The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Wurtland Elementary School
Wurtland Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade in the small Ohio River community of Wurtland, Kentucky, part of the Greenup County school district. The school draws from a town that has seen steady population decline over several decades and is described as an aging, quiet, primarily residential area with limited new economic activity. The housing market in this part of northeastern Kentucky is generally affordable compared to national benchmarks, with home values that have softened recently. Families considering a move here would find a modest-cost housing environment in a community where industry and employment lie largely outside the town, connected by a local parkway to the regional industrial park to the south.
The student body is predominantly white and small for an elementary school, with representation from a few other racial groups. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a high level of economic need. The school does not report data on students with disabilities or English learners, so those figures are not available for review.
On state assessments administered through the Kentucky Summative Assessment, reported results show a mixed picture. In reading, just under half of fourth graders scored at the proficient level or above, while third and fifth graders posted lower rates. Math results were similar, with fourth graders at a rate comparable to their reading performance. Many individual grade-level and subject results were suppressed due to small counts, which is common in smaller schools. Science and social studies results were also suppressed. When looking across the tested subjects and grades as a group, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Greenup County. The county has only three districts, so the comparison set is small, but within that group the school’s performance is below the midpoint. A parent may want to discuss with the school how they support students who are not yet meeting benchmarks and what interventions are in place, especially given the high level of economic disadvantage.
There is no information available about program offerings, such as art, music, gifted services, or after-school activities. Discipline data, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism are also not reported. Because the school only serves elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to consider.
For a family weighing this school, the community context is worth understanding. Wurtland is a place with deep industrial roots but a contracting population, limited municipal services, and a quiet residential feel. The elementary school is the primary point of entry for local children, and the pathway after fifth grade leads to Greenup County middle and high schools, which are not profiled here. The school’s academic results suggest room for growth, and the combination of high poverty and low proficiency is a pattern a parent would want to explore further with the principal or district office. For those who value a small, familiar setting in a tight-knit river town, Wurtland Elementary offers that, with the recognition that its academic performance is currently below the county norm.
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