Charleston, W.Va. – Representatives from the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) will visit Huntington High School (Cabell County), Crum PK-8 (Wayne County) and Jayenne Elementary School (Marion County) this week to celebrate their inclusion in the 2026 class of Exemplary Practice Schools. This recognition honors each school’s efforts to improve student outcomes through research-based, data-driven practices that enhance academic achievement and attendance.
Currently in its third year, Exemplary Practice Schools are recognized for establishing sustainable efforts that increase student and school success. In addition to the academic category, this year, schools addressing chronic absenteeism with effective approaches are included in the honors. The WVDE provides resources for teams from Exemplary Schools to work with peers within their region and across the state to develop practices that lead to long-term progress.
Visits are as follows:
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
- 9:30 a.m. – Huntington High School, 1 Highlander Way, Huntington, West Virginia 25701
- 1 p.m. – Crum Pre-K-8, 150 Crum Road, Crum, West Virginia 25669
Thursday, April 30, 2026
- 9 a.m. – Jayenne Elementary School, 1504 Country Club Drive, Fairmont, West Virginia 26554
Huntington High School – Attendance
Huntington High School has implemented a multi-tiered system of interventions to address chronic absenteeism, resulting in a 12% decrease since 2021. National studies indicate the lingering effects of absenteeism since the COVID-19 pandemic, when rates skyrocketed across the country. Low school attendance affects all aspects of student success, from behavior to academics. Huntington High School’s collaborative approach includes family engagement, community partners and schoolwide engagement. Administrators credit this success in contributing to the school’s exit from the state’s Comprehensive Support and Improvement – Additional Targeted Support designation.
Crum PK-8 – Academics
Crum PK-8 was recognized as an Exemplary Practice School in Academics for overcoming barriers with effective practices. Guided by a culture that all students can succeed, the school has implemented innovative practices to address the challenges students face. All efforts are rooted in data, allowing the staff to continually and systematically analyze behavior, attendance and formative and summative assessments, as well as anecdotal data. This has led to a 17% increase in math, with continued academic growth anticipated with the ongoing focus on targets and standards.
Jayenne Elementary School – Attendance
Jayenne Elementary’s aggressive, multi-tiered approach to improving attendance enabled it to outpace its goals. Recognized for effective approaches to address chronic absenteeism, the school focused on expanding student leadership, streamlining communications and implementing school-wide project-based learning. Streamlined communication resulted in better connectivity with staff and families. Additionally, engaging the school and broader community in cross-curricular learning experiences strengthened school culture and community ties. This led to chronic absenteeism rates dropping from 20.5% to 16% from 2024 to 2025 – exceeding the goal of a 1.5% decrease in one year.
The WVDE has visited schools throughout the month and will continue to visit 2026 Exemplary Practice Schools for the remainder of the school year.
Visit the WVDE website to learn more about the West Virginia Exemplary Practice Schools program.
