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Parkersburg High School

Summary:

Parkersburg High School is a public high school serving 1,651 students in grades 9-12 in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The school is part of the Wood County Schools district, which is ranked 6th out of 55 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Parkersburg High School has a predominantly white student population, with 91.1% of students identifying as white, which is higher than the state average and the nearby Williamstown High School, which has a 96.72% white student population. The school has consistently ranked in the top 30-50 high schools in West Virginia, with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger in most years, though its performance has fluctuated, with a drop to a 3-star rating in the 2022-2023 school year. Parkersburg High School has shown strong performance for its African American and low socioeconomic status student subgroups, ranking 3rd and 19th, respectively, out of West Virginia high schools in the 2023-2024 school year, but its performance for students with disabilities and English language learners has been more mixed.

Parkersburg High School's test scores in mathematics, English language arts, and science for 11th-grade students have generally been above the state and district averages, with some fluctuations over the years. The school has maintained a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 17 to 18 students per teacher over the past three school years, which is lower than the nearby Parkersburg South High School (16.5 students per teacher) and Williamstown High School (14.2 students per teacher). While Parkersburg High School's performance is generally stronger than the nearby Wirt County High School, Williamstown High School, which is also in the Wood County Schools district, consistently outperforms Parkersburg High School, ranking in the top 10-12 high schools in the state.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 2101 Dudley Ave
       Parkersburg, WV  26101-3462

(304) 420-9595

District: Wood County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
21st of 112 West Virginia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,798 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  15.8 Help
Number of students:  1,552

Racial breakdown:

White:
90.5%
Two or more races:
4.1%
Hispanic:
2.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  49.7% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Parkersburg High School ranks better than 81.3% of high schools in West Virginia. It also ranks 2nd among 3 ranked high schools in the Wood County Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 77.37. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Parkersburg High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Parkersburg High School has the largest high school student body size in the Wood County Schools District. Racial makeup is: White (90.5%), two or more races (4.1%), Hispanic (2.4%). (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Parkersburg High School is 15.8, which is the highest among 4 high schools in the Wood County Schools District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Parkersburg High School employs 98 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Parkersburg High School is $10,798. 2 high schools in the Wood County Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Parkersburg High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Parkersburg High School 21st of 112 West Virginia public high schools. (See Parkersburg High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
White students:


Wood County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Wood County Schools 6th of 55 West Virginia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Parkersburg High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 69.41 21st 111 81.1%
2010 72.81 19th 112 83.0%
2011 61.45 34th 113 69.9%
2012 57.69 35th 113 69.0%
2013 57.45 36th 114 68.4%
2014 46.72 51st 115 55.7%
2015 65.13 30th 117 74.4%
2016 57.72 39th 119 67.2%
2017 67.22 33rd 122 73.0%
2018 71.62 24th 115 79.1%
2019 65.35 34th 114 70.2%
2021 69.55 31st 113 72.6%
2022 69.48 29th 112 74.1%
2023 46.02 56th 112 50.0%
2024 77.37 21st 112 81.3%
See the entire list of West Virginia High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 50.73 24th 62 61.3%
2018 13.09 16th 18 11.1%
2019 25.07 9th 11 18.2%
2023 48.08 8th 14 42.9%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 51.63 10th 38 73.7%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 59.06 27th 118 77.1%
2018 57.63 30th 103 70.9%
2019 83.87 11th 85 87.1%
2023 16.67 80th 89 10.1%
2024 49.51 38th 89 57.3%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 48.71 64th 121 47.1%
2018 48.25 58th 112 48.2%
2021 33.91 72nd 111 35.1%
2022 55.32 43rd 109 60.6%
2023 23.00 90th 107 15.9%
2024 78.21 19th 110 82.7%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 54.56 54th 119 54.6%
2018 58.08 41st 111 63.1%
2019 64.27 37th 109 66.1%
2021 71.77 26th 110 76.4%
2022 73.71 25th 108 76.9%
2023 46.71 58th 108 46.3%
2024 69.30 30th 110 72.7%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 37.17 50th 84 40.5%
2022 32.41 69th 91 24.2%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 74.82 21st 122 82.8%
2018 76.44 25th 111 77.5%
2019 65.89 32nd 109 70.6%
2021 61.00 42nd 110 61.8%
2022 58.66 39th 108 63.9%
2023 44.14 57th 108 47.2%
2024 79.17 20th 109 81.7%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 66.56 19th 47 59.6%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 56.21 22nd 82 73.2%
2018 44.27 19th 31 38.7%
2019 29.64 17th 23 26.1%
2024 81.69 3rd 22 86.4%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 41.93 37th 59 37.3%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 64.52 2nd 6 66.7%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for White students at Parkersburg High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools WV State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2017 65.46 33rd 122 73.0%
2018 74.00 27th 113 76.1%
2019 66.57 34th 112 69.6%
2021 70.28 30th 113 73.5%
2022 66.18 36th 111 67.6%
2023 44.15 58th 112 48.2%
2024 76.05 20th 111 82.0%
See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: West Virginia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Parkersburg High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: West Virginia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Sunday, January 6, 2013

Open Quote New administration makes it a disgrace to call myself a Big Red. At this school the teachers cause the bulling and violence. They care more about their jobs and stupid little things over students grades and emotions. This school needs ALOT of work starting with the administration. Close Quote


by a parent on FaceBook
Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Open Quote I withdrew my son from there.
Too much violence, bullying, favoritism towards the elite, etc. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Parkersburg High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1768 1768
1990 1664 33 8 3 0 n/a n/a 0 1708
1991 1655 35 3 5 0 n/a n/a 0 1698
1992 1579 29 5 1 0 n/a n/a 0 1614
1993 1569 27 6 4 0 n/a n/a 0 1606
1994 1556 34 6 4 0 n/a n/a 0 1600
1995 1604 35 5 2 3 n/a n/a 0 1649
1996 1604 35 5 2 3 n/a n/a 0 1649
1997 1611 36 0 5 1 n/a n/a 0 1653
1998 1630 36 2 7 2 n/a n/a 0 1677
1999 1520 41 6 9 1 n/a n/a 0 1577
2000 1428 35 17 4 1 n/a n/a 0 1485
2001 1336 30 17 3 0 n/a n/a 0 1386
2002 1372 46 12 4 1 n/a n/a 0 1435
2003 1372 46 12 4 1 n/a n/a 0 1435
2004 1387 40 13 6 0 n/a n/a 0 1446
2005 1338 37 6 5 0 n/a n/a 0 1386
2006 1295 26 7 5 1 n/a n/a 0 1334
2007 1316 20 5 1 2 n/a n/a 0 1344
2008 1305 29 14 2 2 n/a n/a 0 1352
2009 1754 54 23 8 1 n/a n/a 0 1840
2010 1751 68 20 7 0 0 2 0 1848
2011 1674 65 21 12 0 1 10 0 1783
2012 1719 60 28 11 2 1 8 0 1829
2013 1768 72 28 9 3 1 7 0 1888
2014 1747 63 31 10 2 2 11 0 1866
2015 1751 65 31 12 2 2 21 0 1884
2016 1644 56 29 13 1 4 36 0 1783
2017 1558 61 27 18 0 3 40 0 1707
2018 1547 52 23 19 0 1 47 0 1689
2019 1578 62 22 19 0 2 56 0 1739
2020 1531 48 19 21 0 1 57 0 1677
2021 1578 45 14 27 0 2 62 0 1728
2022 1565 45 17 30 2 1 59 0 1719
2023 1504 37 17 38 0 0 55 0 1651
2024 1404 33 14 37 0 1 63 0 1552

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Parkersburg High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 1768 117.0 15.1 n/a
1990 1708 113.0 15.1 9.8
1991 1698 107.7 15.7 10.6
1992 1614 105.0 15.3 12.3
1993 1606 107.0 15.0 14.2
1994 1600 102.0 15.7 18.4
1995 1649 97.0 17.0 17.5
1996 1649 97.0 17.0 17.5
1997 1653 95.0 17.4 17.2
1998 1677 93.0 18.0 15.4
1999 1577 91.5 17.2 24.7
2000 1485 92.0 16.1 29.8
2001 1386 91.0 15.2 23.4
2002 1435 84.5 17.0 25.6
2003 1435 84.5 17.0 25.6
2004 1446 85.0 17.0 27.5
2005 1386 83.0 16.7 30.2
2006 1334 83.0 16.1 29.2
2007 1344 83.0 16.2 27.9
2008 1352 81.0 16.7 28.6
2009 1840 103.0 17.9 35.9
2010 1848 106.0 17.4 42.7
2011 1783 99.6 17.8 40.5
2012 1829 105.0 17.4 42.8
2013 1888 107.0 17.6 49.3
2014 1866 105.0 17.7 42.2
2015 1884 105.0 17.9 43.2
2016 1783 104.0 17.1 46.9
2017 1707 102.0 16.7 41.8
2018 1689 100.5 16.8 48.4
2019 1739 98.0 17.7 43.9
2020 1677 98.0 17.1 45.6
2021 1728 97.0 17.8 49.7
2022 1719 95.5 18.0 n/a
2023 1651 97.0 17.0 n/a
2024 1552 98.0 15.8 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Parkersburg High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 1768 117.0 15.1 n/a
1990 1708 113.0 15.1 9.8
1991 1698 107.7 15.7 10.6
1992 1614 105.0 15.3 12.3
1993 1606 107.0 15.0 14.2
1994 1600 102.0 15.7 18.4
1995 1649 97.0 17.0 17.5
1996 1649 97.0 17.0 17.5
1997 1653 95.0 17.4 17.2
1998 1677 93.0 18.0 15.4
1999 1577 91.5 17.2 24.7
2000 1485 92.0 16.1 29.8
2001 1386 91.0 15.2 23.4
2002 1435 84.5 17.0 25.6
2003 1435 84.5 17.0 25.6
2004 1446 85.0 17.0 27.5
2005 1386 83.0 16.7 30.2
2006 1334 83.0 16.1 29.2
2007 1344 83.0 16.2 27.9
2008 1352 81.0 16.7 28.6
2009 1840 103.0 17.9 35.9
2010 1848 106.0 17.4 42.7
2011 1783 99.6 17.8 40.5
2012 1829 105.0 17.4 42.8
2013 1888 107.0 17.6 49.3
2014 1866 105.0 17.7 42.2
2015 1884 105.0 17.9 43.2
2016 1783 104.0 17.1 46.9
2017 1707 102.0 16.7 41.8
2018 1689 100.5 16.8 48.4
2019 1739 98.0 17.7 43.9
2020 1677 98.0 17.1 45.6
2021 1728 97.0 17.8 49.7
2022 1719 95.5 18.0 n/a
2023 1651 97.0 17.0 n/a
2024 1552 98.0 15.8 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Parkersburg High School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $752 (7.0%) $10,046 (93.0%) $10,798

Data source: West Virginia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Parkersburg High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 34th of 114 High schoolsRanks 56th of 112 High schools
 20.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
11th Grade Mathematics (Parkersburg High School)26.120.2
 5.9%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Wood County Schools)25.724.1
 1.6%
   11th Grade Mathematics (West Virginia)2421.5
 2.5%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Parkersburg High School)52.844.1
 8.7%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Wood County Schools)51.849
 2.8%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (West Virginia)51.849.9
 1.9%
11th Grade Science (Parkersburg High School)30.724
 6.7%
   11th Grade Science (Wood County Schools)30.828.2
 2.6%
   11th Grade Science (West Virginia)29.227.9
 1.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students17391651
 5.1%
African American6237
 40.3%
American Indian00
Asian2217
 22.7%
Hispanic1938
 100%
Pacific Islander20
 100%
White15781504
 4.7%
Two or More Races5655
 1.8%

Schools Near Parkersburg High School








Frequently Asked Questions about Parkersburg High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,552 students attended Parkersburg High School.

Students at Parkersburg High School are 90% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic, 2% African American.

Parkersburg High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Criss Elementary School
Elementary : Emerson Elementary School
Elementary : Greenmont Elementary School
Elementary : Jefferson Elementary Center
Elementary : Kanawha Elementary School
Elementary : Madison Elementary School
Elementary : Neale Elementary School
Elementary : Vienna Elementary School
Middle : Hamilton Middle School
Middle : Jackson Middle School
Middle : Van Devender Middle School

Parkersburg High School ranks 21st of 112 West Virginia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the West Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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