I'm starting research into the 2024 Math student performance test results for schools in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. I'll also be looking to compare these results to the overall state average for West Virginia.
 
Initial Research Approach
 
My first step will be to locate the official source for assessment data, likely on the West Virginia Department of Education's website. I'll be specifically looking for 2024 Mathematics assessment results. If 2024 data isn't available yet, I'll prioritize finding the most recent available data, such as from 2023. Concurrently, I'll identify all public schools within Pocahontas County.
 
Next Steps
 
Once I have identified the relevant data source and the list of schools, I will extract the Math performance scores for each school in Pocahontas County and the overall state average. My final step will be to synthesize and analyze this information, comparing the school-level data with the state average to identify any notable trends or differences.
 
Identifying Key Data Sources
 
I've successfully identified the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) as the primary source for statewide assessment data, with their ZoomWV portal being the designated data hub. This is a crucial discovery as it points directly to where the official performance results are housed. I also found a press release confirming the availability of 2024 state summative assessment results, including math proficiency data, which is excellent news for fulfilling the research request.
 
Locating Pocahontas County School Information
 
I've pinpointed the official website for Pocahontas County Schools and gathered an initial list of schools within the district: Hillsboro Elementary, Marlinton Elementary, Green Bank Elementary/Middle School, MM ? and Pocahontas County High School. This provides a clear scope for the school-specific data collection.
 
Next Steps in Data Collection
 
My immediate next steps involve delving into the WVDE website and the ZoomWV data portal to extract the 2024 math assessment results for both the entire state and for each individual school in Pocahontas County. I will also cross-reference the list of schools to ensure accuracy before proceeding with data extraction.
 
Progress in Data Identification
 
I've made significant progress in identifying the relevant data. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is indeed the official source for assessment data, and I've confirmed that the 2024 assessment data, including math proficiency, has been released. A key finding is the mention of a 'Balanced Scorecard Dashboard' which is explicitly stated to provide district- and school-level data, making it a highly promising avenue for obtaining the specific information needed.
 
Pocahontas County Schools Confirmed
 
I have a confirmed list of schools within Pocahontas County: Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, Hillsboro Elementary School, Marlinton Elementary School, Marlinton Middle School, and Pocahontas County High School. This will allow me to accurately target my data extraction efforts.
 
Next Steps: Data Extraction
 
My immediate next step is to explore the Balanced Scorecard Dashboard, as it appears to be the most direct path to obtaining the detailed 2024 math performance data for each school in Pocahontas County and the overall state average. If the dashboard doesn't yield the precise information, I will then proceed to search the ZoomWV portal for the 2024 assessment results. Once the data is acquired, I will extract and analyze the math proficiency rates to fulfill the research request.
 
Revised Data Acquisition Strategy
 
To overcome the access issue, I'm now focusing on alternative methods for data acquisition. My plan includes attempting to find a different, potentially more current, link to the Balanced Scorecard. I will also perform a more direct and targeted search within the ZoomWV portal for the 2024 mathematics assessment results specifically for Pocahontas County. Additionally, I will investigate the West Virginia Department of Education website for any downloadable data files that might contain the assessment results. Finally, I will conduct a more thorough review of the Pocahontas County Schools' own website to see if they have published any relevant accountability reports or data.
 
Significant Data Breakthroughs
 
I've made a significant breakthrough in locating the specific data needed. I've found a direct link to the ZoomWV dashboard for the 2024 statewide summative assessment results, which is a primary source for official state-level data. Even more importantly, I've discovered a PDF report from the Education Recovery Scorecard that appears to contain the exact math performance data for Pocahontas County Schools for 2019-2024, including comparisons to the state and similar districts. This is a major step towards fulfilling the research request.
 
Understanding Contextual Factors
 
A crucial new insight is the discovery that Pocahontas County Schools, particularly the high school, were placed in a 'state of emergency' in early 2025 due to issues with leadership, scheduling, and special education. This provides vital context for understanding the student performance data and will be integrated into my analysis to offer a more comprehensive picture of the factors influencing the scores.
 
Next Steps for Data Synthesis
 
My immediate next steps involve thoroughly analyzing the Education Recovery Scorecard PDF to extract the school or district-level math performance data for Pocahontas County. Concurrently, I will explore the ZoomWV dashboard to obtain official state-level data and cross-reference it with the information from the Scorecard. Finally, I will synthesize all gathered data, comparing Pocahontas County's math scores to the state average, and integrate the contextual information about the 'state of emergency' to provide a nuanced and complete analysis.
 
Current Data Status
 
I've successfully identified the statewide math proficiency for 2024 as 36%. I also have district-level math performance data for Pocahontas County from the Education Recovery Scorecard, which provides insights into the district's performance relative to the state average in terms of 'grade level equivalents.' I have a confirmed list of all public schools within Pocahontas County.
 
Addressing Information Gaps
 
My primary challenge is to obtain the specific math proficiency rates for each individual school in Pocahontas County. The direct access to the ZoomWV dashboard proved difficult, and the Education Recovery Scorecard, while valuable, provides district-level data in 'grade level equivalents' rather than the precise proficiency percentages needed for direct comparison with the state average. I also have important context regarding a 'state of emergency' declared in Pocahontas County Schools, which will be crucial for a comprehensive analysis.
 
Next Steps for School-Level Data
 
To bridge the information gap, I will now focus on finding individual school 'report cards' or 'balanced scorecards' for each school in Pocahontas County. I'll conduct targeted searches using specific school names and assessment terms. Additionally, I will perform a more in-depth exploration of the Pocahontas County Schools' official website, looking for sections dedicated to 'Accountability,' 'Data,' or 'School Performance.' Once I have gathered this school-level data, I will synthesize all the information, creating a comparative table of school proficiency rates against the state average, analyzing trends within the county, and discussing the potential impact of the 'state of emergency' on the test scores.
 
Research Completion
 
I have successfully gathered all the necessary information to fulfill the research request. This includes the 2024 math performance data for each school in Pocahontas County, the statewide average, and important contextual details regarding the 'state of emergency' declared in the district. I have reached a point where further searching is unlikely to yield more precise or relevant information.
 
Next Steps: Report Generation
 
My next step is to synthesize all the collected information into a comprehensive report. This report will include the math performance test results for each school in Pocahontas County, the average for all counties in West Virginia, and an analysis of the findings, incorporating the contextual information about the 'state of emergency' in the district.
 
This text outlines the thinking process involved in the production of this AI report. Questions or suggestions: normanalderman@yahoo.com