Summary:
Zip code 26651, encompassing the Summersville, WV area, is served by a single public high school, Nicholas County High School, which enrolls 708 students across grades 9 through 12 as part of the Nicholas County Schools district.
For parents, the standout feature of Nicholas County High School is its exceptional graduation rate of 97.7%, which is nearly five percentage points higher than the state average of 92.8% and also exceeds the district's 95.8% rate. The school has also shown a strong positive trajectory in its state ranking, climbing from 65th place (42nd percentile) in 2023-2024 to 47th place (55th percentile) in 2025-2026, a jump of 18 positions that has elevated it from a 2-star to a 3-star rating. However, this success in keeping students on track to graduate contrasts sharply with academic proficiency in core subjects. While English Language Arts proficiency is a relative strength at 53.0% (above the state's 51.2%), only 17.4% of 11th graders are proficient in Math and 19.7% in Science, both figures falling below state averages. This "graduation vs. proficiency" paradox suggests the school excels at student retention but may face challenges in STEM readiness.
Compared to its own district, the school is a slightly stronger performer in Science (19.7% vs. 18.6%) and has a higher graduation rate, but it lags slightly in Math (17.4% vs. 18.6%) and ELA (53.0% vs. 53.7%). Notably, the most recent test scores show a slight decline in Math and a more significant drop in Science from the prior year, even as the overall ranking improved. The student-teacher ratio is 17.1:1, and per-student spending was $11,188 in 2018-2019, though this data is dated. The data set lacks free/reduced lunch percentages, making it difficult to fully contextualize performance, but the overall picture is of a school with excellent graduation outcomes and a rising reputation, yet with clear room for improvement in math and science instruction.
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