Education - Ohio County Schools
Ohio County Schools
- 6,000 average enrollment
- 9 elementary schools (K-5)
- 4 middle (6-8) schools
- Consolidated high school (9-12) with 1,850 students
- Teacher/student ratio 1:18
Ohio County offers its residents a nationally recognized school system.
The elementary school system allows students to spend the first important
years at a school near their homes or neighborhoods.
During the 1990s, a multi-million dollar development
program built or renovated every school in the system. Ohio County
taxpayers have traditionally given their overwhelming support to
educational levies, placing Ohio County among the top counties
in West Virginia in per capita spending for education.
 Such
support is evident in that six schools in Ohio County have been
designated National Schools of Excellence. This unprecedented degree of
recognition has come to Wheeling Park High School, Bridge Street
Middle School, Triadelphia Middle School, Wheeling Middle School,
Elm Grove Elementary and Madison Elementary. West Virginia Schools
of Excellence recognition has also been awarded to all 14 schools
in the Ohio County system.  Ohio
County is the only county in West Virginia to have 100 percent
of its schools so named.
These awards recognize the programs and services
offered the children of Ohio County. All schools have computers and
teach computer literacy and computer programming. The gifted and
talented students are served by a full range of programs with fully
certified and specially-trained teachers. These students have won
numerous awards. The needs of students with mental and/or
physical and learning disabilities are served by a complete program
of special services. Remedial math and reading classes are available.
Wheeling Park High School serves its
students with 155 teachers, of whom 51 percent hold master's degrees
or higher in their respective fields.
 A
competency program has been in place since 1979 and results from
standardized tests indicate that students top state and national
numbers in every basic skills category. Wheeling Park High School
curriculum includes college preparatory and technology preparatory
programs. For those students seeking an extra challenge, offerings
in Advanced Placement Classes, a Scholars Program; College at Park
and a full range of music, fine arts, foreign language, radio and
television broadcasting, and forensic classes are provided. Wheeling
Park High School has 750 computers in use in classrooms as well
as a computer laboratory available in the Media Center.A vigorous
program to reduce the number of students who drop out is paying
dramatic dividends. Wheeling Park High School has one of the lowest
dropout rates in the state. Daily attendance at Wheeling Park High
School averages  94 percent. While emphasizing the basics, both
curriculum and textbooks are completely current and a number of
innovative programs have been implemented.In addition to motivated
students, quality teachers and staff development are important
factors. Opportunities for educators and service personnel to enhance
their professional knowledge, skills and attitude are provided
throughout the year, and a three-year Teacher Induction Program
is in place in the county.Schools in Ohio County take part in a
Partnership in Education Program and Junior Achievement coordinated
by the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce. Both programs enhance
educational opportunities in Ohio County Schools by offering the
students increased contact with local companies and businesses,
The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce reinforces its role in education
by sponsoring a College Fair each October, attended by 125 colleges,
universities and service academies, at Wheeling Jesuit University.School
attendance is improved by the Care Call plan in which every absent
student is called daily with offers of help and follow-up attention
by appropriate staff. The Care Call plan also involves community
volunteers for its ongoing success.
A recent addition in the Ohio County
Schools is the technical preparation (Tech Prep) program. This
challenging course of study is a coordinated sequence of academic
and vocational courses designed to prepare students for lifelong
learning. Tech Prep offers advanced study at community colleges
and technical institutions. This innovative program also prepares
youth for attendance at four-year institutions.
Adult basic education instruction
is free and available to all residents of Ohio County on an individualized
basis. Adult basic education is available at Wheeling Park High
School during the day and at other locations in the evening, in
addition, adult preparatory and Job Training Partnership Act programs
are available in Ohio County.
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