barbour High School Complex, which educates students in grades 9 through 12 as part of the Barbour County Schools district.

For parents considering this area, the most important takeaway is that Philip Barbour High School Complex is currently experiencing a significant downward trend in academic performance. The school’s state ranking has fallen dramatically over the past two years, from the 75th percentile (4 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 30th percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026. While the school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.1:1, its graduation rate of 89.4% trails the state average of 92.8%. The most recent test scores from 2025-2026 show proficiency rates well below state averages in all core subjects, with only 17.4% of 11th graders proficient in math, 35.8% in English Language Arts, and 18.4% in science. This represents a sharp single-year decline, particularly in ELA, which dropped by 14.4 percentage points from the previous year.

There are a few notable bright spots and points of interest. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school’s science proficiency rate of 28% actually exceeded the state average of 27.8%, demonstrating the capacity to meet state benchmarks. Additionally, the school’s ELA proficiency in that same year was a relatively strong 50.2%, though still below the state’s 55.1%. However, the data also reveals a persistent and significant gap between ELA and STEM subjects, with math and science proficiency consistently lagging behind literacy. The analysis is also limited by outdated financial data (from 2018-2019) and missing socioeconomic information, making it difficult to fully assess the school’s current resource situation. Overall, the rapid decline in rankings and test scores is the most urgent concern for this school, warranting close attention from parents and the district alike.