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Below Average

#543 of 635 schools in WV

Oakvale School

Elementary School · MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS

2503 Goodwins Chapel Rd, Princeton, WV 24739

Enrollment

186

Student-Teacher

12.4:1

Score

4.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

West Virginia schools

#543 of 635

In Princeton

#8 of 11

public schools

In district

#18 of 24

MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS

School environment

7.0 / 10

Very Good

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Oakvale School

4.4/10

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

Athens Elementary School

6.7/10

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

Melrose Elementary School

4.7/10

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

About Oakvale School

Oakvale School is a public elementary school in Princeton, WV, part of MERCER COUNTY SCHOOLS. Oakvale School serves approximately 186 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Oakvale School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10 and ranks #543 of 635 schools in WV.

Structured state assessment records for Oakvale School show 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.1 pts below district
  • This school 4.4 · Below Average
  • District avg 6.5
  • WV avg 6.6

What Parents Should Know

At 186 students, Oakvale 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.

Oakvale 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.

32% of students at Oakvale School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.3Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-6.27 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.3Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency43.1% (2025 WVGSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency38.4% (2025 WVGSA)
Math vs. State Avg-10.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-7.9 pts
Overall Proficiency41% (2025 WVGSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)42% (model expectation from 2025 WVGSA)
vs. Expected-0.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile48th
Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,583
Chronic Absenteeism32.3%

Oakvale School — Students at Oakvale School score 41% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores WV WVGSA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 38.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
47.7% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 40.8% (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
42%
ELA
32%
2010
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2011
Math
34.5%
ELA
34.5%
2012
Math
44.5%
ELA
34.5%
2013
Math
44.5%
ELA
44.5%
2014
Math
34.5%
ELA
44.5%
2015
Math
44.5%
2016
Math
34.5%
ELA
44.5%
2017
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
32%
2019
Math
32%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2024
Math
44.3%
ELA
49.8%
2025
Math
43.2%
ELA
38.4%

* 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: 2.3/10.

How Oakvale School Compares

See how Oakvale School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.4/10
15th percentile in WV
Academic
6.3/10
Average
Growth
2.3/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
7.0/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
15 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
32.3%

Location

2503 Goodwins Chapel Rd, Princeton, WV 24739

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Oakvale School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Sun Valley Elementary School (rated 9.7/10, 10.3 miles away, in nearby Lerona), which scores notably higher. Another option is Straley Elementary School (rated 8.8/10, 8.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Spanishburg (rated 7.7/10, 11.4 miles away, in nearby Spanisburg), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Princeton, see our Princeton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 12.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Athens Elementary School Athens 6.6 mi 6.7
Melrose Elementary School Princeton 6.4 mi 4.7
Pikeview High School Princeton 8.4 mi 4.8
Pikeview Middle School Princeton 8.4 mi 5.4
Narrows Elementary/Middle Narrows 7.8 mi 4.9
Straley Elementary School Princeton 8.0 mi 8.8
Silver Springs Early Learning Center Princeton 8.3 mi 3.0
Mercer Elementary Princeton 8.2 mi 3.8
Princeton Primary School Princeton 8.2 mi 7.0
Princeton Senior High School Princeton 8.2 mi 4.2
Narrows High Narrows 8.3 mi 5.8
Sun Valley Elementary School Lerona 10.3 mi 9.7
Princeton Middle School Princeton 8.4 mi 6.1
Bland County High Rocky Gap 10.9 mi 5.6
Mountain Valley Elementary School Bluefield 10.6 mi 7.2
Spanishburg Spanisburg 11.4 mi 7.7
PIPESTEM CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Pipestem 13.4 mi 5.2
Glenwood School (K-8) Princeton 10.9 mi 7.5
Peterstown Middle School Peterstown 12.9 mi 5.9
Peterstown Elementary School Peterstown 12.9 mi 6.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 24739 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$54,096

Median Home Value

$122,400

Median Rent

$850/mo

Population

13,093

College Educated

21.5%

Homeownership

77%

Avg Commute

27.1 min

Poverty Rate

17.2%

Median Age

47.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Midland Trail Elementary School Diamond, WV 4.3
East Lynn Elementary School East Lynn, WV 4.6
Lumberport Elementary School Lumberport, WV 4.6
Ruthlawn Elementary School Charleston, WV 4.6
Ansted Elementary Ansted, WV 4.2
Davis Creek Elementary School Barboursville, WV 4.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Oakvale School

What grades does Oakvale School serve?

Oakvale School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Oakvale School?

Oakvale School has an enrollment of approximately 186 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Oakvale School?

The student-teacher ratio at Oakvale School is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Oakvale School rank in WV?

Oakvale School ranks #543 of 635 schools in WV.

What is Oakvale School's MySchoolScout rating?

Oakvale School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 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 Oakvale School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Oakvale School has 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Oakvale School a charter school?

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

Is Oakvale School a Title I school?

No, Oakvale School is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
4 Car-Dependent

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
186
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
15
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Mercer County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
32.3%

District

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

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