Schools in Zip Code 26521

Zip code 26521, encompassing the rural community of Blacksville, West Virginia, is served by two schools within the highly-rated Monongalia County Schools district, which together educate 637 students across grades PK-12.

For families considering this area, the educational experience is sharply divided between its two schools. Clay-Battelle High School stands out as the stronger performer, achieving a perfect 100% graduation rate and exceeding state averages in English Language Arts (56.6% proficiency vs. 47.6% statewide). However, its math and science scores lag, with only 15.4% of 11th graders proficient in math. In contrast, Mason Dixon Elementary struggles significantly, with ELA proficiency at just 27.9%—less than half the district average—and a concerning 4th-grade math proficiency of only 12.8%, a dramatic drop from 61.4% in 3rd grade. While both schools spend similarly per student ($15,379 and $14,044 respectively), the outcomes diverge widely, suggesting that funding alone doesn't drive success.

Several patterns warrant attention. Science proficiency is a universal weakness, with both schools trailing state averages at every grade level tested. Clay-Battelle also shows a notable "middle school dip," where strong 8th-grade performance (46.4% math) plummets by 11th grade (15.4% math). Mason Dixon's year-over-year volatility—such as 5th-grade science scores dropping from 43.5% to 20.4%—may reflect small cohort sizes rather than instructional changes. Ultimately, while the district earns a 5-star rating, these two schools demonstrate that families must look beyond district-level rankings to understand the specific challenges and strengths at each campus, particularly in upper-grade math and science at Clay-Battelle and elementary ELA and 4th-grade math at Mason Dixon.