Excellent
#47 of 635 schools in WV
Top 7% in state
Fall River Elementary School
Elementary School · MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS
PO Box 70, Big Sandy, WV 24816
Enrollment
118
Student-Teacher
10.7:1
Score
8.7
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
118
Student-Teacher
10.7:1
Score
8.7
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
West Virginia elementary schools
#45 of 407
In district
#1 of 9
MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS
Academic growth
9.1 / 10
Exceptional
About Fall River Elementary School
Fall River Elementary School is a public elementary school in Big Sandy, WV, part of the MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS. The school serves approximately 118 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 10.7:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 92.8th percentile among WV schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 36% proficiency in math and 31% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.1/10). The school is situated in a remote rural setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 118 students, Fall River Elementary School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Located in a rural area, Fall River Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Fall River Elementary School — Students at Fall River Elementary School score 40% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
0.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores WV EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 5 test records from WV state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 9.1/10.
How Fall River Elementary School Compares
See how Fall River Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 37% (2019) to 44.5% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 27% (2021) to 34.5% (2022).
Location
PO Box 70, Big Sandy, WV 24816
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Fall River Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Glen Fork Elementary & Middle School (rated 8.5/10, 19.1 miles away, in nearby Glen Fork), with a very similar rating. Another option is Road Branch Elementary & Middle School (rated 8.3/10, 20.5 miles away, in nearby Cyclone), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Pineville Elementary School (rated 7.8/10, 12.4 miles away, in nearby Pineville), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Big Sandy, see our Big Sandy schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 18.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sandy River Middle School Avondale | 5.4 mi | 3.2 |
| Iaeger Elementary School Iaeger | 6.3 mi | 7.3 |
| Baileysville Elementary & Middle School Brenton | 9.3 mi | 5.7 |
| Bradshaw Elementary School Bradshaw | 8.7 mi | 4.1 |
| River View High School Bradshaw | 8.7 mi | 5.2 |
| Welch Elementary School Welch | 7.7 mi | 7.1 |
| Southside K-8 War | 10.7 mi | 6.1 |
| Huff Cons Elementary & Middle School Hanover | 10.4 mi | 7.0 |
| Mount View High School Welch | 9.6 mi | 3.6 |
| Westside High School Clear Fork | 13.9 mi | 5.2 |
| Pineville Middle School Pineville | 12.4 mi | 6.7 |
| Pineville Elementary School Pineville | 12.4 mi | 7.8 |
| Kimball Elementary School Kimball | 11.6 mi | 4.7 |
| Oceana Middle School Oceana | 16.4 mi | 6.2 |
| Berlin Mckinney Elementary School Oceana | 16.5 mi | 5.1 |
| Wyoming County East High School New Richmond | 15.0 mi | 5.4 |
| Gilbert Pk8 Gilbert | 16.8 mi | 4.1 |
| Glen Fork Elementary & Middle School Glen Fork | 19.1 mi | 8.5 |
| Road Branch Elementary & Middle School Cyclone | 20.5 mi | 8.3 |
| Twin Valley High Pilgrim Knob | 18.9 mi | 6.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 24816 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Population
14
College Educated
0%
Homeownership
100%
Poverty Rate
0%
Community Profile
It is a community where 0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The local poverty rate of 0.0% is relatively low. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Brooke Intermediate School North Follansbee, WV | 8.7 |
| Junior Elementary Junior, WV | 8.7 |
| Holden Central Elementary School Holden, WV | 8.6 |
| ST FRANCIS DE SALES SCHOOL Beckley, WV | 8.8 |
| Midland Trail Elementary School Diamond, WV | 8.5 |
| MT Nebo Elementary School Mount Nebo, WV | 8.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Fall River Elementary School
What grades does Fall River Elementary School serve?
Fall River Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Fall River Elementary School?
Fall River Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 118 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fall River Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fall River Elementary School is 10.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Fall River Elementary School rank in WV?
Fall River Elementary School is ranked #47 out of 635 schools in WV.
What is Fall River Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Fall River Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Fall River Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Fall River Elementary School has 36.2% math proficiency and 30.8% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Fall River Elementary School a charter school?
No, Fall River Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Fall River Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Fall River Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR. County-level only.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 118
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- McDowell County
- Phone
- (304) 656-7665
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
MCDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS- District Enrollment
- 2,444
- Schools in District
- 10
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,682
- District Rank
- #1 of 9
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyGet school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.