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Average

#270 of 635 schools in WV

Top 42% in state

Birch River Elementary School

Elementary School · NICHOLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS

379 Birch River Rd, Birch River, WV 26610

Enrollment

78

Student-Teacher

9.8:1

Score

6.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

West Virginia schools

#270 of 635

In district

#7 of 13

NICHOLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS

School environment

7.8 / 10

Very Good

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Birch River Elementary School

6.8/10

Elementary School in Birch River · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Little Birch Elementary School

8.8/10

6.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Richwood Middle School

4.4/10

11.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Birch River Elementary School

Birch River Elementary School is a public elementary school in Birch River, WV, part of NICHOLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS. Birch River Elementary School serves approximately 78 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 9.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Birch River Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #270 of 635 schools in WV.

Structured state assessment records for Birch River Elementary School show 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.8 · Average
  • District avg 7.0
  • WV avg 6.6

What Parents Should Know

At 78 students, Birch River Elementary School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 9.8:1 students to teachers, Birch River Elementary School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Birch River Elementary School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.3Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change+0.32 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics6.8Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency40.9% (2025 WVGSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency45.5% (2025 WVGSA)
Math vs. State Avg-12.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-0.8 pts
Overall Proficiency43% (2025 WVGSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)43% (model expectation from 2025 WVGSA)
vs. Expected+0.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile54th
Resources & Environment7.8Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,052
Chronic Absenteeism32.1%

Birch River Elementary School — Students at Birch River Elementary School score 43% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores WV WVGSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 38.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.3% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 40.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
47.3% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 31 test records from WV state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
34.5%
ELA
34.5%
2010
Math
54.5%
ELA
44.5%
2011
Math
44.5%
ELA
34.5%
2012
Math
34.5%
ELA
44.5%
2013
Math
24.5%
ELA
34.5%
2014
Math
34.5%
ELA
44.5%
2015
Math
44.5%
2016
Math
44.5%
ELA
54.5%
2017
Math
44.5%
ELA
54.5%
2018
Math
34.5%
2019
Math
34.5%
2020*
Math
34.5%
ELA
34.5%
2021*
Math
34.5%
ELA
34.5%
2022
Math
30%
ELA
10%
2024
Math
35.7%
ELA
50%
2025
Math
40.9%
ELA
45.5%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.3/10.

How Birch River Elementary School Compares

See how Birch River Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.8/10
58th percentile in WV
Academic
6.8/10
Average
Growth
6.3/10
Average
Environment
7.8/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
8 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
32.1%

Location

379 Birch River Rd, Birch River, WV 26610

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Birch River Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Little Birch Elementary School (rated 8.8/10, 6.1 miles away, in nearby Sutton), which scores notably higher. Another option is Panther Creek Elementary School (rated 8.5/10, 18.7 miles away, in nearby Nettie), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Davis Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 12.1 miles away, in nearby Gassaway), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Birch River, see our Birch River schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 18.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Little Birch Elementary School Sutton 6.1 mi 8.8
Richwood Middle School Richwood 11.7 mi 4.4
Richwood High School Craigsville 11.7 mi 5.1
Sutton Elementary School Sutton 12.0 mi 5.9
Frametown Elementary School Frametown 11.3 mi 7.3
Davis Elementary School Gassaway 12.1 mi 8.3
Glade Creek Elementary School Summersville 12.6 mi 7.0
Summersville Middle School Summersville 12.9 mi 7.1
SUMMERSVILLE SDA SCHOOL Summersville 13.1 mi
Nicholas County High School Summersville 12.9 mi 4.8
Gauley River Elementary School Craigsville 12.8 mi 3.1
Glade Elementary School Cowen 12.2 mi 5.6
Braxton County High School Sutton 14.4 mi 5.0
Braxton County Middle School Sutton 14.4 mi 4.5
Flatwoods Elementary School Flatwoods 16.2 mi 7.9
NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Summersville 16.2 mi 5.5
Summersville Elementary School Summersville 16.2 mi 7.2
Webster County High School Upperglade 14.5 mi 8.3
Panther Creek Elementary School Nettie 18.7 mi 8.5
Zela Elementary School Summersville 18.3 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 26610 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$43,750

Median Home Value

$96,300

Median Rent

$741/mo

Population

811

College Educated

16.1%

Homeownership

71.4%

Poverty Rate

11.8%

Median Age

46.3

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Fellowsville Elementary Tunnelton, WV 6.7
PARKERSBURG CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Parkersburg, WV 6.7
ST PATRICK SCHOOL Weston, WV 6.7
New Creek Primary School New Creek, WV 7.0
Sand Hill Elementary School Dallas, WV 7.0
MT Nebo Elementary School Mount Nebo, WV 6.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Birch River Elementary School

What grades does Birch River Elementary School serve?

Birch River Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Birch River Elementary School?

Birch River Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 78 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Birch River Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Birch River Elementary School is 9.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Birch River Elementary School rank in WV?

Birch River Elementary School ranks #270 of 635 schools in WV.

What is Birch River Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Birch River Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Birch River Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Birch River Elementary School has 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Birch River Elementary School a charter school?

No, Birch River Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Birch River Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Birch River Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
19 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
3 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
78
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
8
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Nicholas County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
32.1%

District

NICHOLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS
District Enrollment
3,384
Schools in District
14
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,052
District Rank
#7 of 13

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