The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Wahama Junior/senior High School
Wahama Junior/Senior High School sits in the small Ohio River town of Mason, West Virginia, serving grades seven through twelve as part of Mason County Schools. It is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation, and its enrollment is modest for a secondary school spanning six grade levels. The student body is overwhelmingly white, with only a handful of students identifying as Asian, Black, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, or two or more races. Information on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, individualized education programs, and English learner status was not available, so those pieces of the school's profile remain unknown here.
State testing data from the most recent school year is available for the two grades the state assesses at this school, seventh and eighth grade. The results tell a mixed story. In English language arts, roughly two-fifths of tested students reached proficiency in both seventh and eighth grade, with full participation across both grade levels. Math results were lower, with about a third of seventh graders proficient and a smaller share of eighth graders reaching that bar. Science was assessed only in eighth grade, where proficiency fell below the math and ELA levels. No state assessment results appear for grades three through six, which is expected because Wahama does not serve those grades. No high school-level state assessment or standardized college entrance exam results were included in the available data, and no graduation rate was provided, so those measures are gaps a parent would want to ask the school about directly. Trend data covers only a single year, so there is no multi-year comparison to draw from.
The town of Mason has the texture of a quiet, aging river community rather than a commercial hub. Publicly reported sources describe a very small town along the Ohio River, part of the Point Pleasant micropolitan area, with a population that has been declining over the long term. The town has a grid-style street layout typical of older river settlements, but its small footprint means most daily errands likely require a car. No major employers were identified in available sources, and no parks, libraries, or transit systems surfaced in the research. Civic life centers on the town hall and a few historic homes listed on the National Register. For families considering the area, this is a place where the school functions as a primary community institution in a town with limited retail or civic infrastructure.
Housing in the school's zip code is very affordable compared with both state and national benchmarks. The typical home value sits well below the West Virginia state average and far below the national figure, and the price-to-income ratio indicates that homeownership here is within reach for many working households relative to national norms. Estimated monthly mortgage costs are modest. No rental data was available for this area, so renters will need to look elsewhere for current market rates. The housing market has seen notable year-over-year appreciation recently, though from a low base, so affordability remains a defining feature of the community.
At the district level, Mason County Schools recently secured a meaningful win for school funding. In November 2024, voters overwhelmingly approved renewal of the excess levy, which supports teacher salaries, technology, extracurricular activities and their transportation, extra duty pay, and operational and maintenance expenses. This is a continuation of an existing tax rate rather than a new one, and it provides steady annual revenue for programs that directly affect students' day-to-day experience. For a parent weighing Wahama, that levy renewal means extracurriculars and technology are funded commitments rather than year-to-year uncertainties.
What the available data does not capture is substantial. No information on Advanced Placement, career and technical education, dual credit, or other program offerings was provided, and no course access data surfaced. Staffing levels, discipline data, attendance figures, and Title I status were all absent. Civil rights data was not included. A family evaluating this school should ask directly about what academic pathways exist for high school students, what support services are available, and how the school approaches discipline and attendance. The testing data that is here shows a school where English language arts outcomes are middling, math and science results are softer, and participation is full. Whether the high school years offer stronger preparation through advanced coursework or career pathways is a question the school itself is best positioned to answer.
See more original research from School Decision →