Is Parkersburg South High School a good school?

Parkersburg South High School ranks 49 th of 112 West Virginia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Parkersburg South High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,454 students attended Parkersburg South High School.

What is the racial makeup of Parkersburg South High School?

Students at Parkersburg South High School are 94% White, 3% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic, 1% African American.

What schools feed into Parkersburg South High School?

Parkersburg South High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Blennerhassett Elementary School Elementary : Fairplains Elementary School Elementary : Franklin Elementary Center Elementary : Gihon Elementary School Elementary : Lubeck Elementary School Elementary : Martin Elementary School Elementary : Mineral Wells Elementary School Middle : Blennerhassett Middle School Middle : Edison Middle School

Parkersburg South High School

Summary:

Parkersburg South High School is a public high school serving 1,454 students in grades 9-12 in Parkersburg, West Virginia. It 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.

Parkersburg South High School has shown a mixed academic performance, with proficiency rates in 11th-grade math, English Language Arts, and science below the district averages. However, the school's performance in English Language Arts has been relatively stronger, with proficiency rates consistently above the state average. The school's ranking among West Virginia high schools has fluctuated, ranging from 26th to 49th in recent years, with a 4-star rating in 2022-2023 and a 3-star rating in 2023-2024. Notably, the school's special education and disabled student populations have performed exceptionally well, ranking among the top high schools in the state.

Compared to nearby schools, Williamstown High School consistently outperforms Parkersburg South High School in academic metrics and statewide rankings, suggesting potential opportunities for Parkersburg South to learn from its practices. In contrast, Wirt County High School, a school in a neighboring Wirt County Schools district, performs significantly lower than Parkersburg South High School across various academic measures, highlighting the relative strengths of Parkersburg South.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1511 Blizzard Dr
Parkersburg, WV 26101-6424

(304) 420-9610

District: Wood County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
49^th of 112 West Virginia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,564

Feeder schools for Parkersburg South High School:

Elementary:	Blennerhassett Elementary School
	Fairplains Elementary School
	Franklin Elementary Center
	Gihon Elementary School
	More...
	Lubeck Elementary School
	Martin Elementary School
	Mineral Wells Elementary School
Middle:	Blennerhassett Middle School
	Edison Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.5

Number of students: 1,454

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.9%

Two or more races:

2.8%

Hispanic:

1.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 43.2%

See top rated West Virginia high schools

Compare Parkersburg South High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Parkersburg South High School ranks better than 56.3% of high schools in West Virginia. It also ranks last among 3 ranked high schools in the Wood County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 54.49. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Parkersburg South High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (93.9%), two or more races (2.8%), Hispanic (1.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Parkersburg South High School is 16.5. 2 high schools in the Wood County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Parkersburg South High School employs 88 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Parkersburg South High School is $11,564, which is the 2^nd highest among 3 high schools in the Wood County Schools District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Parkersburg South High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Parkersburg South High School 49^th of 112 West Virginia public high schools. (See Parkersburg South 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:

White students:

Wood County Schools:

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

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Rank History for Parkersburg South High School

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Rank History for all students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2009	53.57	55^th	111	50.5%
2010	75.38	14^th	112	87.5%
2011	69.19	26^th	113	77.0%
2012	38.24	75^th	113	33.6%
2013	42.59	69^th	114	39.5%
2014	39.04	77^th	115	33.0%
2015	59.90	39^th	117	66.7%
2016	51.21	51^st	119	57.1%
2017	43.76	73^rd	122	40.2%
2018	53.86	48^th	115	58.3%
2019	53.44	49^th	114	57.0%
2021	65.95	36^th	113	68.1%
2022	52.45	49^th	112	56.3%
2023	70.63	26^th	112	76.8%
2024	54.49	49^th	112	56.3%

See the entire list of West Virginia High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	71.34	10^th	62	83.9%
2018	26.72	14^th	18	22.2%
2022	82.17	4^th	13	69.2%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2017	46.10	14^th	38	63.2%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	58.05	30^th	118	74.6%
2018	53.25	39^th	103	62.1%
2019	74.09	16^th	85	81.2%
2023	77.35	17^th	89	80.9%
2024	86.59	7^th	89	92.1%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Special Education Students!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	20.53	112^th	121	7.4%
2018	33.60	79^th	112	29.5%
2021	75.70	20^th	111	82.0%
2022	27.12	85^th	109	22.0%
2023	46.30	60^th	107	43.9%
2024	45.65	65^th	110	40.9%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	38.08	88^th	119	26.1%
2018	58.69	39^th	111	64.9%
2019	61.52	40^th	109	63.3%
2021	61.18	45^th	110	59.1%
2022	47.87	55^th	108	49.1%
2023	57.99	40^th	108	63.0%
2024	39.43	72^nd	110	34.5%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	87.35	6^th	84	92.9%
2022	56.75	36^th	91	60.4%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	48.55	63^rd	122	48.4%
2018	46.60	53^rd	111	52.3%
2019	42.92	66^th	109	39.4%
2021	65.36	35^th	110	68.2%
2022	53.81	48^th	108	55.6%
2023	76.90	19^th	108	82.4%
2024	64.50	37^th	109	66.1%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2017	72.20	13^th	47	72.3%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2017	42.83	47^th	82	42.7%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2017	39.82	43^rd	59	27.1%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Native American students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2017	56.94	6^th	18	66.7%

See the entire list of Best West Virginia High Schools for Native American Students!

Rank History for White students at Parkersburg South High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	WV State Percentile
2017	41.92	77^th	122	36.9%
2018	53.11	48^th	113	57.5%
2019	49.46	55^th	112	50.9%
2021	62.89	39^th	113	65.5%
2022	46.17	54^th	111	51.4%
2023	67.55	29^th	112	74.1%
2024	52.17	52^nd	111	53.2%

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.

Data source: West Virginia Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Parkersburg South High School

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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	1504	1504
1990	1457	9	1	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	1469
1991	1369	4	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1375
1992	1293	6	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1302
1993	1299	6	2	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1308
1994	1277	10	4	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1292
1995	1295	9	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1306
1996	1295	9	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	1306
1997	1298	7	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1308
1998	1251	3	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	1258
1999	1266	4	5	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	1278
2000	1258	6	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1269
2001	1214	6	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1224
2002	1198	13	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1215
2003	1198	13	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1215
2004	1222	12	6	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	1243
2005	1256	7	6	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1271
2006	1264	13	7	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1285
2007	1264	19	3	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	1290
2008	1260	18	4	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	1291
2009	1619	21	11	10	1	n/a	n/a	0	1662
2010	1600	20	11	6	2	0	0	0	1639
2011	1537	19	10	9	2	0	3	0	1580
2012	1500	26	10	13	3	1	6	0	1559
2013	1517	27	5	11	2	1	5	0	1568
2014	1537	27	7	15	1	0	7	0	1594
2015	1499	28	11	16	2	0	9	0	1565
2016	1508	28	11	15	1	0	13	0	1576
2017	1486	23	13	14	1	0	22	0	1559
2018	1460	24	9	11	3	1	29	0	1537
2019	1419	28	8	15	1	1	29	0	1501
2020	1379	23	8	16	1	1	39	0	1467
2021	1402	20	7	24	2	2	45	0	1502
2022	1425	20	11	17	2	0	43	0	1518
2023	1365	19	8	21	1	0	40	0	1454

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 South High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1504	98.0	15.3	n/a
1990	1469	97.0	15.1	12
1991	1375	97.1	14.1	12.3
1992	1302	96.0	13.5	11.9
1993	1308	79.0	16.6	14.3
1994	1292	81.0	16.0	17.6
1995	1306	77.0	17.0	18.1
1996	1306	77.0	17.0	18.1
1997	1308	73.0	17.9	16.8
1998	1258	71.0	17.7	16
1999	1278	70.5	18.1	25.3
2000	1269	70.0	18.1	29.4
2001	1224	72.0	17.0	22.7
2002	1215	69.0	17.6	21.3
2003	1215	69.0	17.6	21.3
2004	1243	70.0	17.8	24.5
2005	1271	72.0	17.7	24.6
2006	1285	72.0	17.8	24.7
2007	1290	76.0	17.0	26
2008	1291	77.0	16.8	25.9
2009	1662	99.0	16.8	34.2
2010	1639	100.0	16.3	38.9
2011	1580	94.9	16.6	39.6
2012	1559	96.0	16.2	41.9
2013	1568	97.0	16.1	48.5
2014	1594	97.0	16.4	39.3
2015	1565	97.0	16.1	40.9
2016	1576	95.0	16.5	42.6
2017	1559	95.0	16.4	37.8
2018	1537	92.0	16.7	45
2019	1501	91.0	16.4	39.3
2020	1467	91.0	16.1	40.2
2021	1502	88.0	17.0	43.2
2022	1518	87.0	17.4	n/a
2023	1454	88.0	16.5	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 South High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1504	98.0	15.3	n/a
1990	1469	97.0	15.1	12
1991	1375	97.1	14.1	12.3
1992	1302	96.0	13.5	11.9
1993	1308	79.0	16.6	14.3
1994	1292	81.0	16.0	17.6
1995	1306	77.0	17.0	18.1
1996	1306	77.0	17.0	18.1
1997	1308	73.0	17.9	16.8
1998	1258	71.0	17.7	16
1999	1278	70.5	18.1	25.3
2000	1269	70.0	18.1	29.4
2001	1224	72.0	17.0	22.7
2002	1215	69.0	17.6	21.3
2003	1215	69.0	17.6	21.3
2004	1243	70.0	17.8	24.5
2005	1271	72.0	17.7	24.6
2006	1285	72.0	17.8	24.7
2007	1290	76.0	17.0	26
2008	1291	77.0	16.8	25.9
2009	1662	99.0	16.8	34.2
2010	1639	100.0	16.3	38.9
2011	1580	94.9	16.6	39.6
2012	1559	96.0	16.2	41.9
2013	1568	97.0	16.1	48.5
2014	1594	97.0	16.4	39.3
2015	1565	97.0	16.1	40.9
2016	1576	95.0	16.5	42.6
2017	1559	95.0	16.4	37.8
2018	1537	92.0	16.7	45
2019	1501	91.0	16.4	39.3
2020	1467	91.0	16.1	40.2
2021	1502	88.0	17.0	43.2
2022	1518	87.0	17.4	n/a
2023	1454	88.0	16.5	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 South High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,033 (8.9%)	$10,531 (91.1%)	$11,564

Data source: West Virginia Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Parkersburg South 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 49^th of 114 High schools	Ranks 26^th of 112 High schools	19.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Mathematics (Parkersburg South High School)	22.8	25	2.2%
11th Grade Mathematics (Wood County Schools)	25.7	24.1	1.6%
11th Grade Mathematics (West Virginia)	24	21.5	2.5%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Parkersburg South High School)	49.1	51.1	2%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Wood County Schools)	51.8	49	2.8%
11th Grade English Language Arts (West Virginia)	51.8	49.9	1.9%
11th Grade Science (Parkersburg South High School)	29.1	31.2	2.1%
11th Grade Science (Wood County Schools)	30.8	28.2	2.6%
11th Grade Science (West Virginia)	29.2	27.9	1.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1501	1454	3.1%
African American	28	19	32.1%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	8	8
Hispanic	15	21	40%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	1419	1365	3.8%
Two or More Races	29	40	37.9%

Schools Near Parkersburg South High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				WV Assessment Mathematics (2024)				WV Assessment English Language Arts (2024)				WV Assessment Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WV Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	WV Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 6th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 7th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 8th Grade	WV Assessment English Language Arts 11th Grade	WV Assessment Science 8th Grade	WV Assessment Science 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Parkersburg South High School	Public	9-12	1511 Blizzard Dr	Parkersburg	26101	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 420-9610	1,454	88	16.5		1,365 (93.9%)	19 (1.3%)	21 (1.4%)	8 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (2.8%)	54.5	49^th of 112 public high schools	56.3%		70.6	26^th of 112 public high schools	76.8%	23				13.9				50.1		27.4	$11,564	$1,033	$10,531
Wood County Vocational Technical Center	Public	9-12	1515 Blizzard Dr	Parkersburg	26101	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 420-9501	0	23	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Parkersburg High School	Public	9-12	2101 Dudley Ave	Parkersburg	26101	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 420-9595	1,651	97	17.0		1,504 (91.1%)	37 (2.2%)	38 (2.3%)	17 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (3.3%)	77.4	21^st of 112 public high schools	81.3%		46	56^th of 112 public high schools	50.0%	35				20.7				52.8		35.3	$10,798	$752	$10,046
Caperton Center For Applied Technology	Public	9-12	212 Technology Dr	Parkersburg	26104	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 424-8365																			(n/a)
Williamstown High School	Public	6-12	219 W 5th St	Williamstown	26187	Wood County	Wood County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 375-6151	671	47	14.2		649 (96.7%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.4%)	95.3	6^th of 112 public high schools	94.6%		87.2	12^th of 112 public high schools	89.3%	6	38.2	41.3	51.7	28.7	58.0	48.4	52.8	67.0	42.7	38.3	$12,019	$706	$11,313
Wirt County High School	Public	9-12	431 Mulberry Street	Elizabeth	26143	Wirt County	Wirt County Schools	No	No	No	No	(304) 275-4241	295	25	11.9		283 (95.9%)	2 (0.7%)	7 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	32.4	72^nd of 112 public high schools	35.7%		33.2	76^th of 112 public high schools	32.1%	4				12.1				43.9		19.7	$14,840	$1,537	$13,303

Parkersburg South High School

Parkersburg South High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Wood County Schools:

What do you think?

Rank History for Parkersburg South High School

Rank History for all students at Parkersburg South High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Parkersburg South High School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Parkersburg South High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Parkersburg South High School

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

Rank History for Female students at Parkersburg South High School

Rank History for Disabled students at Parkersburg South High School

Rank History for Male students at Parkersburg South High School

Rank History for Asian students at Parkersburg South High School

Rank History for African American students at Parkersburg South High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Parkersburg South High School

Rank History for Native American students at Parkersburg South High School

Rank History for White students at Parkersburg South High School

Enrollment information for Parkersburg South High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Parkersburg South High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Parkersburg South High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Parkersburg South High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Parkersburg South High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Parkersburg South High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Parkersburg South High School

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