Teachers Ascend into West Virginia
Most children follow a traditional academic calendar: nine months of classes followed by a two-month summer break before advancing to the next grade. Year-round schools, however, take a different
approach—students receive the same number of days off, but their breaks are divided into shorter, three-week intervals spread throughout the year. In West Virginia, Piedmont Elementary is the only school currently running on a year-round schedule.
Hope for the Future
“I just didn’t see a path for myself,” says Anthony. “I was making Bs and Cs in school, but I wasn’t excited about anything. I had no real goals after high school, and I definitely didn’t think much was possible for me in West Virginia.”
From 46th to First
For generations, West Virginia’s families have watched their state rank near the bottom in national education outcomes. According to U.S. News & World Report, West Virginia sits at 46th in pre-K-12 education, a sobering place for a state with deep community roots and fierce pride.
Beyond the Classroom
Education is expanding in the Mountain State but not just in traditional classroom or collegiate settings. Programs offering unique methods of learning are giving West Virginians of different ages, backgrounds and skill sets the opportunity to learn in ways that are fun, interactive and best suit their goals.
Building Education
The future of education in the Mountain State is being shaped not only by educators and curriculums but also by the spaces where learning takes place. Across West Virginia, education leaders and architectural firms are reinventing the wheel when it comes to meeting the needs of a new generation of students. Modern school buildings must be flexible, technology-driven, safe and welcoming to students and the communities they serve.
Inside West Virginia Public Schools
A strong education system is not only important at the family level but also necessary for a thriving economy, as students represent the future workforce. There is no question that many challenges persist for public education across the state, but many key leaders are working toward a better future for West Virginia’s
education system.