The West Virginia Department of Education released statewide assessment results Wednesday, August 12, 2026, and Jefferson County Schools (JCS) is reporting encouraging cohort growth in math and reading across multiple grade levels and schools.
JCS measures progress by tracking cohorts, meaning the same group of students, from one grade to the next, rather than comparing one year's class in a grade to the next year's class in that same grade. Comparing, for example, this year's third graders to last year's third graders does not show whether students are learning more, since the two groups may have started the year in different places. Following the same students as they move up a grade gives a clearer picture of how much progress they are making.
"We continue to work toward continuous improvement, and some of our cohort data is very promising," said Dr. Chuck Bishop, Superintendent of Jefferson County Schools. "Reviewing cohorts gives us a better idea of how a group of students is progressing, from one year to the next. We know we are not yet where we need to be, and we will continue to build on the instructional strategies we see working and make adjustments where we need to."
Math Cohort Growth
Districtwide, the cohort of students who were sixth graders during the 2024-25 school year and are now seventh graders in 2025-26 improved math proficiency from 37% to 45%.
Several elementary schools saw notable cohort gains from third grade in 2024-25 to fourth grade in 2025-26. Driswood Elementary School moved from 48% to 69% proficient, a 21-point increase. South Jefferson Elementary School improved from 61% to 66%, and Shepherdstown Elementary School moved from 57% to 58%. At the middle school level, Harpers Ferry Middle School's sixth-to-seventh-grade cohort grew from 38% to 52% proficient.
Reading Cohort Growth
Reading results also showed encouraging cohort movement. Districtwide, the cohort moving from third grade in 2024-25 to fourth grade in 2025-26 increased from 47% to 50% proficient. The cohort moving from fourth to fifth grade held steady at 48%, while the cohort moving from seventh to eighth grade improved from 49% to 51%.
Several schools posted substantial reading gains. Driswood Elementary School's third-to-fourth-grade cohort grew from 52% to 67% proficient. T.A. Lowery Elementary School improved from 28% to 32%, and Wright Denny Intermediate School moved from 50% to 54%. At the middle school level, Charles Town Middle School's seventh-to-eighth-grade cohort increased from 38% to 50% proficient in reading, a 12-point jump.
High School Results
At the district level, Jefferson County Schools outperformed the state average in 11th-grade math, reading and science, with results also showing individual student growth from the previous year's scores at both Jefferson High School and Washington High School.
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About Jefferson County Schools, W.Va.
The mission of Jefferson County Schools is to cultivate an educational community rooted in evidence-based best practices with a commitment to excellence, ensuring that every student grows into their best future. Jefferson County Schools represents one of the top districts in the state of West Virginia. The district employs more than 1,200 staff members and enrolls more than 8,000 students. Visit www.jcswv.org to learn more about Jefferson County Schools.