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Needs Improvement

#598 of 635 schools in WV

Mercer Elementary

Elementary School · MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS

1200 Mercer St, Princeton, WV 24740

Enrollment

258

Student-Teacher

12.3:1

Score

3.8

Grades

3rd – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

West Virginia schools

#598 of 635

In Princeton

#10 of 11

public schools

In district

#22 of 24

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS

School environment

8.6 / 10

Excellent

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Mercer Elementary

3.8/10

Elementary School in Princeton · grades 3rd – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Princeton Middle School

6.1/10

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

Straley Elementary School

8.8/10

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

About Mercer Elementary

Mercer Elementary is a public elementary school in Princeton, WV, part of MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS. Mercer Elementary serves approximately 258 students, and covers grades 3rd-5th, and has a 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Mercer Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks #598 of 635 schools in WV.

Structured state assessment records for Mercer Elementary show 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.7 pts below district
  • This school 3.8 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 6.5
  • WV avg 6.6

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress1.5Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-12.42 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.4Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency28.4% (2025 WVGSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency37.9% (2025 WVGSA)
Math vs. State Avg-24.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-8.4 pts
Overall Proficiency33% (2025 WVGSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)42% (model expectation from 2025 WVGSA)
vs. Expected-8.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile25th
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,583
Chronic Absenteeism23.6%

Mercer Elementary — Students at Mercer Elementary score 33% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores WV WVGSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 37.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
47.7% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 40.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
47.3% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 37 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
38%
ELA
38%
2010
Math
42%
ELA
37%
2011
Math
45%
ELA
44%
2012
Math
37%
ELA
40%
2013
Math
48%
ELA
44%
2014
Math
33%
ELA
45%
2015
Math
41%
2016
Math
34%
ELA
40%
2017
Math
31%
ELA
33%
2018
Math
43%
2019
Math
43%
2020*
Math
30%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
30%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
36%
ELA
37%
2024
Math
43.2%
ELA
48.1%
2025
Math
28.4%
ELA
37.9%

* 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: 1.5/10.

How Mercer Elementary Compares

See how Mercer Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.8/10
6th percentile in WV
Academic
4.4/10
Below Average
Growth
1.5/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
8.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
21 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
23.6%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1200 Mercer St, Princeton, WV 24740

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Mercer Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Sun Valley Elementary School (rated 9.7/10, 9.9 miles away, in nearby Lerona), which scores notably higher. Another option is Straley Elementary School (rated 8.8/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Lashmeet/Matoaka Elementary School (rated 7.8/10, 7.9 miles away, in nearby Matoaka), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Princeton, see our Princeton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 9.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Princeton Middle School Princeton 0.2 mi 6.1
Straley Elementary School Princeton 0.4 mi 8.8
Princeton Senior High School Princeton 0.5 mi 4.2
Princeton Primary School Princeton 0.7 mi 7.0
Silver Springs Early Learning Center Princeton 0.9 mi 3.0
Melrose Elementary School Princeton 3.0 mi 4.7
Glenwood School (K-8) Princeton 3.5 mi 7.5
Pikeview Middle School Princeton 4.6 mi 5.4
Pikeview High School Princeton 4.8 mi 4.8
Mountain Valley Elementary School Bluefield 4.9 mi 7.2
Spanishburg Spanisburg 5.2 mi 7.7
Athens Elementary School Athens 6.0 mi 6.7
Bland County High Rocky Gap 8.7 mi 5.6
Lashmeet/Matoaka Elementary School Matoaka 7.9 mi 7.8
Montcalm Elementary School Rock 7.9 mi 3.5
Oakvale School Princeton 8.2 mi 4.4
Sun Valley Elementary School Lerona 9.9 mi 9.7
Montcalm High School Rock 8.7 mi 4.7
Bluefield High School Bluefield 10.4 mi 3.9
Bluewell Elementary School Bluefield 9.5 mi 7.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 24740 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$46,272

Median Home Value

$133,200

Median Rent

$831/mo

Population

16,559

College Educated

21.7%

Homeownership

63.2%

Avg Commute

21.3 min

Poverty Rate

18.7%

Median Age

38.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Burke Street Elementary School Martinsburg, WV 3.8
Ashton Elementary School Ashton, WV 3.9
Chapmanville Primary School Chapmanville, WV 3.9
Divide Elementary Lookout, WV 3.9
Herndon Cons Elementary & Middle School Bud, WV 3.9
Hodgesville Elementary Buckhannon, WV 3.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mercer Elementary

What grades does Mercer Elementary serve?

Mercer Elementary serves students in grades 3rd through 5th.

How many students attend Mercer Elementary?

Mercer Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 258 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Mercer Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Mercer Elementary is 12.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Mercer Elementary rank in WV?

Mercer Elementary ranks #598 of 635 schools in WV.

What is Mercer Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Mercer Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 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 Mercer Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Mercer Elementary has 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Mercer Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Mercer Elementary a Title I school?

No, Mercer Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
70 Very Walkable
Bike Score
45 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
3rd – 5th
Enrollment
258
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
Mercer County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.6%

District

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS
District Enrollment
8,540
Schools in District
25
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,583
District Rank
#22 of 24

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