create a prompt to research 2020-2025 Pocahontas County, West Virginia school test data Extract and compile the test performance data (such as proficiency rates in Math, English Language Arts, and Science) for all five Pocahontas County schools from 2020 to 2025.
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Deconstructing the Request
I'm
starting by breaking down your request. The main goals are to find all
the schools in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, locate the official
source for state test data (likely the WV Department of Education), and
identify the specific names of the standardized tests used for Math,
ELA, and Science between 2020 and 2025.
Considering Context
I'm
also thinking through some important context. The 2020-2025 timeframe
includes significant disruptions from COVID-19, which likely led to
testing waivers or changes in 2020 and 2021. I'll need to investigate
this to understand any data gaps. Furthermore, since we are currently in
late 2025, the data for the 2024-2025 school year might not have been
publicly released yet. I'll check the state's typical data release
schedule.
Beginning the Search
My
initial actions will focus on building this foundation. I will search
for the list of schools, the state's data portal, the names of the
assessments, and any information regarding pandemic-related testing
policies. I'll also try to find district-level reports which often link
to individual school performance data.
Finding the Data Source
My
initial searches were successful. I've confirmed that Pocahontas County
in West Virginia has exactly five schools, as you mentioned. I've also
pinpointed the official data repository: the West Virginia Department of
Education's "ZoomWV" interactive portal and its "WV Balanced Scorecard"
dashboard, which is where school-level performance data is published.
Identifying the Assessments
I'm
also clarifying the specific assessments used. For grades 3-8, the key
test is the "West Virginia General Summative Assessment" (WVGSA), and
for 11th grade, it's the "SAT School Day." These cover the Math and ELA
requirements. My next step will be to confirm the specific assessment
used for Science.
Refining the Next Steps
I've
found an article indicating that data for the 2024-2025 school year is
already available on the state's dashboard, which is excellent. I'm now
structuring my plan to explore this data portal directly. I will also
investigate the impact of COVID-19 on testing schedules for 2020 and
2021, as this will be crucial for understanding any gaps in the data I
find.
Clarifying Science Assessments
I've
gained a clearer picture of the science assessments. My research
indicates the "West Virginia General Summative Assessment" (WVGSA) is
used for science, but specifically in grades 5 and 8. This means I
probably won't find science scores for the elementary schools (Marlinton
and Hillsboro) but should for the middle schools.
High School Science Test
A
new gap has emerged: identifying the specific assessment used for high
school science. I know 11th graders take the "SAT School Day" for ELA
and Math, but that doesn't seem to include science. I've found a
promising state assessment summary from 2025 that should help me
pinpoint the name of this test, which is a critical piece of the puzzle
for gathering data from the high school.
Adjusting the Plan
I'm
updating my plan to specifically resolve this question about the high
school science test. My next steps will also involve investigating the
impact of COVID-19 on testing in 2020-2021, which will be essential for
interpreting any missing data. After that, I will begin exploring the
state's data dashboards and searching for the report cards for each of
the five schools.
Understanding COVID-19 Impact
I've
now confirmed the impact of the pandemic on the data. Standardized
assessments were officially cancelled for the 2019-2020 school year, so
no data will exist for that period. For the 2020-2021 school year, tests
were administered and data was collected, but the state received an
accountability waiver. This means I should be able to find the
proficiency data, but I'll note the context of the significant statewide
drop in scores observed that year.
Resolving the Science Test Question
I'm
making progress on identifying the high school science test. My
findings confirm that science is indeed tested in 11th grade, not just
in grades 5 and 8. However, there's a contradiction in my sources. Some
suggest the SAT School Day includes it, while others imply it's a
separate test. I've located a key 2025 state assessment results document
that I believe will resolve this ambiguity.
Executing the Data Search
My
plan is now focused on data extraction. I will proceed with a
multi-pronged approach: exploring the main West Virginia Department of
Education data dashboards, searching for the individual report cards for
each of the five schools (Green Bank, Hillsboro, Marlinton Elementary,
Marlinton Middle, and Pocahontas County High), and specifically
examining that 2025 assessment document to solve the high school science
test question.
Encountering a Data Hurdle
I've
hit a roadblock while trying to access the state's main data dashboard.
My attempt to navigate the West Virginia Accountability System's
portal, which I had identified as a primary source, led me to a report
for an entirely different county. This suggests the data is in a
dynamic, interactive format that is proving difficult to navigate
directly.
Refining My Data-Finding Strategy
This
means my original backup plan is now my main focus. I will pivot to a
more targeted approach, searching for the direct links to the individual
"Balanced Scorecard" report cards for each of the five schools in
Pocahontas County. I will also explore the second data portal I found
earlier, "ZoomWV," as an alternative path to the information.
Continuing the Investigation
I'm
not abandoning the state dashboard entirely but will try a different
angle by searching specifically for a direct link to the Pocahontas
County version of that interactive report. At the same time, I am
continuing my investigation to confirm the name of the high school
science assessment and to verify the release of the most recent
2024-2025 school year data.
Discovering New Data Leads
My
targeted searches for individual school data have uncovered a few new
sources, though not the official state report cards I was looking for. I
found a report from the "Education Recovery Scorecard" that provides
average Math and Reading scores for the district in 2019, 2022, and
2024. This isn't the proficiency rate I need, but it's valuable,
concrete data showing performance trends. I also located third-party
data that provides recent proficiency rates for Marlinton Middle and
Green Bank Elementary/Middle, but the specific year isn't stated.
Locating the Official Data
A
crucial insight from visiting the district website is the mention of
"2024 WVGSA Student Assessment Results" and "2025 West Virginia General
Summative Assessment results" being available in an online "Family
Portal." This confirms the data for recent years exists, but it also
suggests it's in a secure area. This reinforces my belief that the
public-facing data must be on the state's main data portals, which I
have not yet successfully navigated.
Adjusting My Data Hunt
Given
my previous attempt at the main dashboard was unsuccessful, I'm now
prioritizing the exploration of the *other* official portal I found,
"ZoomWV." I will also explore the new leads I've uncovered. I'll examine
the "Education Recovery Scorecard" PDF to extract the trend data it
contains and visit the third-party sites to see if I can determine the
year for their proficiency data. My plan to identify the high school
science test also remains a critical, ongoing task.
Confirming Data Availability
I've
just confirmed a key piece of information: the "2024-2025 West Virginia
Balanced Scorecard," which contains the official district- and
school-level data, was released in September 2025. This means the most
recent data you requested is available. My research also indicates this
official dashboard will contain data for the 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24,
and 2024-25 school years.
Resolving a Data Contradiction
I've
been working to resolve a contradiction regarding the 2020-2021 data.
While I previously found evidence that this data was collected, my
latest findings show it was explicitly *excluded* from the state's
official year-over-year accountability dashboard (the Balanced
Scorecard). This suggests that while raw data for 2021 may exist, it
isn't part of the primary comparative reports. I will now specifically
search for the separate 2021 press release or summary report I saw
referenced earlier.
Finding a Key Assessment Document
I've
located a pivotal document titled "2025 West Virginia Statewide
Summative Assessment Results." This PDF provides statewide proficiency
averages for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, which will be an excellent
benchmark for the county's performance. It also confirms the test names:
the WVGSA for grades 3-8 and the SAT School Day for 11th grade.
Continuing the Data Hunt
My
next step is to examine this newly found 2025 assessment PDF to
pinpoint the name of the 11th-grade science test, as that's the last
remaining ambiguity. I will then continue my multi-pronged approach to
find the school-level data. This includes re-attempting to access the
state's data portals using a different path (the "ZoomWV" portal) and
searching for a direct link to the Pocahontas County-specific version of
the main dashboard.
Clarifying the High School Science Test
I've
successfully analyzed the state's 2025 assessment report. This confirms
that science is indeed assessed in 11th grade, in addition to grades 5
and 8. While the document doesn't give this 11th-grade test a specific
name (like it does for the WVGSA and SAT), this confirmation is the key
piece of information I needed. I can now confidently search the state's
data dashboards for "Grade 11 Science" proficiency for Pocahontas County
High School.
Establishing a Statewide Benchmark
From
that same report, I've extracted the statewide proficiency averages for
all subjects from 2022 through 2025. For example, in 2025, the state
average proficiency was 48% in ELA, 38% in Math, and 30% in Science.
This will provide an excellent benchmark to compare against the
school-level data once I find it.
Pivoting the Data Extraction Plan
My
primary challenge remains the extraction of the specific, school-level
data for Pocahontas County. My previous attempts to navigate the main
state dashboard were not successful. Therefore, I am now prioritizing
the rest of my original plan. This involves a multi-pronged approach: I
will explore the *other* official state data portal I identified,
"ZoomWV," and I will also investigate the non-official data I found on
third-party sites and in a "Recovery Scorecard" PDF. I will also conduct
a specific search for the 2020-2021 data, which I know is published
separately from the main state scorecard.
Pivoting to a New Strategy
I
am now pivoting my entire plan to focus on "fallback" data sources.
Since I can't browse the official dashboards, I must now rely on finding
static reports, press releases, or news articles that have re-published
the data I need.
Prioritizing Secondary Sources
My
immediate next steps are to investigate the other leads I've uncovered,
which are now critical. I will analyze the "Education Recovery
Scorecard" PDF I found earlier, as it contains district-level trend
data. I will also examine the third-party school data I located to see
if I can determine what year their proficiency figures represent.
Expanding the Search
To
find the specific school-by-school proficiency numbers, I will initiate
new searches for downloadable data files that might be used to populate
those inaccessible dashboards. I'll also search for local news reports
from the "Pocahontas Times" which may have published the exact test
scores for the county's schools when the annual state data was released.
A Major Breakthrough
I've
just had a major breakthrough. While investigating the inaccessible
state dashboards, I found a local news article reporting on the 2023
Balanced Scorecard. This article provides the exact data I've been
looking for, citing specific proficiency rates for Pocahontas County
High School: 49% in English Language Arts and 47% in Math for 2023.
Uncovering a New Data Portal
More
importantly, that same news article pointed me to an entirely new and
highly promising data source I hadn't seen before: the state's ESSA
(Every Student Succeeds Act) dashboard. This appears to be a different
system from the other interactive portals I've been trying to access.
This is now my highest-priority target.
A New Focused Plan
I
am immediately pivoting my plan to focus 100% on this new ESSA
dashboard. My next step will be to explore this new link directly. In
parallel, I will conduct highly specific searches using this new
dashboard's name as a keyword to find data for each of the five schools.
I will also continue my fallback searches for the missing 2021 data and
reports from local news sources.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17CqeCMG97I_xg8LiJPDqw_QyKbS8DEatEr5zbutNa40/edit?usp=sharing
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