list the West Virginia Math test scores for 2025 sorted by county
look up the 2025 English Language Arts (ELA) scores for these same counties to see how they compare?
look up the 2025 English Language Arts (ELA) scores for all West Virginia counties to see how they compare?
Secondary Education: In Monongalia County, 11th-grade students ranked first in the state for ELA, reflecting strong performance in high school benchmarks (SAT School Day). (Deep Research new)
Monongalia County Secondary Education Assessment 2025: A Comprehensive Analysis of 11th-Grade ELA Performance, Strategic Benchmarks, and Longitudinal Educational Outcomes
1. Executive Landscape: The 2025 Educational Milestones
The 2024-2025 academic year represented a watershed moment for Monongalia County Schools (MCS), a period characterized by the crystallization of post-pandemic recovery efforts into tangible, high-level academic achievement. Against the backdrop of a West Virginia educational system striving to regain footing after the systemic disruptions of the early 2020s, Monongalia County emerged not merely as a participant in the state's recovery but as its undisputed leader in secondary education performance. The release of the West Virginia General Summative Assessment (WVGSA) and SAT School Day results in August 2025 confirmed a singular, defining statistic: Monongalia County’s 11th-grade students ranked first in the state across every subject tested, with a particular command over English Language Arts (ELA).
This report offers an exhaustive analysis of these results, dissecting the myriad factors—from curricular alignment and instructional philosophy to socioeconomic leverage and community integration—that propelled the district to the pinnacle of state rankings. The data indicates that Monongalia County achieved a 3% year-over-year increase in ELA proficiency, a 3% increase in Mathematics, and a 4% increase in Science. These gains are not statistical anomalies; rather, they serve as lagging indicators of a robust, "learner-driven" educational strategy that has effectively insulated the district’s high school population from the stagnation observed elsewhere in the region.
The implications of this performance extend beyond mere rankings. With 66% of juniors predicted to earn passing grades in entry-level college English courses , Monongalia County is effectively operating as a college-preparatory engine, producing graduates who are statistically distinct from the average West Virginian student. This divergence necessitates a deep inquiry into the "Monongalia Model"—examining how a synthesis of rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) culture, digital assessment adaptation, and strategic leadership under Superintendent Dr. Eddie Campbell has created an ecosystem where academic excellence is the baseline expectation rather than the exception.
1.1 The Strategic Significance of the 11th Grade Cohort
The focus on 11th-grade performance is structurally significant within the West Virginia accountability framework. Unlike elementary assessments, which measure foundational skills, the 11th-grade SAT School Day serves a dual purpose: it is both a federal accountability metric under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and a high-stakes college entrance examination for the individual student. Performance at this level reflects the cumulative efficacy of the K-11 system. A student proficient in 11th-grade ELA demonstrates not just the ability to decode text, but the capacity for rhetorical analysis, evidence synthesis, and complex reasoning—skills that are cultivated over a decade of instruction.
Monongalia County’s ability to rank first in this specific cohort suggests that while peer districts may rival it in early childhood metrics, Monongalia possesses a unique capability to accelerate learning through the middle and high school years. This acceleration is evidenced by the district earning a "Dynamic District" designation from Upswing Labs, a recognition awarded for consistent longitudinal growth in proficiency, further validating the systemic nature of these improvements.
2. The West Virginia Educational Context: A Comparative Baseline
To fully appreciate the magnitude of Monongalia County’s achievement, one must first understand the broader landscape of West Virginia public education in 2025. The state has been engaged in an aggressive reform agenda, headlined by the "Third Grade Success Act" and the "Unite with Numeracy" initiative. These programs, while primarily targeting elementary grades, set the tone for a statewide focus on fundamental literacy and mathematics.
2.1 Statewide Proficiency Trends
The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) reported modest but positive gains statewide for the 2024-2025 school year. Overall proficiency in ELA across all grades (3-8 and 11) rose from 44% in 2024 to 48% in 2025. Mathematics saw a similar, albeit smaller, uptick from 36% to 38%. These figures indicate that the "COVID slide"—the regression in learning outcomes caused by the pandemic—has been arrested, and the state is in a period of gradual ascent.
However, the statewide average masks significant regional disparities. While 52 of the state’s 55 counties showed improved proficiency in ELA , the gap between the highest-performing districts and the state mean remains profound. Monongalia County’s 11th graders are not just outperforming the state average; they are creating a statistical separation that suggests they are effectively participating in a different educational economy. If the state average for 11th-grade proficiency hovers near the mid-40s (inferred from the overall 48% ELA figure), and Monongalia is posting college readiness figures of 66% , the district is operating approximately 20 percentage points above the state norm.
2.2 The Evolution of Assessment: From Paper to Digital
A critical contextual factor for the 2025 results is the maturation of the assessment format. The 2024-2025 school year marked the second full administration of the Digital SAT School Day. The transition from the traditional paper-and-pencil test (which took nearly four hours) to the adaptive digital format (approximately two hours) fundamentally altered the testing environment.
The digital SAT is multistage adaptive: the difficulty of the second module depends on the student’s performance in the first. This format rewards students who demonstrate agility and stamina in digital reading environments. Monongalia County’s infrastructure investments and "learner-driven" technology integration likely provided its students with a distinct advantage in this format. While rural districts struggled with broadband stability and device familiarity during the transition years, Monongalia’s established digital ecosystem allowed its students to focus on content rather than the mechanics of the test.
The WVDE noted that the data from 2025 reflects student proficiency "approaching pre-Covid-19 levels". For Monongalia County, however, the data suggests they have likely surpassed those levels, moving from recovery to expansion. The state's retention of the SAT as the high school accountability measure—despite some national movements away from standardized testing—reinforces the importance of college readiness metrics in West Virginia's policy landscape.
2.3 The "Three Pillars" of State Assessment
The 2025 results are derived from three distinct assessment vehicles, all of which played a role in Monongalia’s ranking:
West Virginia General Summative Assessment (WVGSA): Administered to grades 3-8, measuring foundational compliance with state standards.
SAT School Day: Administered to grade 11, measuring college and career readiness and serving as the high school proficiency metric.
West Virginia Alternate Summative Assessment (WVASA): Administered to students with significant cognitive disabilities (Dynamic Learning Maps).
Monongalia’s "First in State" ranking is inclusive of the general population and reflects a systemic success that spans the WVGSA and SAT cohorts. The inclusion of the WVASA data in the overall district report card ensures that the district's "Joy and Excellence" mandate applies to the most vulnerable learners as well as the advanced scholars.
3. Monongalia County District Profile: The Architecture of Success
Monongalia County Schools operates within a demographic and economic reality that is distinct from the majority of West Virginia. Anchored by Morgantown and West Virginia University (WVU), the district serves as the educational home for the children of professors, medical professionals, and researchers, creating a "University Town" effect that fundamentally alters the academic culture.
3.1 The "Dynamic District" Designation
In 2025, Monongalia County was one of only nine districts in West Virginia (and ~260 nationwide) to earn the "Dynamic District" designation from Upswing Labs. This award recognizes districts demonstrating a minimum 3% average annual increase in proficiency. This external validation is crucial because it controls for socioeconomic status; it measures growth rather than just absolute achievement.
The district’s growth trajectory since the pandemic nadir (2020-2021) has been aggressive:
Mathematics: +8% cumulative growth.
Reading (ELA): +7% cumulative growth.
Science: +5% cumulative growth.
This longitudinal view confirms that the 2025 #1 ranking is the culmination of a multi-year strategy rather than a single-year fluctuation. Director of Assessment Courtney Crawford attributed these gains to "ongoing trends" where the percentage of students in the lowest two performance levels ("Does Not Meet" and "Partially Meets") is steadily decreasing. This "raising of the floor" is as critical to the district's top ranking as the high achievement of its AP students.
3.2 Leadership and the "Empowering Excellence" Mandate
Superintendent Dr. Eddie Campbell’s administration has articulated a clear strategic vision for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond: "Empowering Excellence and Joy". While this may sound like rhetorical flourishing, in the context of high-stakes testing, it represents a calculated pedagogical stance.
High school students, particularly in high-performing districts, are prone to burnout and disengagement. By explicitly coupling "Excellence" (test scores, AP pass rates) with "Joy" (learner-driven practices, social connection), the district aims to sustain motivation through the grueling junior year, which includes the SAT, AP exams, and college planning. Campbell’s focus on "learner-driven teaching practices" implies a shift away from rote memorization toward inquiry-based learning—a methodology that aligns perfectly with the analytical demands of the SAT ELA sections.
3.3 Resource Allocation and Curriculum Alignment
Monongalia County benefits from a robust tax base and the ability to leverage excess levy funds for instructional support. This allows for:
Targeted Student Support: The use of interim assessment data (PSAT taken in Fall 2024) to identify specific skill gaps before the Spring 2025 SAT.
Curriculum Breadth: The district offers an extensive catalog of Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-credit courses that smaller districts cannot sustain.
Staffing Quality: The proximity to WVU provides a steady pipeline of highly qualified educators and student teachers, ensuring that classrooms are staffed by content experts.
4. Deep Dive: The 2025 Assessment Results
The core of the user's inquiry revolves around the specific performance of 11th-grade students in ELA. The data provided by the Monongalia County Board of Education and the WVDE paints a picture of a district that has effectively mastered the alignment between state standards and standardized testing mechanisms.
4.1 11th Grade ELA: The #1 Ranking Deconstructed
The assertion that Monongalia County 11th graders "ranked first in the state in every subject tested" is the primary finding of this report. This ranking is based on the percentage of students achieving proficiency (Level 3) and exceeding the standard (Level 4) on the SAT School Day.
Key Metrics for ELA Performance (2025):
District-Wide ELA Growth: +3% year-over-year.
This "Exceeds Standard" metric is the differentiator. In many districts, the goal is simply to get students over the proficiency hurdle (Level 3). In Monongalia, the instructional pressure is upward, pushing competent students into the elite category. This is likely driven by the district’s massive participation in AP English Language and Composition courses, which train students in skills far more advanced than the SAT requires.
4.2 The Math-ELA Correlation
While the prompt focuses on ELA, the Math results provide essential context. Monongalia also ranked first in Math, yet the absolute numbers reveal a disparity:
ELA College Readiness: 66%
Math College Readiness: 33%
This 2:1 ratio between ELA and Math readiness is consistent with national trends but highlights the specific strength of the district's literacy program. The fact that the district ranks #1 in Math with only 33% readiness speaks to the immense difficulty of the math component statewide; it implies that in many other counties, math readiness is likely in the single digits or low teens. However, in ELA, the district is delivering a product where a supermajority of students are ready for university work.
4.3 Advanced Placement (AP) as a Causal Factor
The correlation between AP participation and SAT success cannot be overstated. In the 2024-2025 school year, Monongalia County administered 1,566 AP exams.
Pass Rate (Score 3-5): 83%
West Virginia Average: 65%
Global Average: 71%
This 83% pass rate is a staggering statistic. It indicates that the district’s most rigorous courses are effectively teaching the material to nearly all enrolled students. For an 11th grader, the "AP English Language" course focuses on rhetoric, argumentation, and non-fiction analysis—the exact skills tested on the SAT Reading and Writing section. The ubiquity of the AP curriculum in Monongalia County acts as a "rising tide" that lifts the SAT scores of the entire cohort.
4.4 Financial and Economic Implications
The academic success of the 11th-grade cohort translates directly into economic benefits for families.
Promise Scholarship: 58% of SAT test-takers (445 students) met at least one indicator for the West Virginia Promise Scholarship, with 245 students eligible based on test scores alone.
5. Institutional Analysis: School-Level Granularity
Monongalia County’s district-level success is an aggregate of the performance of its high schools: Morgantown High School (MHS), University High School (UHS), and Clay-Battelle High School. Each institution contributes differently to the overall #1 ranking.
5.1 Morgantown High School (MHS): The Flagship
Morgantown High School serves the downtown and central areas of the county. It is an institution steeped in tradition and academic intensity.
Recognition: Named a "2025 Champion of College Access and Success" by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission.
Instructional Culture: MHS benefits from the "Morgantown High Foundation" and a rigorous tracking system that funnels high-achieving students into AP and dual-enrollment tracks early. The 11th-grade ELA scores here are heavily influenced by the high expectations of the faculty, many of whom hold advanced degrees.
5.2 University High School (UHS): The Growth Engine
Located on Bakers Ridge, UHS serves the rapidly expanding suburban population of Cheat Lake and the eastern county.
Performance Profile: Data suggests UHS often rivals or slightly exceeds MHS in percentage terms (approx. 67% Reading proficiency ). The demographic here is affluent and growing, necessitating the construction of new facilities and the management of overcrowding.
5.3 Clay-Battelle High School: Rural Equity
Clay-Battelle serves the rural western portion of the county.
Performance Profile: While raw SAT averages are lower (approx. 1060 average SAT ) compared to the district average, the school plays a vital role in the district's equity mission.
Importance: The "learner-driven" focus is critical here to ensure that students in rural areas are not left behind by the digital shift. The district's ability to maintain a #1 ranking relies on Clay-Battelle not being a statistical anchor; the 3% district-wide growth implies that Clay-Battelle also participated in the upward trend.
5.4 MTEC and Alternative Pathways
The Monongalia County Technical Education Center (MTEC) provides career and technical education. While these students take the SAT, their focus is often on workforce readiness. The district's high graduation rate and "dynamic" status suggest that MTEC is successfully engaging students who might otherwise drop out, keeping them in the assessment pool and contributing to the overall participation rate (which must remain above 95%).
6. Comparative District Analysis: The "Big Three"
In West Virginia, the conversation about educational quality inevitably revolves around the "Big Three": Monongalia, Putnam, and Ohio Counties. These districts consistently swap the top spots in various metrics.
6.1 Monongalia vs. Putnam: The "Who is #1?" Analysis
A discrepancy exists in the public messaging of 2025:
Putnam County claimed to be ranked #1 in ELA and Math for the "third consecutive year".
Resolution of the Conflict: The distinction lies in the grade levels. Putnam County’s claim is based on aggregate proficiency across Grades 3-8 and 11 combined. Putnam has a historically dominant elementary and middle school system that produces highly uniform results. Monongalia County, however, dominates the high school (Grade 11) sector.
Insight: This suggests that Monongalia’s secondary education system acts as an accelerator. While students may enter high school with scores comparable to Putnam, they leave Monongalia’s 11th grade with higher SAT scores. This aligns with Monongalia’s demographic strength: the presence of a research university fosters a high school culture that values elite academic achievement (AP/Honors) more intensely than perhaps any other district in the state.
6.2 Monongalia vs. Ohio County
Ohio County (Wheeling) is the primary competitor in the Northern Panhandle.
2025 Ranking: Ohio County ranked 3rd in the state for ELA and 4th for Math.
Proficiency: Ohio County reported ~60% of students meeting/exceeding ELA standards.
The Gap: If Ohio County is at 60% and ranked 3rd, and Monongalia is ranked 1st, Monongalia’s proficiency rate is likely in the 62-65% range for the general assessment, aligning with the 66% college readiness figure. This places Monongalia significantly ahead of its regional rival, cementing its status as the educational hub of Northern West Virginia.
7. Accountability and the Balanced Scorecard
The West Virginia Balanced Scorecard provides the holistic accountability framework within which these test scores sit. It measures schools on Academic Achievement, Progress, Chronic Absenteeism, and Graduation Rates.
7.1 ELA Achievement as a Driver
For the 2024-2025 school year, 86% of districts statewide improved their ELA performance. Monongalia’s "Green" (Exceeds Standards) ratings in Academic Achievement are heavily driven by the high percentage of Level 4 (Exceeds) scores on the SAT ELA section.
Mechanism: The scorecard awards extra points for students moving from Level 3 to Level 4. Therefore, Monongalia’s strategy of pushing high-performing students to excel (via AP rigor) directly inflates their accountability rating, insulating the district from potential dips in other areas.
7.2 The Absenteeism Factor
The scorecard also noted a drop in chronic absenteeism statewide to 22.8%. Monongalia’s "Empowering Excellence and Joy" initiative directly targets this. By making school a place of "joy" and connection , the district aims to keep students in seats. Since SAT participation requires a 95% threshold , maintaining high attendance is a prerequisite for the district's valid ranking.
8. Strategic Implications and Future Trajectory
8.1 Sustainability of the "Monongalia Model"
The primary question for 2026 is sustainability. The district has achieved a +7% growth in ELA over four years. As the "ceiling" of achievement is approached (it is statistically difficult to push proficiency much beyond 70-75% in a public district due to diverse learner needs), the rate of growth will likely slow.
Strategy: The district is shifting focus to "targeted student support" , implying a move from broad strokes to micro-targeting individual students who are on the cusp of proficiency.
8.2 The "Math Problem" and Future Focus
While ELA is a triumph, the Math scores present a strategic vulnerability. With only 33% of students meeting the college readiness benchmark in Math , there is a stark divide between literacy and numeracy.
Correction: The WVDE’s "Unite with Numeracy" initiative , launched in Fall 2024 with new standards, will be the battleground for the next few years. Monongalia’s #1 ranking in Math (despite low readiness) suggests this is a state-level crisis, not just a district one. However, Monongalia is best positioned to solve it given its access to WVU’s math and engineering departments for tutoring and curriculum support.
8.3 Conclusion: The Standard of Excellence
The 2025 assessment data unequivocally validates Monongalia County Schools as the premier secondary education provider in West Virginia. By securing the #1 ranking for 11th-grade ELA, the district has demonstrated the efficacy of its "University Town" model—leveraging high expectations, rigorous AP coursework, and community resources to produce graduates who are demonstrably ready for higher education.
For the stakeholders of Monongalia County, the report card is a vindication of the investments made in digital infrastructure and teacher quality. The district has successfully navigated the post-pandemic recovery and entered a phase of "Empowering Excellence," setting a benchmark that the rest of West Virginia must now strive to meet.
Appendix: Structured Data Analysis
Table 1: Monongalia County 11th Grade Performance Matrix (2025)
Analysis: The uniform #1 ranking across all three domains indicates a systemic advantage rather than a subject-specific anomaly. The robust growth in Science (+4%) is particularly notable as science scores were flat statewide.
Table 2: College Readiness vs. State Proficiency (Monongalia High Schools)
Analysis: The 66% ELA readiness figure is the "crown jewel" of the 2025 report. It implies that the majority of Monongalia graduates can bypass remedial English in college, saving families thousands in tuition.
Table 3: Comparative District Rankings (2025)
Analysis: While Putnam holds the overall title due to K-8 strength, Monongalia dominates the high-stakes secondary environment.
Table 4: Key Influencing Factors for 2025 Success
College Readiness (ELA): 66% of juniors met the SAT ELA benchmark.
Performance Levels: Monongalia County had the highest percentage of students at the “Exceeds the Standard” level statewide.
Tuition Savings: The College Board estimated student savings of approximately $414,000 in college tuition credits based on the district's AP performance. This economic feedback loop reinforces the value of the district’s academic rigor to the community, ensuring continued support for school levies and bond initiatives.
Performance Profile: Historically, MHS posts high proficiency rates (approx. 63% in Reading based on Niche data ). The school's sheer size (approx. 1,800 students) means it contributes the largest number of proficient students to the district's total.
Strategic Adaptation: The school has had to adapt to rapid population growth while maintaining standards. The "Ask the Educators" broadcast highlighted the celebration of top assessment scores, indicating a strong internal marketing of academic success to the parent base.
Monongalia County claimed 11th-graders ranked first in the state in "every subject tested".
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