Best Schools in Parkersburg, West Virginia

Parkersburg's public school system covers 16 ranked schools, and the headline number is encouraging: the city average sits at 7.2 out of 10, and 62% of schools — 10 of the 16 — clear the 7-point mark. That's a meaningful cluster of solid performers for a mid-size West Virginia city, and it means most families will find quality options within a reasonable distance rather than competing for a handful of standouts.

The elementary tier leads the city's performance story. Martin Elementary School tops all 16 ranked schools with a 9.2 out of 10, a score well above the city average and strong by any statewide measure. Three more elementaries follow close behind — Criss at 8.7, Emerson at 8.6, and Jefferson Elementary Center at 8.0 — giving parents of younger children a deep pool of high-scoring options. Gihon Elementary rounds out the top five at 7.9, still comfortably above the city mean. The concentration of top scores at the elementary level is worth noting: families with K–5 children have the widest range of high-performing choices in Parkersburg.

The spread across all 16 schools is real. A 9.2 ceiling against a 7.2 city average signals that performance is uneven below the top tier. Parents evaluating middle and high school options should weigh individual school scores carefully rather than relying on the citywide average, since the elementary schools carry the bulk of the top ratings.

For families relocating to Parkersburg, the practical picture is solid. Most public schools clear a meaningful performance bar, and the elementary landscape is particularly well-stacked. Martin Elementary stands out as the city's strongest school and a natural target for families prioritizing academics in the early grades. Parents should cross-reference school attendance zones against ratings before committing to a neighborhood — with 62% of schools scoring 7 or above, many families will find their assigned school is already among the city's better performers without needing a transfer.