Summary:
Zip code 26508, encompassing the Morgantown area, is served by five schools within the highly-rated Monongalia County Schools district, which ranks 5th out of 54 districts in West Virginia with a 5-star rating. The area includes four elementary schools (PK-5) and one high school (9-12), with no middle schools located within the zip code itself.
For families prioritizing academic excellence, Cheat Lake Elementary School stands out as the top elementary option, ranking 27th statewide with exceptional math proficiency at 72.1%—a remarkable 33 points above the state average. Ridgedale Elementary School follows closely at 29th statewide, showing balanced proficiency at 67.9% in both math and ELA, with particularly strong 3rd grade math scores. Brookhaven Elementary School also performs well at 39th statewide, while Mountainview Elementary School lags behind at 136th despite having the lowest student-teacher ratio and highest per-student spending. At the secondary level, University High School is a standout, ranking 7th among 105 high schools statewide with a 96.8% graduation rate and math proficiency 66% above the state average.
While all schools in this zip code outperform state averages, families should note the significant proficiency decline from elementary to high school—math drops from a 64.1% elementary average to 34.3% at University High, a pattern that may be influenced by the absence of local middle schools requiring students to transition outside the area for grades 6-8. Additionally, spending and class sizes show no clear correlation with performance, as evidenced by Mountainview's higher spending yet lower scores compared to Cheat Lake's efficiency. Overall, this area offers strong educational options, particularly for elementary students, with three schools ranked in the top 40 statewide and a premier high school option.
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